How sweet I roamed from field to field, and tasted all the summer's pride.

Could not agree more with William Blake. Here are the 3rd installment of my Caribbean tour, this time the Island of St. Maarten/Sint Maarten. I found it fascinating how the Island plays into the caricature of its history. The French side clings to its European roots, while the Dutch side plays up its Caribbean vibe.

I have to say thou, out of the seven Islands my friend and I have been to, St. Martin was my least favorite. Partly because the taxi we rented for the day was just awful and did not want to take us to all the destination we wanted to check on both sides of the Island. Nevertheless, I loved the Dutch side more and would like to explore the whole Island longer in the future.

Live out of your imagination, not your history

Wise words by Stephen R. Covey, to live beyond the condition of your history and find an appreciation for all that surrounds you. When I was in St. Kitt's and St. Lucia, I felt the people that I encountered from the taxi driver to the seller in the market have adopted such principle in the love they have for their country and the healthy skepticism about the ever growing tourism industry. St. Kitts and Nevis in particular are in the unique position of having the longest written histories in the Caribbean, both islands being among Europe's first colonies. These 2 Islands combine mountainous beaches with the remnant of Great Britain military footprint and the legacy of the sugar plantations; friendly local people and pulsing soca music. In some part of St. Kitt's you feel like you stepped into old Europe, while other parts are very much what you will expect from a Caribbean Island.

Brimstone Hill Fortress