Saint Martin

 

Slide 1: Saint Marn is an island located in the Caribbean seas, not very big with approximately 19km from north to south and 19km from east to west. But there is something weird about this island. If you search the web for Saint Marn you will see two names. Sint Maarten and Saint Marn. So, which of those am I going to talk about today? Well, both because they are the same… It’s weird but it’s true. Slide 2: So, shall we Sint Maarten or Saint Marn? Well like I said before… both because this island is divided into two sides where one belongs to the Netherlands and the other belongs to France. On the French side of the island, you speak French, and on the other part of the island, that belongs to the Netherlands, Dutch with a mixture of English. Slide 3: So... How is the island i sland divided? Well, as we can see in the picture, the southern third is ed historically and administravely with the Netherlands while the northern two-thirds are ed with France.

So, what name or in this case pronunciaon belongs to who? For the Netherlands, the island is spelled as Sint Maarten On the other hand, the French give a dierent, typical french accent, pronouncing it as Saint Maarten Slide 4: The island was sighted on November 11th, on 1493, by Critóvão Colombo, who named the island in honor of St. Marn of Tours. Years ahead, the island was in dispute between Spain and Dutch that later when returning to the island in 1648 got surprised to nd it occupied by the French, but eventually, agreed to sign a paron treaty.

The ocial currencies are the euro on the French side and the Netherlands Anllean guilder (called Naf) on the Dutch side. The Dutch side is the part of the island with more tourists, as the populaon on the Dutch side speaks more English and is more of a luxury stay where people can enjoy more sophiscated and more luxury hotels as well as more night acvity. On the other hand, the French side is more of a natural stay where people can get the true island experience. Slide 5: Curiosity: The famous videos and photos that are known worldwide where airplanes airplanes approach the runaway right on top of the beach are located in Sint Marn. The beach name is “Maho Bay” and is one of the most popular places around. Curiosity: Most of the people are of African or mixed African-European heritage.

Curiosity: The border between the Dutch side and the French is simply a small monument with no restricons so that everyone can cross freely.