CAPTAIN SLOG STAR DATE 78.13

Well, funny kind of day. Odd in many ways.

Today was St Maarten. We docked a full hour early. Funny how, when you know you can have a lie in, you wake up really early and can't sleep anymore. And so it was today, I woke at 7am, drew the curtains and there was St Maarten. God, it was hot already.  As it was a beach day there was no point in showering until I got back, so I slathered myself in dear old Aussie Gold and trotted off for brekkie.

Once up on deck 14, I realised we were not alone! There was another Celebrity ship, the Silhouette, the Norwegian Epic, a TUI ship called imaginatively,  Mein Schiff (my ship) and the Princess of the Seas. Five ships x 3000 passengers in port plus goodness knows how many crew. It was going to be busy.

I decided on a quick recce of the port before our beach trip left. I bought some more Aussie Gold, an aerosol version, so that I could eradicate the Single Girl's Stripe. This is a telltale sign of the single traveller as our arms don't reach round our backs far enough to spread the suntan cream all over.  I also bought a pretty beach cover-up thing.

Back on the pier, I joined the happy throng waiting for transport to the Orient Beach on the French side of St Martin. The island is divided into two parts, Dutch and French. Apparently, the division of land was made up by a runner from each country setting off in opposite directions around the coast and when they met up, they drew a line through the island. The French runner must have been a bit faster because their part is bigger, or there were more inlets on the Dutch half!

Orient Beach used to be a nudist beach, still is in parts but not where we were sat. The cost of the trip included a welcome rum punch, lunch - ribs, chicken or fish and another drink. Also a sun lounger but we had to pay for a parasol which was only $3.  The sea was a pretty blue but the waves were savage. Didn't bother me though, as me and water don't fraternise much. I saw quite a few people bowled over though.

There were loads of beach sellers, so I took a photo as they were quite colourful. One of them got quite nasty with me, so I asked her what made her think that I would want a picture of her? I had merely been looking through my holiday snaps that I had taken so far.

Ooh she did go on, so  I just ignored her and eventually she waddled off down the beach.

The English family from my dinner table and the couple from Oregon were there as well. I'm getting a bit tired of Mick the Brit. He doesn't like it when someone i.e. me has a different opinion from him. He likes to hold court. His wife was in her element today as she had a chance to show off her French. I also managed to ask for everything I needed in French too, so pooh, bum, willies to her! Nevertheless they were very kind to ask me to join them for lunch and I do like Phil and Sandie, apart from Sandie trying to get me to go in the sea, I just don't do water.

Oh, I saw some sights on the beach, I can tell you. Check out the photos below!

Back on the ship I showered off all the sand, I really hate that part of going on the beach. Then I decided to take stock of my tat. Naughty Bunny posed for a photo with each treasured piece.

The first one from Aruba has lost its plastic Aruba name tag, which I suppose just emphasises how tacky it is! 

I think my favourite one is from Antigua but I will leave you to make up your own mind

I decided to go to the casino. I appear to have had a bit of luck .....

I'm not sure what happened but I kept winning. I broke off when I got to $400. It's always best to walk away in profit, no point being greedy!