PhilipsburgPhilipsburg is the capital of
Dutch St. Maarten and the only town of consequence on the island. It has two main streets, Voorstraat and Achterstraat, connected by several bustling cross-streets, filled mainly with duty-free shops, cafes, hotels and courtyards overflowing with flowers. The town has an unusual setting, sitting on a narrow stretch of land between Great Bay, on the south coast of the island, and the Great Salt Pond (a huge marsh). It is the port of call of hundreds of cruise ships, filling the primary need of the day-tripping passengers who come ashore mainly
to shop for everything from Italian leather goods and Japanese cameras to native crafts. The town's nightlife is regarded as among the liveliest to be found in the
Caribbean.
Architecturally the town, founded in 1763 by
John Philips (a Scots captain in the Dutch navy), is quaint, with characteristic pastel-colored West Indian houses lining the streets, and a few Dutch colonial landmarks.
Climate: The weather is sunny and warm all year, with some cooling from trade winds. Average temperature during the winter season is 80F (27C), while in the summer it is several degrees warmer and more humid. The average annual rainfall is 45 inches, most falling as occasional showers in late summer and early autumn.
MarigotFrench at heart, but cosmopolitan Caribbean in style, St Martin's capital city of Marigot is cluttered with traffic, shops and people in a small area that is only four streets wide. The town stretches along
Marigot Bay, its main focus the harbor at the bottom of Rue de la Republique from where ferries depart to surrounding islands and fishing boats come and go. The main shopping center at the southern end of the town is near the harbor and is a paradise for shopaholics, with elegant stores carrying the latest designer fashions and jewelry, all tax-free. Marigot's buildings are largely colonial, sprinkled with several smart cafes, bistros, pastry shops and luxury boutiques reminiscent of real French market towns.
