Anguilla - St. Martin, Marigot

Nano's blog.
Nigel Anderson
Fri 20 Apr 2007 23:52
Date: 21-04-07     Time: 23:00 UTC      Position: 18:04.05N  063:05.27W   Name: Marigot, St. Martin 

Click here for English version;

Det som Anguilla mangler når det gjelder vakkert landskap i innlandet (veldig kjedelig krattskog) er mer enn oppveid av sin vakre kyst. Seilturen i dag tok oss tilbake langs nordkysten av Anguilla som er å nytelse å seile ved. Vakre strender, klipper og en del forholdsvis pene villaer og hotell. Merkelig nok var vinden fra litt øst av syd så hele turen ble en skarp kryss til enden av Anguilla før vi gikk over stag og seilte igjen hardt på vinden til Marigot. Turen tok ikke stort mer enn to og en halv timer, og i relativt flat sjø er det egentlig litt deilig å kjenne båten og vinden i samspill i frisk bris. Anguilla scorer også høyt når det gjelder vennlighet og hjelpsomhet på immigrasjonskontoret. De to damene som ordnet med innsjekking for noen dager siden, og utsjekking i dag, var ulik sine kollegaer på de fleste andre øyer vi har besøkt. Her var det ingen syrlige kommentarer hvis noe var feil utfylt på skjemaene, kroppsspråket gjorde at man følte seg mer som en klient som sjekker inn på det dyreste hotellet istedenfor mange andre land der man føler seg nærmest som en forbryter. Her på St. Martin var selve innsjekkingen noe enklere - ett ark, noen få og relevante spørsmål, og fem euro å betale.
 
Selv om vi har vært her i Marigot før, hadde vi ikke vært innom det store supermarkedet før. Dette var en ren nytelse! Utvilsomt det beste supermarkedet vi har vært i her i Karibia. Spekket med franske oster, nydelig kjøttdisk, fersk fisk og blåskjell, rikelig med frukt og grønt - som hentet rett fra en større by i Frankrike. Det blir her at vi skal proviantere for turen til Bermuda - uten tvil. Dagens bilde: Nigel nyter noe kaldt å drikke.
 

English version

What Anguilla lacks in terms of a picturesque interior (it is just boring scrubland) is more than compensated for in terms of its beautiful coastline. Our sail today took us along the island's north coast which is a true pleasure to see. Beautiful white beaches, rocky cliffs and some reasonably OK looking villas and hotels. Peculiarly the wind was from just west of south and we had to sail hard on the wind along the coast before tacking at the end of the island and sailing again hard on the wind to Marigot on St. Martin. It is only just over two and a half hours and in the relatively flat seas it was a pleasure to hand steer and feel the interaction of the boat and the fresh breeze. Anguilla scores highly also for the friendliness of the two ladies in the customs and immigration office, who checked us in a few days ago and out again this morning. No snide comments if the forms were not filled out perfectly and their body language was friendly and welcoming - more like the reception at an expensive hotel than the unhelpful attitude we have so often met on other islands where one feels more like a petty criminal in the face of the officials. Here at St. Martin the check in was at least quick and simple. Just a single form with mostly relevant information, though the question "Number of mats" was confusing - we have a door mat, and two mats on the floor of the cabin to protect the cabin sole from damage - I realized though that they meant masts, of which we have just the one. The French word for masts is of course mats.
 
Even though we have been here at Marigot before (and we are anchored in almost the same spot right close to town where I can pick up WiFi), we had not been to the big supermarket before. We strolled there after checking in - it was a pleasure to behold! By far the best food store we have seen in the Caribbean and easily on a par with most of the better ones in Europe too. The fresh meats, fish, vegetables and French cheeses were all superb - just like one would find in a larger French city. There is no doubt that we will provision for the trip to Bermuda here. Today's picture is of Nigel enjoying a break and a cold drink.