Howdy fellow readers... sorry for the bit of a delay- life is getting busy with work deadlines, back to school, fall activities/sports.... you know, the usual drill called life.
I do have exciting news to share over on my Pre-Trip report when I get back to it. I will get back to it. Just not today. Or tomorrow. Or anything like that. Ha!
Anyways, let's finish up our not-so-wonderful St. Maarten experience.
So after a very awesome, but much too quick stop at Maho- we once again were herded in our big bus to head towards the French Capital of St. Margot..or something like that.
I don't remember the city name because I didn't like this stop in 2007. And I didn't like it in 2014. It's a market with trinkets.
Our bus, as usual, was the last of all the St. Bernard's busses & it was also the biggest one and so by the time we FINALLY got off and over to the 'draw' of St. Margot- which is the French pastry shop called Sarafinas, the place was packed to the gill, the line was literally out the door.... and we were just hot and cranky from too much time on a bus!
Plus, this was the exact time an unnamed child who's cute and therefore forgiven after the fact- decided she COULD NOT WAIT to use the potty. Of which, as you can guess, was nowhere to be found. Because...there wasn't one.
And so someone had to walk her all the way back to the market. And no one wanted to because we were all hot and tired & snippy. And so it almost became WW3 on who that said person would be.
Let's just say there were 3 of us in this war. To go by our ancestral nationalities they were Hungarian (my mother), Italian (my husband) and Lithuanian (myself). Italy lost. And as a result, Hungry and Lithuania had to pay for that anger the rest of the day by another Cold War. It added to the fun of the day.
Now, getting back to the actual food. One would think I would love this place. Because, well, it's sugar. And if you know me.. you know I belong in rehab for my sugar addictions...
But.... by the time we got up there, many (many!) things were gone thanks to the 100 plus people that just unloaded in front of us... and I was left slightly ticked that my only option for a Macaroon was a vomit colored pistachio one.
That being said, it did actually taste very good.
I eased my frustrations and the fact Italy wasn't going to forge any alliance with the Eastern European countries of Hungry and Lithuania anytime soon by drowning myself in lemon.
And chocolate.
Then another child who will remained unnamed but has blonde hair had to use the washroom. Because apparently it's very hard to have to go 10 minutes before when your sister has to go.
This time, Lithuania lost (me). And off she and I went to use the lovely capital bathrooms. (read between the lines).
And then we attempted to meet up with the rest of our little group in the market.
We were SO hot. And so not happy with each other..and so not wanting to get back on to that bus....that we decided we should celebrate with a family picture. To record the wonderful vacation memory.
It's even more special that I think I look especially fat in it.
But you can see the special souvenirs we picked out from the market. One wooden Nemo bobbing head toy for Ms. Charlie & one new island purse bargained down (like a pro) by Ms. Rebecca.
Charlie's Nemo got eaten by the dog within 1 hour of us returning home. Rebecca still uses her purse. So I consider that a 1:1 ratio..and in our family that's a success!
Where are we? Is this tour or this post over yet?
So we loaded back on the bus. Hot, sweaty and ready to go home. The family behind us with small babies....and the family in front of us with small babies determined they too had enough (I honestly don't blame them, I don't) but wailing, screaming babies now added to our wonderful tour.
Oh, but wait... there's more.
Let's stop at the sea urchin farm. Where Hungry, Italy and China refused to move from their seats.
This stop was a highlight for my tomboy. Mostly because she got to wade in water and with some spiky, ugly creatures....
It was a very pretty spot. I wish the tour had been more time in places like this vs. on/off a bus.
Although, again, the animal treatment/conservation is not great in this island. The people pulling the urchins out were townpeople, who mishandled them, pawned them off on people to hold (tour buses) for a tip and then when the urchins eventually died- they just threw them down on the beach or back in the water.. we saw lots & lots of dead urchins and starfish here.
Anyways... also the following fun facts were learned on the very last leg of our tour. I found this interesting and the only redeeming part of the long, crowded bus ride...
So.. this island is two nations. Dutch and French. Therefore governed by two sets of laws.
The French are considered 'uptight' and 'strict'. Lots of laws and restrictions. Me being the rule follower that I am (I am such a nerd about that) I appreciate the French on this island.
The Dutch.. um.. not so much. Think.. red light district Amsterdam. You want a woman- eh, go to the wh#re house. They lined the roads (we saw them). (and just so you know, to be fair to all those workers they 'rotate through different countries every 3 months- South American, Asian, ect..'). How the tour guide talked about this like it was no big deal and didn't think 'wow, those woman are probably trafficked here' is beyond me.
I did make a mental note to never allow my young daughters as young women to come to this island as visions of Natalee Halloway filled my brain.
Anyways.. in addition to your woman.. have some drugs. Legal.
Oh, and drinking and driving... well, according to our guide.. you shouldn't have a license if have not demonstrated you can BOTH drink and drive together. So- perhaps check the nationality of your tour guide driver.
So there's your St. Maarten geography lesson for today. You are welcome. All the little kids on the Disney boat were really excited to learn this today too on the tour. I mean, I don't know about your kids..but my kids school doesn't cover that!
I can hear the Kindergartener on her report to 'what I did on my summer vacation' already!
We finally (thank goodness) finished our tour around 2:30. We all ran off the bus. They tried to get a group picture of the bus occupants..and well... we just wanted to get out of there..... so we didn't stick around.
Since we were already at war, I forced my family to take another 'special' memory photograph. Looking straight into the hot sun. Aww, I look at this and think.... wow, I remember how much we really all hated each other at this point on the vacation..........
I am actually surprised we are all smiling.
Although you will notice Italy is nowhere near his Eastern European cohorts.
Let's get back on this ship, shower & be happy again!
Once on board... it was time to prepare ourselves for one of my favorite things about a
Disney Cruise.
PIRATE NIGHT!!! And I have 9,000 pictures of that coming up in the next few posts!!!
Maybe more time on Maho would be better. 
We are most excited about Maho, too. My DH has worked on airplanes his entire career, and has quite the obsession with them. So, this tour was a MUST for us. 
(I know, I have so much to say today. Enjoy it, this is rare) 
