st. maarten II

did i fool you - that is the french spelling. "st. martin" is the dutch. the whole island is only 37 sq miles, but is divided in half between the two countries. (little bit of trivia knowledge for you)


journal entry from 1/16/81 (morning)


i realized as i thought about what date it was - today is my birthday. i do think, this is my first brithday ever wearing shorts and a sleevless shirt!


we have been to a few different beaches now. we snorkled and saw striped and spotted, checkered and neon fish. we saw round and flat, pink, green and pruple coral. the ocean wases gently rose and fell as we drifted through. it was so peaceful, the only sound you could hear was your own breath and occassional splashes (usually from your own or partner's fins)


nathan sitting safely on his blanket telling pappy which sand to use to burry himself:

we went to one beach that is located right behind the airport. i mean RIGHT behind it! the runway ends, then there is a chainlink fence, a two lane road, then the beach. that is seriously it! we had fun watching the planes come in for landing.

a small plane landing = kinda cool to seea large plane landing = WHOOOAAA

i didn't get the whole plane in b/c as it was coming, it looked so huge and coming right at us, that without even realizing it - i fell to my knees in the sand. it was as though my mind had no part in the discussion - my body said "DUCK" - it really seems even closer than you can see in the picture - think of how loud a huge plane is - and only yards above your head?!?! again i say WHOOOAAA

we have also had fun splashing around in our pool. (our pool, i like the sound of that) lol


"dada, if you don't tell anyone i am going to swim in just my swimmy diaper, i'll carry the boat" we walked up and down the main strip of little shops yesterday. clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry of all types hung in the windows. the morning was a little drizzley - the warm drops didn't bother us any. asthe rain dried up, more shoppers and beach walkers joined us. (on the backside of the shops was a beach.) people speaking French, Spanish, Island (which is definitely it's own language mon) and others that i couldn't recognize - german or czech or something maybe. i found the most unique dinner roll holder in one of the shops. it looks like a flower and one roll goes in each petal. it is really clever! (yes, i am fully aware of the nerdiness of that statement - yet i post it here for all of you to read) **i don't have a picture of it right now, but will be sure to get one so you can see it**


later today we are off to an open air market, whatever else the day may bring, then after dinner richard and i are going on a date!



here is a random picture of me on the balcony one evening: