Maho Beach mayhem

Jan 14
Noticed on the SXM airport website listing of arrivals Insel Air would be about an hour late buying me a little more travel time. Maho Beach was again an absolute zoo. I saw one guy sleeping on a lounger right in front of the Sunset Beach Bar with people walking around him, cars honking and jets landing. I can only conclude he was sleeping off last nights drunk or passed out already from today's drunk! I know some people like Maho but with 37 beaches on the island I think there are so many better choices. However, it depends on your personal preferences.

I picked out a spot that I knew would be perfect for a direct shot overhead. I got pretty good shots of both aircraft but I still think I could do better. Unfortunately, I won't get a chance until we're back next time as I'm leaving the day after tomorrow. When I do return I should be laying down looking up at Paula while the plane flies overhead. An 8mm lens would be better but the 10-20 will do. In the paper the next day was an article about 17 cars having their windows broken by flying debris when the KLM 747 turned around the wrong way to taxi back to the terminal. Apparently they’re supposed to swing right to turn around but they swung left, directing their jetwash at the cars parked outside restaurants along the beach. Makes the idiots hanging on the fence at the end of the runway when these big boys take off look even stupider. With my runway shots done I decided to try out Bucanneer Beach Bar for lunch as I'd heard it was good. After about 15 minutes of sitting there I finally called the waitress over since it seemed she would never come on her own. I placed my order for the blackened Mahi Mahi burger and a Carib. It was such a good location looking out onto the beach that I took a shot and used it for my Facebook post. Service didn’t improve much as I had to get my own order from the cook’s counter and seek her out to pay my bill.

Happy Beach

With lunch out of the way and the sun shining brightly I thought an afternoon on Friars Bay or Happy Bay beaches was in order. Friars Bay didn’t really appeal to me and was kind of boring water wise since there were no waves. As I was walking the beach I noticed a trench from the bay to a pond behind the restaurants but thought not much about it. Later I read on TTOL that they had dug that trench on purpose to drain the pond which actually was a sewage lagoon. That is ridiculously gross and I couldn’t say I’d be inclined to ever visit that beach. Glad I didn’t swim there! So, I continued on to Happy Bay which was about a 10 minute hike up the coast and through a pasture. Happy Bay didn't thrill me either. There's a lot of rock and only a few spots to easily get into the water and the beach slope was quite steep. In the end, I just didn't see it as any better than Orient, Anse Marcel or Cupecoy. Also, I was getting quite hot lugging all my gear around and so just headed home. Looking back on the pictures now I think I was just too picky. It's a nice looking spot and I'd definitely give it a go next time.

On the way home I stopped to get a couple of toys from Francois as gifts then headed back to the condo. By this time it was close to 4 o'clock and not worth heading to Orient so I just went for a walk to get some filler beach shots.