St. Martin
La Samanna Hotel
With an area of only 37 square miles, the island of St. Maarten/St. Martin is the smallest
landmass in the world to be divided between two governments. Its dual owners are the Dutch
and the French, who have shared the tiny and paradisiacal island more or less peacefully for
almost 350 years.
Four Seasons
Situated about 150 miles east of Puerto Rico, Dutch St. Maarten (the French
spell it St. Martin) covers 16 square miles of the southern part of the island, an area marked by
verdant, rolling hills that languidly rest above mile after mile of beach, salt pond, and lagoon. St.
Maarten/St. Martin's diversity and the strong influence of West-Indian combined with European
traditions make its the Caribbean's melting pot.
St. Martin is perhaps most famous for its restaurants and the elegance of its cuisine. From the most sumptuous of French delicacies to the tangy blends of Creole cooking to more exotic tastes like Chinese and East Indian, the island provides a wide variety of restaurants, bistros, brassieres, and barbecue shacks called lolos that
delight even the most sophisticated of gourmets. The St. Martinois take a deserved pride in their
cooking, which approaches something of an art form here. For dinner at most of the more
fashionable dining spots, reservations are definitely recommended, although usually they are not
necessary at lunch time. Many places also provide music for dancing, as do the many nightclubs
around the island. Bands play a variety of zouk, calypso, reggae, jazz, and pop.
To learn more about the Island of Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin please see their respective web sites at:
http://www.st-maarten.com
(Dutch) and http://www.interknowledge.com/st-martin
(French)
