The best thing about St Maarten, is that we have almost two of everything. The best part of that is two CARNIVALS, Jouverts, 2nd day etc. Well why attend both St Martin and St Maarten carnival? Because they are completely different and unique. The french government does not really support their carnival, so there is always a battle to get ready, but they always do fantastic. The Dutch government does fund some of carnival, but there is a lot of nepotism, cronyism, corruption and disorganization in Dutch Carnival.
In Dutch Carnival, as you can see by my videos...everything goes!!! They get wild, and bruck out in style. They now have choreography, but St Maarten is know for the bachanal on Jouvert and 2nd day parade. 5 million worldwide viewers cannot be wrong. Dutch St Maarten carnival is more than about being entertaining, its about being provocative. Most of the stuff is done tongue-in-cheek but not everyone gets it. St Martin carnival is all about culture, and ORGANIZATION. The head Police told the organizers during Carnival 2012, he said "I don't care what time you start, you're done by 6pm!" The organizers had to hit the streets. You cannot just show up when you want to for St Martin Carnival. And they dance orderly down the streets, nothing to outrageous. When they get to Main Street by the Merie, they break into CHOREOGRAPHY! And I love it. Above is a basic routine during 2011 St Martin Carnival. When you watch the 2012 videos, the choreography was bigger, longer, splashier. I didn't attend this year, because there was too much going on. I will in 2014. Enjoy the videos, and the behind the scenes commentary.
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