Irma (...not La Douce)

Last month we visited the Caribbean. We started on the island where we have been living 7 years, the island where I started my blog in 2008.

 

As you probably know, St. Maarten/St.Martin was severely hit by hurricane Irma on September 6th, 2017. Although we have been following the newspapers and social media ever since, seeing the effects was really shocking..!

 

For once I will address a post on this blog to the aftermath.

 Seeing the island struggle to rebuild was quite difficult. Knowing that lots of people and businesses are still waiting for the payments of the insurance companies before they can start renovating the roofs and other damaged parts. Many people lost their jobs due to the demolished hotels, few tourists are visiting the island that, except for its beaches, now has little more to offer. Knowing that there are just a few months left before another hurricane season starts, makes everything extra hard.

 

 

view from our apartment

 

Oyster Pond, once a very popular nautical area. Docks complety destroyed, hardly any yacht in harbor now, since there seem to be several ships on the bottom and thus sailing is difficult and dangerous. Moreover, no facilities are left...

 

 

Front Street in Philipsburg

At the time of our visit, I guess only 20-30 percent of the shops were open

This is an area close to the harbor where in high season up to 9 cruiseships came ashore. But, who needs diamonds seeing this?

 

 

Driving along the eastern coastway, we passed Coralita Beach and these cars

give a good impression of nature's powers

 

 

Marigot. Capital of the French part of the island

All shops and businesses at the waterfront completely destroyed,

so very sad to witness

 

and finally Orient Beach.

Once the most popular beach for both tourists and

people of this island. Lovely shops and restaurants, everything to welcome and pamper the people who came here to have a good time.

 

 

Before taking up my blogging regime, I felt the urge to tell you about these very recent experiences.



 

We have been talking to many survivors and can only just a little bit imagine how horrendous the passing of this hurricane must have been.

 

However, we have also seen the resilience of the people. The determination to rebuild and make St. Maarten/St. Martin once again a favorite destination to travel to.

 

Next time something else, more art related

 

Thanks for reading, see you soon,

 

Regina

 

 

Paper to digital

Playtime in the studio!

 

 Though I am no expert at all, I thought it would be nice to give you a peek inside my digital collage 'kitchen'.

 

 

 

For the above digital collage I used the paper collage below.

This is clearly visible, isn't it?

The paper collage was made by me some years ago when we were living on a Caribbean island...

 

 

 

This paper collage speaks to me, because it embodies

some very specific Caribbean ingredients:

 the ocean and sea, the coastal shores as can be seen while

sailing and from an airplane, and of course its colours

 

To change the paper one into the first, digital collage I layered it three times 'over itself' in PS; the second time I rotated the picture because I also wanted to have yellow in the lower right corner.
For each layer I changed the blending mode and when I was satisfied a boost filter and my 'signature' (turquoise native indian sign below right) were added.

 

The digital one shows that layers add so much more depth than the with the paper one.

 

However, I must say I love them equally much...

 

Thanks for reading and yes,
if you liked this post I would love your comment

 

Regina



New digital collage

 

La belle Epoque

digital collage

 

Sometimes, when there is some time left between activities, I use that time for playing on the computer.

While browsing my inspiration picture map, I came across this shell picture. It is beautiful as is, but I layered and blended it with a picture of a brochure of a well-known Saint Martin restaurant in Marigot (FWI) and this is the result: a digital collage like I have made many before, in my colours and my style.

 I could as well have named it Mostly Turquoise Shell, don't you think?

 

Ah, whatever, I am glad that not all my digital collage skills have left.

Note to self: keep on playing (exercising)Regien...

 

 

Have a playful day!

 

Regina

The weather is wet and grey...

... inside the house it is warm and cozy.

 

Pictures I made a while back in a friend's home at the island. Metal sun in terracotta dish, black and white patterns are details of two vases in her kitchen.

Combining naturel with black and white: always attractive and never boring me...

 

no punishment to be inside, with my pictures, computer and PS

 

Have a lovely Sunday!

 

Regina

Grand Case

Many delicious hours were spent here...

so my sweet memories of this lovely fisherman's village on the

French side of St. Martin led to this collage

...

 

 

 

Grand Case

 

paper (recycled tourist brochure, magazines)

appr. 7 x 11"

 

Happy to be playing again...

Regina

 

 

 

 



Goodbye Curacao (2)

In this post I told about my recent walk through Punda.

At the ferry I saw this man and I couldn't resist taking his picture, I'm sure you know why

Like places of public transport throughout the world, there was so much to see. But crossing the Annabaai does not take that long and I went ashore at Otrabanda, 'the other side' in Papiamentu.

I decides to visit one of the island's galleries that took a five minute walk, but once there it appeared that the gallery was not there anymore. All beauty I saw during my walk made up for this, however...

for I discovered some walls outside a restaurant that had 'poststamps' on it: all my favorites were present: Amsterdam, New York, India and also Spain! These pictures are a wealth for me, as I can and will use them in future digital collages. An unexpected treat!

One of the streets, needless to say I was thrilled...

and then this one!

and this guy, for me this looks like a 'he', but I know almost nothing about them, not even if they have a 'gender'... but I am always impressed by their preshistoric looks

by the time I got back, the bridge had been closed again

and I joined the many pedestrians that went to the Punda side.

Next time Westpunt,

thanks for visiting,

Regina

Goodbye Curacao!

It was time to say goodbye to collagues and family at Curacao, so we visited the island where we  have lived as a family some 30 years ago

 

and while DH was handing over business to his colleagues

I had a morning, a whole morning, to take a last stroll through Punda and Otrabanda...

 

... started at the central market, where this fisherman was cleaning his catch. Strange that I did not

feel any blockade to ask his permission for a picture. Maybe the fact that I was not afraid to speak Papiamentu was a bit of a help... anyhow, I was happy with his YES, of course!

shopping was a delight, so was walking through the small alleys

where you have to look up sometimes to discover real jewels...

In the distance is the bridge that crosses the Annabaai, thus connecting big parts of the island

This morning however, I decided to go by ferry, since the pontoon bridge had been opened to allow a ship to get into the harbour

 Close to the ferry station is this building, which houses the ambassy of Venezuela. This South American country is situated 'in front of' Curacao, though probably it is more correct to put it the other way around, but you get the idea!

the ferry just is used for passengers when the pontoon bridge is open, it is free and convenient.

And by leaving Punda by ferry, I conclude part I of my Willemstad, Curacao trip.

Will be back with more soon!

Enjoy your day and as always: thanks for visiting my blog!

Never Boring

  to me, never boring is a visit to the French village of Grand Case

On one side there is main street, Grand Case Promenade, with its quaint boutiques and many, many restaurants...

from where you can see this amazing view, the Caribbean Sea this is, oh yes!

nearly all houses in Grand Case were once built  along the beach, but most of these have been turned into restaurants over time

life seems easy here, what more could someone need but a hammock?

and a little terrace for a morning coffee and to watch the sunset at night...

'Don't worry, bout a thing

Cause everything s gonna be alright...'

For now I leave you with these words of the famous Bob Marley song in my mind

Thanks for visiting!



Oh, this sunny and colorful island!

Hi all,

This morning I was browsing my many, many pictures of this island and thought it would be nice to show some of its colours on my blog. While it is summer and sunny in most parts of the world where I think my visitors live, I feel I don't risk to make you jealous at present ;-)

These are common scenes you might find by just walking at random places here on the island.

Gathered over the years, during my countless trips...

Enjoy!

Grand Case, St. Martin



 a little corner near a boutique, a place for having a morning coffee, a little chat with a friend maybe...

 Marigot

 work of a SXM artist in the community centre of Grand Case

 French bakery at the waterfront in Marigot

a lot is happening at Baie Orientale, French St. Martin!

a beach shop near Boo Boo Jam, French St. Martin

Thanks for visiting today, enjoy the

SUN!

Regina

Wabi sabi shell garland

For years I have been collecting shells, bits and pieces of coral, stone and all things washed ashore by sea and ocean

finally I made something out of these, a garland for our home, to be taken with us to our new home in Spain. It will forever remind us of our time in the Caribbean...

you can see the imperfection of the shells and other pieces. Making this a true wabi sabi piece. I like imperfection, it could tell a story. I like stories; do you?

Thanks for visiting, as always,

Regina



Beautiful people

Those of you who have been following this blog for some time know about my problem with pictures of people. Mostly I snap a shot when driving by in my car and the results are (needless to say) not what I was really looking after, how could it be? It has taken me several years to get a little courage and simply ask the people if I may - please- take their picture. I was kind of afraid of the possible question: why you want my picture for? Now I have finally formulated the right answer, and it is an honest answer also:

'I have, during the years that we lived on the island, taken so many photographs of all possible beaches and places and the most important part of SXM is missing: I have no pictures of people!'

And they understand !! And they are willing to pose, though not all of them. I had some awesome 'models' that looked quite uncomfortable when I asked them and as I did not want to bribe, or push (that is soo not me!) I let it go: so you will have to forget about this very cute baby with cornbraided hair, she was a beauty queen already and very St. Martinish, alas! 

But what I have till today is in this post.  The opening picture is made in our garden during a yardsale. This very young mother was so proud of her little son, I do hope that her little one will have a prosperous life and find his way!

ladies of the Heineken promotion team can be seen on the island during events that are sponsored (of course), this was January 1st during the Karakter New Year Dive. Karakter is a very popular beach bar/restaurant and the owners are Dutch, hence the new years dive in the Caribbean Sea, similar to the dive in Scheveningen, Holland, which is a longtime tradition.

This very nice old lady sells papers during morning rush hour. She usually looks pretty grim, but once asked for a picture her face broke into a big smile and she took her time. Me in the car, window open and I did not even have to say CHEESE...

a mother and her two young kids on the Grand Case boulevard.

So this was it for today, thank you so much, beautiful women of Sint Maarten/St. Martin!

Wishing you a wonderful Mother's Day,

Regina

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!

Market day in Marigot

I am a real market lover and the one in Marigot on the French part of the island is my only possibility here. So on a recent visit I made some pictures to show on this blog:

this great statue sits at the beginning of the food market. It is made of concrete by a local artist. I like the style, it really represents the strong Caribbean women in my opinion...

A few days a week there is a tourist market as wel close to the food stalls. Like at so many places elsewhere, jewelry is very popular. This is something that strikes me also at art festivals. Artists almost starve (if they have to make a living of their work), but jewelry is most important!

In this case I doubt if there is any local jewelry artist involved, the goods are probably being made in and imported from the Philippines

now this is the real stuff: delicious herbs and other stuff from our region in beautiful 'sacs'. You sometimes still can see ladies wearing dresses of these fabrics

just a Caribbean building in the center of Marigot

these ladies are looking at something 'exciting', I absolutely did not get it at that moment. Must have been something local...

At noon all businesses close for lunch: this lovely restaurant serves a Caribbean menu and you can enjoy a wonderful view on Marigot Bay with all the catamarans and yachts.

Thanks for visiting, I hope you enjoye this little trip to the market!

Regina