Monday 12th Feb 18
Philipsburg
Monday is Jouvert, and we have put our alarm for 4,30am. However the weather is atrocious out there, wind and rain… guess we are staying in… The skies clear up later in the day and we take the opportunity to go and explore Philipsburg. The ride in the bus is quite spectacular with view over the sea. The local news have been full of the dump fires raging for almost a week, we could smell the smoke whilst we were in Simpson Bay. We can now understand why it was so disruptive with business and schools closure. The dump is near enough in the middle of the town, on an island but very close. The devastation here is also noticeable although all the areas where the cruising ship people are likely to be by the terminal have all been tidied up and painted afresh. Most of the posh shops are back in business. A few restaurants on the beach are being rebuilt. The beach is fantastic, miles long and white, with no one on it. A lot of building work is going on but there is an awful lot more to be done.,. and it has definitely been prioritised to the tourist bits, which is understandable. Cruise ships are back and they need them too.
Back to Marigot in the afternoon, to see the concert tonight. Not as good as last night and once again we have to ask a policeman to find us a taxi.