Yesterday I went to Maho Bay and the Sunset Bar and Grill to check out the beach. Maho Bay sits right at the end of the airport runway. People go there to watch planes land and take off as well as to play in the surf, as the planes come in low over the water, over the beach, and touch down a couple of hundred yards away.If you get a chance, go to YouTube and search Juliana Airport. There are some good videos there of the planes landing.
The surfboard shows all of the incoming flights and their arrival times so people can make sure they are in place with their cameras.
Sadly the Sunset Bar and Grill was extensively damaged by Hurricane Omar in late October. It is still open for business and they are working to rebuild.
Since the wind always blows from the same direction here, the planes always land from the sea. This means they have to taxi back to the beach and turn around in order to take off. When the big ones take off, you can hang on the fence and be lifted off your feet.The scream off the runway, over the lagoon where Vagrant is anchored, climbing and banking hard to clear the mountains. Pretty impressive. I'll try to get a picture sometime.
3 comments:
That's where I stayed, Maho Beach Resort. So fun. We did get some excellent pics of the planes including one of the Air France jumbo jet. And we did accidently get caught behind the Air France one day and the couple we were with from NF lost their shoes, and camera and everything else they were carrying. We all had sand everywhere... Glad you are having fun, you definitely can't complain about being stuck there!
Well, your blog makes an interesting weekly reading to take us away from the cold up north. Wish I was with you enjoying a few beers. I'm glad you made it safe and that you are taking advantage of your semi-retirement!
Hey Grant! I just ran across your email again, and thought I'd check out your travels. Sounds like you're having a great time! Don't forget to have a rum and diet coke for me!! Oh hell - have two! hahaah
Travel safely,
C
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