Even though, in retrospect, I didn’t do much at all this fine day, I was quite tired in the evening and retired early. We didn’t sail today but explored the island by rental car. Our Hyundai Getz from Econocars took us to a short shopping trip at Hope Estate where I stocked up on some sparkling wine and coffee pods, after which we had a short visit at the Ma Dou Dou showroom/factory before returning our purchases to the rental flat and then continuing on to Philipsburg. We saw 2 big cruise ships, including the “Oasis of the Seas” (a real behemoth at 1,186′ or 362 m) and, tucked away between them and looking somehow small was the “Rising Sun”, the 453′ (138 m) private mega yacht built by Larry Ellison and now owned by David Geffen which is ranked #11 in the world.
In Philipsburg we walked the boardwalk, then parts of front street and back street. I finally purchased my Nikkor Fish-eye lens, which I’d been ogling for over a year, and Nick got his Swatch replaced by a nice new one. After our shopping spree we headed to the SMYC for a bridge opening and some snacks, where unfortunately a waiter dropped some Balsamic Vinaigrette which splashed on Corinna’s shirt. Her neighbor, wearing a white shirt, also got splashed and got a replacement T-shirt, but the two spots on her shirt didn’t warrant a replacement for her. We then walked around a bit, seeing if we could walk the docks at Palapa, but a security guard was there at the entrance and prevented us from doing so. A drink a Buccaneer’s and then another at the 17:00 bridge opening rounded off the afternoon and we then proceeded to Grand Marché for a spot of shopping before returning to Grand Case. As we’d already snacked at the SMYC we then headed to Calmos Café for some more Tapas. I’d anchored my dinghy just beyond the break at the beach in front of my friends’ hotel and didn’t feel like wading or swimming to retrieve it, but Nick was kind enough to get wet and drag the dinghy ashore so that I could return to my boat high and dry.
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