Posts by Barry23
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CARIBBEAN: The island of SAINT-MARTIN, a different way
Thanks Bertone for that nice word.
Settling by a pond is fine, but they’re often lined with mangroves and swamps... even nicer is relaxing between two dips on one of the island’s stunning beaches 😉, and there are over 35 of them all around!
Hi there,
That’s exactly what makes Saint-Martin so charming: you can go from a mangrove or a pond to a paradise beach in just a few minutes. On my last trips, I also noticed that many travelers in vans, RVs, or boats take advantage of this freedom to explore different spots on the island completely off-grid. With sunshine almost year-round, solar setups are really popular for powering lights, fridges, or electronics without needing an external hookup. For those interested in this kind of gear, I recently came across a pretty comprehensive guide on the SmartSolar MPPT Victron Energy solar charge controller, which explains how to optimize solar battery charging while traveling. Anyway, your photos and story make me want to go back so badly!
Hi there,
That’s exactly what makes Saint-Martin so charming: you can go from a mangrove or a pond to a paradise beach in just a few minutes. On my last trips, I also noticed that many travelers in vans, RVs, or boats take advantage of this freedom to explore different spots on the island completely off-grid. With sunshine almost year-round, solar setups are really popular for powering lights, fridges, or electronics without needing an external hookup. For those interested in this kind of gear, I recently came across a pretty comprehensive guide on the SmartSolar MPPT Victron Energy solar charge controller, which explains how to optimize solar battery charging while traveling. Anyway, your photos and story make me want to go back so badly!
Charging solar panel on van in the shade
Hello,
How do you manage to charge your battery via a solar panel while keeping your vehicle in the shade so it doesn’t turn into an oven?
I have a Renault Trafic, unfortunately black, and my cooler, Victron Energy multiplus charger-converter, battery, and BougeRV solar panel.
My battery is mainly used for my electric cooler.
https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0CQ4LFVVR?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3
Thanks in advance, Nath
Hi Nath,
For your use—mainly powering an electric cooler—you could have also charged your auxiliary battery during your trips using a Cyrix-CT battery combiner from Victron Energy - Equipement Solaire. This device automatically connects the starter battery and the auxiliary battery when the engine is running. The alternator then charges both batteries without any input from you. Once the engine is off, the combiner separates them automatically to prevent draining the starter battery. This solution is particularly useful in your case because it lets you park your Renault Trafic in the shade to keep the interior cooler while still charging your battery during your drives. Solar panels are still a great addition, but when the priority is keeping an electric cooler running, charging via the alternator often adds extra convenience. Feel free to share the capacity of your BougeRV battery and the wattage of your solar panel if you’d like me to recommend the best setup for your system.
How do you manage to charge your battery via a solar panel while keeping your vehicle in the shade so it doesn’t turn into an oven?
I have a Renault Trafic, unfortunately black, and my cooler, Victron Energy multiplus charger-converter, battery, and BougeRV solar panel.
My battery is mainly used for my electric cooler.
https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0CQ4LFVVR?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3
Thanks in advance, Nath
Hi Nath,
For your use—mainly powering an electric cooler—you could have also charged your auxiliary battery during your trips using a Cyrix-CT battery combiner from Victron Energy - Equipement Solaire. This device automatically connects the starter battery and the auxiliary battery when the engine is running. The alternator then charges both batteries without any input from you. Once the engine is off, the combiner separates them automatically to prevent draining the starter battery. This solution is particularly useful in your case because it lets you park your Renault Trafic in the shade to keep the interior cooler while still charging your battery during your drives. Solar panels are still a great addition, but when the priority is keeping an electric cooler running, charging via the alternator often adds extra convenience. Feel free to share the capacity of your BougeRV battery and the wattage of your solar panel if you’d like me to recommend the best setup for your system.
CARIBBEAN: The Island of SAINT-MARTIN, a Different Perspective
So, what about that machine from the previous post? Any ideas?
Well, we imagine it’s some kind of grinder... Grain? But there were never large cultivated fields on this small island! So, for crushing sugarcane? That doesn’t fit either!
Actually, this grinder was once used to prepare the island’s “white gold”... salt. In the many lagoons and ponds, the main livelihood was harvesting salt. In fact, the first local populations named their island: Soualiga, land of salt.
Salt workers are honored in Philipsburg (Dutch side) with these very realistic statues.
One of these ponds (Mont Vernon, Chevrise) used to be an old salt marsh. A view taken at a particularly photogenic moment with this stunning water mirror. Let’s admit, most of the time, the area looks duller with brackish waters.
-- --
Christmas, Saint-Martin style Like everywhere in the world, during the Christmas holidays, a large tree stands in the center of Marigot, the main town on the French side of the island. A Christmas tree in the Tropics? The tradition is there, but at this latitude, it feels a bit out of place. You’d expect a palm tree or a coconut tree all lit up! A Christmas coconut tree—that would be local and original.
But to really embrace the Saint-Martin spirit, right next to the quirky Caribbean tree, there’s the star local mascot: a giant, illuminated pelican. This bird is one of the island’s symbols. Now *that’s* way more original than a reindeer from Lapland...
Another Saint-Martin twist: kids and adults alike can visit Santa’s House. For those of you who thought Santa only lived in the Far North, know that he has a second home on the island. A *case*... let’s go! It was December, and as expected, the famous Santa had already left on his gift-delivery tour... but Mrs. Claus was there to welcome visitors.
Here’s a local institution: a magical *case* created by Bernardine (photo). This Saint-Martin resident decorates her entire house during the Christmas season. From her garden to her kitchen, floor to ceiling, her home is adorned with garlands, figurines, nativity scenes... and all sorts of knick-knacks collected over the years. With her friendly smile, she welcomes an audience amazed by this magic. Some might find it a bit much, but now she’s running out of space to display all these holiday decorations. And the “Mrs. Claus” confided in me that, with her daughter’s help, it takes about three months every year to set everything up! Anyway, kudos for this exceptional personal initiative.
-- --
A sea turtle in an aquarium! No, not that... poor turtle dreaming of freedom and the endless ocean to swim in, blue of course.
Well, as you can see in the photo, it’s just a decorative mural (Anse Marcel Marina), and let’s admit, this artwork is really well done. Bravo to the artist! Another view: a sea turtle in full freedom and for real—it came to play the star near a dock (Grand Case).
Like a celebrity, it swam for a few minutes under the click-clack of souvenir photo enthusiasts. I wonder if someone lured it by tossing snacks? Because usually, when you spot one of these turtles in the water, they tend to flee quickly...
-- --
A swim like no other—at a walk and almost a trot A must-do on any island trip: sea baths. Refreshing, relaxing, and invigorating. In the waves or calm, crystal-clear waters with lovely blue hues—what else to say? Warm as you’d wish, 25–27°C, a dream... But in this paragraph, I’m talking about a less usual swim: a horseback bath! A memory. At a walk and a trot, we just descended the hill between bushes and rocky ground from the heights where the ranch is located. Now, it’s the shore sand under our mounts’ hooves. The long-awaited moment of this horseback ride couldn’t come soon enough: the sea bath. Anticipated by both horse and rider—everyone’s going to enjoy it.
A few careful steps, and my horse is in water up to its neck. As for me, the little waves lap from my feet to my waist. Then my mount starts twitching its nostrils, snorting like a series of sneezes... not quite a classic neigh, but what’s gotten into it? And our guide tells me: “Well! That means it’s happy—it’s just how it expresses itself.” I should’ve guessed. Amazing swim—unique sensations, and to top it off, the sublime panorama of Baie du Galion, wild with a blue lagoon horizon.
PS: A more detailed story with more photos of this horseback ride... check it out here, just click the link:
https://voyageforum.com/forum/caraibes-ile-saint-martin-plage-cheval-d11079873/
Hi Jean,
Playing it safe, but it’s a beautiful destination—seeing the ponds, relaxing by the shores. Stunning, no complaints.
One of these ponds (Mont Vernon, Chevrise) used to be an old salt marsh. A view taken at a particularly photogenic moment with this stunning water mirror. Let’s admit, most of the time, the area looks duller with brackish waters.
-- --
Christmas, Saint-Martin style Like everywhere in the world, during the Christmas holidays, a large tree stands in the center of Marigot, the main town on the French side of the island. A Christmas tree in the Tropics? The tradition is there, but at this latitude, it feels a bit out of place. You’d expect a palm tree or a coconut tree all lit up! A Christmas coconut tree—that would be local and original.
But to really embrace the Saint-Martin spirit, right next to the quirky Caribbean tree, there’s the star local mascot: a giant, illuminated pelican. This bird is one of the island’s symbols. Now *that’s* way more original than a reindeer from Lapland...
Another Saint-Martin twist: kids and adults alike can visit Santa’s House. For those of you who thought Santa only lived in the Far North, know that he has a second home on the island. A *case*... let’s go! It was December, and as expected, the famous Santa had already left on his gift-delivery tour... but Mrs. Claus was there to welcome visitors.
Here’s a local institution: a magical *case* created by Bernardine (photo). This Saint-Martin resident decorates her entire house during the Christmas season. From her garden to her kitchen, floor to ceiling, her home is adorned with garlands, figurines, nativity scenes... and all sorts of knick-knacks collected over the years. With her friendly smile, she welcomes an audience amazed by this magic. Some might find it a bit much, but now she’s running out of space to display all these holiday decorations. And the “Mrs. Claus” confided in me that, with her daughter’s help, it takes about three months every year to set everything up! Anyway, kudos for this exceptional personal initiative.
-- --
A sea turtle in an aquarium! No, not that... poor turtle dreaming of freedom and the endless ocean to swim in, blue of course.
Well, as you can see in the photo, it’s just a decorative mural (Anse Marcel Marina), and let’s admit, this artwork is really well done. Bravo to the artist! Another view: a sea turtle in full freedom and for real—it came to play the star near a dock (Grand Case).
Like a celebrity, it swam for a few minutes under the click-clack of souvenir photo enthusiasts. I wonder if someone lured it by tossing snacks? Because usually, when you spot one of these turtles in the water, they tend to flee quickly...
-- --
A swim like no other—at a walk and almost a trot A must-do on any island trip: sea baths. Refreshing, relaxing, and invigorating. In the waves or calm, crystal-clear waters with lovely blue hues—what else to say? Warm as you’d wish, 25–27°C, a dream... But in this paragraph, I’m talking about a less usual swim: a horseback bath! A memory. At a walk and a trot, we just descended the hill between bushes and rocky ground from the heights where the ranch is located. Now, it’s the shore sand under our mounts’ hooves. The long-awaited moment of this horseback ride couldn’t come soon enough: the sea bath. Anticipated by both horse and rider—everyone’s going to enjoy it.
A few careful steps, and my horse is in water up to its neck. As for me, the little waves lap from my feet to my waist. Then my mount starts twitching its nostrils, snorting like a series of sneezes... not quite a classic neigh, but what’s gotten into it? And our guide tells me: “Well! That means it’s happy—it’s just how it expresses itself.” I should’ve guessed. Amazing swim—unique sensations, and to top it off, the sublime panorama of Baie du Galion, wild with a blue lagoon horizon.
PS: A more detailed story with more photos of this horseback ride... check it out here, just click the link:
https://voyageforum.com/forum/caraibes-ile-saint-martin-plage-cheval-d11079873/Hi Jean,
Playing it safe, but it’s a beautiful destination—seeing the ponds, relaxing by the shores. Stunning, no complaints.