Welcome to Sint Maarten, a beautiful island country in the Caribbean. Most of the Caribbean Islands are mountainous. No big surprise as they were formed by volcanoes. Sint Maarten is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The island is divided between two nations, the Netherlands and France. It has a total population of 40,120 on an area of 37 km2 (14 sq mi). It was once a pretty little island where most of the commerce is done on the Dutch side and the French side is mostly resorts and residential. As an aside, the French side is known as St. Martin. In 2017, Hurricane Irma decimated 70% of the island and it is rebuilding, but, as it took it right down to the infrastructure, it will take time. If you didn't visit before the hurricane, perhaps you wouldn't even notice as they have rebuilt some of the more touristy areas back quickly.

This post is for #MountainMonday by @KeithBoone

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Princess Juliana International Airport (IATA: SXM, ICAO: TNCM) is the main airport on the island. On the Dutch side of the island, in the country of Sint Maarten, it is a huge tourist attraction as people watch the large planes come into the airport over a small strip of beach and across a road, barely clearing you as you lay on the beach. Okay, that may be a slight exaggeration but, I can tell you what color the pilot's eyes were. Okay? They do block the road when a plane is landing so that no cars will pass. I have witnessed people losing the grip on the fence and go flying across the road with the afterburner of the planes. I have decided they are totally crazy or trying to get high off the fumes. Yikes

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There are so much beauty and tranquility on this island. They greatest joy are the people that you meet as you wander about. For the devastation that has hit here, there is joy in their heart. How many of us can say the same for ourselves? The beaches are pristine and clean and there are always beach chairs with cabana boys in the tourist areas... Yeah, no. I like the self-serve beaches. Just saying.

St. Maarten is the only 100% duty-free island in the Caribbean. Great food, duty-free and some of the most drop dead beaches around? Win-win. Just so you know, there are at least sanctioned dive sites here.

This is the absolute smallest territory in the world that is governed by two sovereign nations. There is such a mix of cultures and language here, although I am sure they have been a tad bit bastardized over time. The French, Britain, and the Netherlands came as traders and brought African Slaves to run their agriculture of sugar cane and cotton... so many different cultures under one island. But, it works so well. But, that is just my view.

Let's try that beach in a little bit of black and white for #MonochromeMonday initiated by @old-guy-photos. Who could forget about this day? Throw a little mono in your mountain! :)

¸.♥´¸.•♥¨) Let the sun shine in on your life
So the joy may touch your soul
(¸.•´♥ (¸.•´ ♥

A flower. There must always be a flower to color my world. This flower is dedicated to #RedMonday #ColorChallenge by @Kalemandra

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Be inspired. It’s mandatory.

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Don't ever forget what wonderful world we live in, people. Let's hold hands around the globe and make this earth really spin. Some days, it is not as easy to see, so we must try harder to give everyone the proper focus.

Later that night
I held an atlas in my lap
Ran my fingers across the whole world
And whispered,
"Where does it hurt?"
It answered,

"Everywhere"
"Everywhere"
"Everywhere"

- Warsan Shire