shopping in St. Martin

[edit 25 nov]

I discovered that there actually is a Benetton on the island. Or rather I've seen the sign and heard the ad on radio, not yet seen the shop, so I guess white t-shirts for less then 60 euro a r e possible;) Also saw that one of the jean shops in West Indies Mall carries Diesel, so no need to go to the Bahamas just for those;)

I would not be a women if I wouldn't talk about shopping. The truth is, it is a difficult activity here. There is a specific shop reality, meaning, it is nothing like anything else experienced hitherto. It is neither the typical large city with a plethora of all budget, all target group, all brands, all size; and it is also not the typical delayed little town reality. If you live in St. Martin, or if you are visiting with the intention of shopping for clothes there's just a few shops you're likely to look into. Although there are plenty of establishments, about 90% you would not go into. The majority of shops are focused on tourists - offering diamond and other gem stone jewellery, electronics, perfumes and similar souvenir type goods.
For people who live here, the actual shopping experience is quite limited vis-à-vis the actual shop presence. I have already written about the West Indies Mall in a post in March, and that offers a few shops you can enjoy as anywhere else in a shopping centre; plus there are 2-4 shops in Philipsburg I look into on a regular basis and 2-5 in Marigot. Regular means in fact completely irregular, rather, if I'm in town when the shops are open I stop by. About 50% of the times I stop by, I end up buying something; but I am in town rather rarely.

The island offers supposedly tax free goods, which is great for computers, perfumes or in general for branded expensive buys. The sad reality is that if you are not after a Furla belt, Tag Heuer watch, Burberry scarf, mac computer or Hermès bag you are likely not to notice at all you are profiting from the discount. Not to mention now, when the Euro is so strong and it makes a a great difference whether you are paying a 100 USD Dutch side, or a 100 Euro French side. Let's say you need a regular white t-shirt, or beach shorts, or whatever garment which is not meant to be brand conscious, you're stuck with paying (cheapest) 60 Euro for your T-shirt, as you just can't get plain regular items at a supermarket, wallmart-similar-establishment, decathlon or a chain shop as Benetton, Zara or H&M. You're left with the uber cool, uber expensive boutiques, or the places targeting poor locals (example Backstreet of Philipsburg) where most items are India/China made, the ambience is depressing, lighting dim, fitting room scary, the variety close to zero, the up-to-datedness very behind:( likelihood of cheap t-shirts very high.

And don't be fooled by the few chic brands I flashed at you above. The island does not offer all possible high end delicacies. For Dior, Louis Vuitton and company you're better of shopping at nearby St. Barth. I had to go for my Tods to Miami, my Diesel to Bahamas - just to name a few.

Yet in this weird reality there are a few places which target moi as a client:) yey! And I have nothing against Hermès sandals or Longchamps bags - I am in favour all the way, but I need my variety, my options, my comparesen, my free choice! Filiberto often compares the island to a large dutyfree airport shopping area, and he has a point. You have your liquor, cosmetics, high end brands, etc. But who can survive shopping only at an airport? Which is why I am so thankful for a few shops which make the island a little less dutyfree like... This post is dedicated to those places, the Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and Cocolito of Philipsburg as well as Showroom, MaxMara, Coco Island and Ici Paris of Marigot. I unfortunately don't have pictures of all places I mention but hopefully this will be corrected soon:)

Things I can never figure out....

1) why the hell a 6 bottle case of Evian, costs 15 Euros in Orient Bay?
2) does St Maarten have its own ZIP code?
3) is there a way to keep mosquitoes off my bedroom w/o inhaling toxic gases myself?
4) why cows are free to cross the streets?
5) why are there 2 carnivals?
6) why do I need to convince taxi drivers that the fastest way between the airport and Orient Bay is not via Oyster's Pond? (specially considering that the fare is fixed!!!)
7) why are taxis on average bigger then buses?
8) why collective taxis are to the benefit only of taxi drivers and not customers?
9) why people in SXM are not keen in giving directions?
10) why - while walking on front street - would I need a "taxi back to ship"?
11) where can I find information on buses? I mean if I want to go from Point A to Point B, how do I know which Bus to take?
12) why the propane bottle re-seller has an ad on the yellow pages which says: "home delivery" if they don't actually do home delivery?
13) why taxi drivers thing that the traffic problem in SXM is caused by rentals?
14) how many resorts/private condos/villas are they going to build?
15) why european citizens can't sign up in the french town hall of Saint Martin? Isn't that a basic right/duty of being european?

Ladies room bureaucracy

Anyone who has come shopping to St. Martin (on the French side), whether was here for a day or a lifetime, probably knows le West Indies Mall. It's not too large, beautiful on the inside, looks like a Monte Carlo Casino from the outside, in fact I was thinking the other day, that Monaco's Le Métropole is actually a little less lavish than Le West Indies Mall haha.
Anyway, I had a funny incident in the ladies room of our island's shopping centre. As perhaps some of you know, to enter the rest room, one must pay; surprisingly enough, price is quoted in US$ rather than in Euro. This makes completely no sense, baering in mind the current currency exchange.
Fili's parents were visiting, and they discovered that if you are a customer of the little bar down the stairs across from the main entrance, you are exempt from paying rest room. Provided you hand in to the rest room lady the ticket from the bar - but it must have something scribled on it!
So the other day, I was there with them, and we were having a snack, comprising 3 beverages. After this we went to the rest rooms, with the ticet in hand:) The restroom lady stopped us, saying that unfortunately in order for her to let us in free, the ticket must say how many people were at the bar!!! hahaha
Isn't this the most ridiculous thing you heard? I already feel ridiculous writing about it. When I heard this on the spot, I just burst out laughing. I mean, anyone can do basic math, if assigned the important task of collecting money at restroom entry point, right? So if there are snacks, plus 3 beverages on a ticket, plus the group trying to get in is composed of 2 fine looking senior citizens, and a young lady, is that really grounds to become bureaucratic? We are talking about 3 US$...and about trying to get into a shopping centre's bathroom, which for Pete's sake, should be free of charge anyway! haha

airport taxi dispatchers

Today is the 4th time that I land on the island. And by far the least friendly welcome:(
On the plane I was reading a book about the human need for being and remaining in control, so to a certain extent I understand what took place and can justify it; for the rest, I am just astonished.
I breezed through passports, no queue, no lengthy questioning/explaining why EU citizens don't require a carte de sejour, lastly the usual no baggage. I was out on the street within 5 minutes of leaving the plane. That was a wonderful feeling. Until it got rained on by another not so friendly island folk.
There must have been no other plane landing prior to mine for a while, as the waiting area was clear and there were hardly any people in front of the exit. I happily walked out and headed for the first taxi in line, hoping that since there is no one else around, I might get a solo ride, rather than getting a tour of the island with 10 other tourists, before being brought home.
As I was already trying to make eye contact with my lady taxi driver, I was called to a halt. A man in a uniform, which means little here on the island, bearing in mind the plethora of uniforms around, asked if I needed a taxi. Without really stopping, I turned my head towards him and replied yes. I guess my not stopping upset him, because he changed his tone and objectively impolitely demanded to know where I was going. His colleague and he, the 2 for sure nondegree, close to neandertals told me to go to the first taxi. At which point I thought this is even more Kafka than I initially assumed. I did get upset and said that that is exactly what I was doing, ie going to the first taxi!
I can't remember the exact words, but the conversation followed a pointless exchange of bordering on rude ripostes. He claimed I HAD to stop and inform that I was seeking a taxi, plus tell them where I was going. Grounds for which he showed me an illegible tag on his uniform shirt and a sign on his booth which read TAXI STAND. I was so taken aback by his imposition of authority that for an instant I did stop and stand speechless, trying to figure out if it was island humour I was not realising, or whether some sort of new nazi laws were implemented while I was away, and now I in fact did have to inform uniformed people of where I was headed.
So buffled and upset I finally said I was going: home. This was either not heard by him and his colleague, or simply was unappreciated, as they both screamed once more where I was headed. So purposely low I muttered my destination, after which again I was pointed to go in the direction I was already going. Low, because I don't like the big brother attitude of the US airports, and since that was where I was coming from, I had a strong need to rebel against having to inform of addresses and other data. Certain things are private and I really disagree with having to share so much..
So why should I have stopped?? The man claimed I had to because that was his job to dispatch people to taxis, and that he was there in service of his government. HA! I am seriously not sure what kind of service he did for me, for one. Secondly, not sure what citizens of this island pay taxes for, because of it's to cover his salary, I'm sorry for every NAF wasited.
I honestly wish I had more positive items to post about SXM, but it's either my attitude towards this place that attracts negative events, or it's just plain honest truth, there's more bad than good to write about.