Highlight: Horseback riding - Shopping in St Martin
We woke up at 7 as the ship docked in Phillipsbury, St Martin (or Sint Maarten as they write it in Dutch). St Martin is hald Dutch and hald French with Phillipsburg being the capital of the Dutch side and Marigot the capital of the Franch side.
Grandpere and GiGi had a big breakfast at the buffet and then went to pick up everyone else. The Pagels weren't ready but GiGi, Lincoln, Leslie and Chris left as they went for a horse ride through the island and on the beach. They told us it took them forever to get there and back as the traffic on St Martin moved at a snail's pace. GiGi selected an "active" horse but he got Ulysses and he wasn't very active except for biting Leslie's horse! They got back to the ship about noon.
While they were gone, Grandpere got Lauren dressed for an island adventure in St Martin. They got all of the way to the gangplank when Grandpere remembered he had forgotten the bag for the girls and his backpack so they had to go back and start all over again!
First they went to the shops along the pier - not too much to see there but they got a gold charm bracelet for each girl at Diamonds International. As they left the store, Lauren stumbled off the sidewalk and skinned her knee. Grandpere kissed it and it didn't hurt long - she was a big girl! So off they went to the Water Taxi for the short ride into the main pier in Phillipsburg. Several women approached them about having Lauren't hair braided but we didn't do that. We walked along the streets where all of the shops wer and looked at lots of jewelry and watches and T-shirts.
We then found a small bazaar behind the Courthouse and we got Lauren and Lillian matching sundresses (orange) and they had hair bands to match too. Grandpere bargained for those and got a good deal. Then they got shell necklaces to wear with their dresses - also orange. After walking around a bit more they took the Water Taxi back to the ship and dropped things off in their room. Lillian put on her sundress and looked so pretty, but Lauren didn't want to wear her new dress then, but later put it on. Then we went to the Lido Deck to wait for Mommy and Daddy to return from their horse ride. When they got back, they all went into the buffet and ate lunch together. Then everyone went back into Phillipsburg on the Water Taxi.
Grandpere and GiGi took a brisk walk through town while the others did some more serious shopping. On returning to the ship, Grandpere and GiGi had a snack and then went for a short nap. A little after 5, mLauren came to Grandpere's room to take a bath in his bathtub. It was funny because Daddy pulled the emergency cord in the shower and we got a call from the ship's administration to make sure no one was hurt!
Tonight the Pagels are planning to dine at the buffet with the girls and Grandpere and GiGi are going for a late dinner at a different restaurant on board the ship. The ship set sail from St Martin about 6 pm - headed for St Thomas about 140 miles away to the west. At St Martin we are at the southernmost and easternmost point of this journey.
Grandpere got to comb out Lauren's hair after her bath. When they went back to their cabin after her bath, they all waved to Grandpere from their balcony so Grandpere could take a picture of them - they were a long way down the ship so it may be hard to see them in the picture.
Grandpere and GiGi showered and dressed and had cocktails and then went to the photo gallery to select our formal pictures. We bought pictures for everyone.
Laurent went back to Pelican to play at 7 pm. Grandpere and GiGi had a martini with anchovy olives in one of the bars and listened to a lady play the grand piano - she was really good. Then they decided to try to get in the Stirling Steakhouse - only a 20 minute wait. Delicious steak and Tim got a special bottle of wine. After dinner, Grandpere and GiGi watched Phantom of the Opera in the Explorer Lounge and went to bed a little after midnight. A fun day of adventure for everyone.
Favorite Things Today:
Grandpere: Island exploring with Lauren and Lillian
Lauren: Everything
Lillian: Shopping adventure with Grandpere
Leslie: Shopping in St Martin with the girls
Lincoln: Horseback riding on St Martin and the lady throwing rocks at the dog!
Chris: Horseback riding
Tim: Horseback riding - Steak dinner at Sterling with Grandpere
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