Jumbo jet vs people on the beach
Posted by: Sniper on 09 March 2010
I watched the first video (747 landing - St-maarten)and could not believe my eyes so I watched all the others - some had me laughing out loud.
take off and landings
take off and landings
Posted on: 09 March 2010 by rodwsmith
Doing the jet-surf thing is irresistible after a few pina coladas.
Or so it seems.
St Martin/Maarten is a peculiar French/Dutch co-owned territory (the latter being Netherlands Antilles, and lobbying for independence). Towards the end of WWII, the Americans built the airport, imagining that - as Germany had invaded both 'parent' countries - should the outcome of the war be other than it was, this particular island would acquire strategic significance beyond its size.
I bet, later, they wished they'd had the same idea about Cuba...
Or so it seems.
St Martin/Maarten is a peculiar French/Dutch co-owned territory (the latter being Netherlands Antilles, and lobbying for independence). Towards the end of WWII, the Americans built the airport, imagining that - as Germany had invaded both 'parent' countries - should the outcome of the war be other than it was, this particular island would acquire strategic significance beyond its size.
I bet, later, they wished they'd had the same idea about Cuba...
Posted on: 09 March 2010 by Sniper
Rod,
You are a lucky chap to spend your time between two such lovely areas of the world. I hope to visit that airport one day and see that spectacle for myself. What are your views on independence pros and cons?
You are a lucky chap to spend your time between two such lovely areas of the world. I hope to visit that airport one day and see that spectacle for myself. What are your views on independence pros and cons?
Posted on: 10 March 2010 by rodwsmith
I do get to spend around five weeks each year as our business operation (selling wine to the super-yachts) moves from the Med to the Caribbean each year. It's awful as I am sure you can imagine. Mind you if my trip coincides with Christmas, the terribleness of local festive Caribbean radio has to be heard to be believed - once you've heard one carol played on steel drums, you've heard all you want to I reckon.
Personally I think independence will be a disaster for Sint Maarten, with a wholly tourism dependent population of just 35,000 "country status" simply isn't viable. There is a prison on Curaçao (another part of the Netherlands Antilles) which has an entire wing only for politicians and police convicted of corruption. It's full.
Somehow they seem to believe that the EU and the Dutch will want to continue to bankroll them (and the current subsidies are in the billions). Property prices on the French side (which remains part of the EU) are falling as a result.
I'm actually not sure it will happen, but it'll be another Haiti in the making if it does I fear.
Personally I think independence will be a disaster for Sint Maarten, with a wholly tourism dependent population of just 35,000 "country status" simply isn't viable. There is a prison on Curaçao (another part of the Netherlands Antilles) which has an entire wing only for politicians and police convicted of corruption. It's full.
Somehow they seem to believe that the EU and the Dutch will want to continue to bankroll them (and the current subsidies are in the billions). Property prices on the French side (which remains part of the EU) are falling as a result.
I'm actually not sure it will happen, but it'll be another Haiti in the making if it does I fear.
Posted on: 10 March 2010 by Sniper
Rod,
Yes, dirty work but someone has to do it. It's great how the web can take one on a mystery tour. I started googling for I cant remember what and soon found myself reading about 16th century Japanense farm houses and the next thing I'm reading about the island of Saba and I thought what a lovely place to live. I noted two thirds of the population work in a Government function which is why the island is so clean and how due to economic support from the Netherlands and the European Union, Saba's unemployment rate is very low. Crime is virtually non-existent. Then I saw a report that the Dutch Antilles is to be dismantled by october 2010 and that corruption and crime is out of control on the other islands and all of a sudden Saba looks less desirable. Have you been to saba?
Yes, dirty work but someone has to do it. It's great how the web can take one on a mystery tour. I started googling for I cant remember what and soon found myself reading about 16th century Japanense farm houses and the next thing I'm reading about the island of Saba and I thought what a lovely place to live. I noted two thirds of the population work in a Government function which is why the island is so clean and how due to economic support from the Netherlands and the European Union, Saba's unemployment rate is very low. Crime is virtually non-existent. Then I saw a report that the Dutch Antilles is to be dismantled by october 2010 and that corruption and crime is out of control on the other islands and all of a sudden Saba looks less desirable. Have you been to saba?