Today we were in St. Maarten. I stayed on the Dutch side of the island. I walked from the port over to the beach/boardwalk area (about a 15 minute walk) and then walked the entire length of the Boardwalk. As I was walking back, I decided upon a little restaurant with a wooden deck, overlooking the ocean and the bay. Since I was in the tropics, I decided on a tropical (though not healthy) lunch of coconut shrimp (& french fries) and two pina coladas. My diet is shot, and I've accepted that, until I return home, so what the heck. There was a . . . how do I say this delicately . . . let's say "local" place next door (I wouldn't have eaten there). It was fenced off behind the restaurant part (on the boardwalk), but being down-wind, I could smell a constant scent of pot. I think after 2 hours I was actually a bit high from the second-hand smoke. OK, I jest, but it was certainly pungent! I walked back to the ship and was in my cabin by 2:15pm for a nap - I don't know if it was the rum, the grease, or the sun, but it wiped me out and I didn't feel great.
Tonight, Arte Diem performed for the final time. They debark on Friday (as do I - YIPPEEEEEEE!) and head directly to Sweden for a rehearsal on Saturday, May 4, for a Eurovision performance later in the month. I have really enjoyed getting to know them and working with them, especially Timo, the producer/artistic director. I hope to work with them again in the very near future.
