Braderie in Marigot, St. Martin

Hello dear blog visitor, long time no post here. But I am not going to apologize, for I am not making any art at the moment, have been packing most of my materials and tools and the only thing I seem to do is saying goodbye to this island, little by little. I know, I made an early start since we are only leaving somewhere in September, but you know, some things, some happenings are only a few times or even once a year! As with the European/Caribbean style braderie in Marigot yesterday. I am so glad that this beautiful island consists of two, yes two countries. As small as this island is (you can drive it completely in let's say 2 hours, traffic jams included LOL), the fact that there is a Dutch and a French part really makes you feel that there are two very different countries here, so you can easily go 'abroad' without having to travel by air. And that is exactly what we, Dutch ladies, do, when we want some European feeling shopping experience...

the braderie: it was busy, very well attended by people from both sides of the island, plus tourists of course. One might say that tourists visiting SXM yesterday had a lot of luck!

these pictures I shot quite randomly. Some of you may know about my goal to shoot more pictures of faces. Well, as from the beginning of this year I started beginning asking permission to picture people and I will show some results soon, but yesterday was bad luck referring this. I asked a young women with a stunningly beautiful little girl on her arm that had the most wonderful braided hair and she did not want it. She was hesitant, did not really refuse me, and then there is my lack of persistance and maybe too much of respect. Anyway, I left it and did not make the photo.

Somehow you can see the pride even from the back, I think...

it was quite busy at the lingerie stalls

many people (myself included) had a great time!

oh-la-la!

Seeing old and young, real mothers and wannabe's: I will fondly remember Marigot's
braderie!

Baie des Froussards

Yesterday I took a walk with a friend and we discovered one of the beaches at the French side of the island. To our very surprise it was chockful of beauty, hardly any human waste to be found which is pretty uniqye!

we stumbled upon this beach as it we intended to take a different route, but the sound of the sea seemed to surround us and we were curious to see this exact location...

there was an abundance of the most beautiful compositions, made by nature...

this was the view of the beach as we entered it through a small path, shaded by bushes

this leaves me speechless, so I continue without further comment (some pics are clickable!)

Have a wonderful Tuesday!