Pinel by Estelle

Swat a night!

I looked all over the internet but couldn't find any sexy Malala costume... Choom Gang, on the other hand... here's a pinata that's ready for prime time!

Halloween with Pat, my brother (no need to sharpen your no. 2 HB pencil, this is not a test) and his girlfriend Tatiana. She's a sweet swat... we turned everybody on... they all wanted to get swatted!

Once in a while someone got to swat me back :) To test or not to test... 

St Barths

Ornella just left, but we got a chance to visit St. Barths to check out a villa I'm decorating.  On the way there, we spotted my place.

It's a totally chic, totally cool fantasy... a hangout for Johnny Hallyday wannabes.

I shrieked when I figured out her name: horn elle ah! Soon followed by tropical storm Humberto... hump her too. We both had lots of laughs!

  Shell Beach, blaring hip hop and dancehall music...

Back on St. Maarten, lunching with Estelle

 Another friend is helping to take care of the dogs at the old plantation of Mary's Fancy, and dogs all over the island.

Her fabulous abandoned pool, the first one of the island.

A few years back we made a mosaic of the same landmark.

Cooling out with Ornella

She's here on vacation from Paris...

It'll do you some good, get a tan

Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take ya…Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego, baby why don't we go, Jamaica….

Ever notice how these evocative names are bursting with island flavor? What about Anguilla, Dominica and Saba? Don’t they make you wanna come… ah! Will you get to pin elle? Then you’ve got St. Maarten, the ugly duckling of island nomenclature. We’ve still managed to be the gambling, shopping, dining and prostitution hub of the Caribbean, despite our sticker. We’re also the lazy susan of drugs. A French judge said to me ‘nous sommes la plaque tournante de la drogue’. Nevertheless, we’re not on the map and our name sucks off the tongue… just as well! Leave we alone, global consciousness... we’re a libertarian experiment. But there’s one meaning that jumps out to us punsters: Ma are ten. While you tan on the island with a sing-song name, savor the vowel.

 

Pinel is a micro cosmic island off the north coast of St. Martin. In light of her loveliness and French lineage, Pinel has evolved as a portrait of St. Barth’s. Here you’ll find a cool, trendy crowd… elegant and unpretentious. It takes only a few minutes over mirror calm water to reach her by boat… the ideal travel distance to disconnect from ordinary reality and enjoy each moment of timeless relaxation.

Pinel’s palm dotted sand bar is made all the more stunning by her proximity to St. Martin. Across a narrow channel of azure sea, the parent island’s verdant hills embrace her on all sides, creating a surreal ‘island next to the island’ perspective.

Once you’re settled on the sand, you’ll want to discover all her curves. Beyond the beach is a manageable walking path fringed by indigenous wild flowers, leading the way to Isabelle’s Eco Snorkeling. For $15 you can rent a snorkeling mask, palms and buoyancy device. This includes a $2 contribution to the Marine Reserve Preservation Fund. Isabelle, a charming marine biologist, also gives guided underwater tours featuring turtle watch excursions for moderately experienced divers.

Back on land, follow the swerving footpath to encircle the island. You’ll soon discover the rough charm of a secluded beach facing the breakers. Keep exploring up the gentle slopes to reach the far side, where a solitary wind swept frangipani tree frames an exhilarating sea view.

They say the smaller the island the more beautiful it is; Pinel illustrates this well. Here is a place where the earth is respected. On the French side of St. Martin, development is under control. Furthermore, Pinel is part of the Réserve Naturelle Nationale de Saint-Martin which is kept in its pristine state. If Pinel was on the Dutch side, who knows what would be popping up on the other side of the slope… a hotel and casino?

It’s worth mentioning that St. Maarten owes a great deal of gratitude to the French side, which in its infinite aesthetic wisdom has preserved the look of a picturesque little island, exalted with world class culinary delights and haute fashion shopping. Vive la France!

The secret recipe to enjoy a vintage cru of Pinel is to visit us in summer. All Caribbean islands are gorging with fruits and blushing with flowers, while tranquil oceans are warm and welcoming. Summer tourists savor the islands’ sweetest moments.

Pinel offers unexpected small pleasures year round. Like the Pinel edition iguanas, intricate prehistoric creatures which resemble mini dinosaurs, yet are completely tame. If you attract them with a piece of lettuce, they’ll celebrate your generosity with the opportunity to get some fabulous close ups, and perhaps even let you caress their little forehead as you would a cat or a dog. Their friend the Pinel chicken also gets in on the action for an island life comedy improv!

As the day smoothly flows by, interesting details entertain the senses, like the hip French couple with wavy salt 'n pepper locks sitting by the sea, as he sketches a beautiful likeness of the beach… the lady with the big brimmed red sun hat laughing far out in the water only waist deep, good looking French waiters milling around… and you... relaxed, happy, satisfied.