Simpson Lagoon
Sint Maartin
18.02.721N
63.05.616W

We made an early trip into the French side this morning to check out of customs. That way, tomorrow morning when we leave, we’ll just pull chocks and go.

On our way back, we perused the straw market one more time. Nicky picked up lots of exotic spices that I’d never even heard of before. When I asked Nicky what she was going to use them for, she told me about a few recipes she has that called for them. I think the lady selling the spices was impressed with Nicky’s knowledge since she readily agreed and added a few other ideas. I bought a mixed blend that can be used on steaks. Guess I’m not so exotic.

We stopped by the bakery for a couple of croissants then returned to our respective boats until early afternoon, when we promised to meet again to go to the airport to visit with Lynn & Peter, our previous landlords and marina mates in Orange Park.

Gerry & Nicky rented a car for the afternoon. We got to the airport early and grabbed a couple of seats in the restaurant overlooking the arrival area. Dale & I have always enjoyed people watching and apparently, so do Gerry & Nicky. From our perch, we could see that once people cleared their baggage from customs, they were directed through a hallway created with glass panels. Depending upon which line they were in, they would walk down the hallway and turn left or down another hallway and turn right. Both lines met back at a central door that emptied into the arrival lobby where they could be greeted. By the time Lynn & Peter actually arrived, we had nick named a few groups of people we witnessed.

There were the turtles, the group of people that would make their way to the central door, then stop and peer around it. It was as if they were afraid of what lay around the next corner. Gerry made the observation that it wasn’t like they could actually turn around and go back the way they had come.

Then we had the sprinters. This was the group of people that once their baggage was cleared, they practically ran down the hallway, through the door, then hit their stride out the chute of welcoming arms. If someone were waiting for these people, they would have to tackle them to say hello.

Then there were the same ones you curse on the freeway. They enter the on-ramp, drive to the end and stop. Everyone behind them have to slam on the brakes to keep from hitting them. Well, apparently they travel and do the same thing. They’d enter the hallway, guide their rolling luggage or trolleys to the central door, turn and enter the chute of welcoming arms, get to the end and stop. Everyone behind them has to slam on the brakes and wait for these people to decide whether to defecate or abdicate.

We also had a couple of single entries that were humorus. One in which a young mother came out the central door and gave her infant baby to a couple of waiting grandmothers, then went back in. The grandmothers were so delighted, they hardly registered when the parents finally were able to make it through.

The best I think were the 4 ladies dressed in hot pink T-shirts that read: ‘My friend Michele is 50 today’. Michele came out wearing a hot pink T-shirt that read: ‘I’m Michele and I’m 50 today’ plus she was wearing a good sized tiara. The mere fact that she was doing all of this was great but the fact that she was doing it with flair was priceless.

By the time Lynn & Peter arrived, we only had 15 minutes to spend with them before they were whisked away for their cruise on a 3 masted sailing ship back to the BVI’s. We caught up as best we could then wished them well. Tomorrow we all sail. Lynn & Peter to the west. The rest of us to the east. Fair winds to all!!