Sint Maarten

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On the south side, the Dutch capital of Philipsburg plays host to numerous cruise ships during each week. It has countless jewelry, electronic and clothing shops as well as casinos which are ubiquitous. To the north, also a Mecca of duty-free shopping, the French capitol of Marigot is a picture perfect cut-out of a French seaside town. It, too, will see an occasional cruise ship in the bay. Hilly to the east, Sint Maarten’s secluded port of Oyster Pond straddles the French/Dutch border being a favorite protected harbor to yacht charter fleets. To the west, Simpson Bay Lagoon, the largest salt water lagoon in the Caribbean, also straddles the dividing line between French and Dutch sides of the island. The western, sandy lowlands contain the homes of numerous celebrities.