Photo courtesy of Axel Busch
This is my photo contribution for #wordlesswednesday, Becky’s #kindasquare challenge, and Cee’s On the Hunt for Joy Challenge, as I combined wordless photos (“let the photos tell the story”) that are square and involve technology. 🙂
Have you ever been this close to a landing plane? Have you ever sailed in or visited St. Martin?
October 14, 2020 at 15:10
Wonderful photos, each with their own story.
October 14, 2020 at 21:23
Thank you, Jacqui. Stories from a previous life, it feels like…
October 14, 2020 at 15:16
Hi Liesbet, Wow! What amazing pictures. No, I can’t say that I’ve been that close to a landing plane, and that’s OK. 🙂 It would be scary.
My favorite picture is Maya. She is very photogenic. She has the prettiest tail, and the photo of her “smiling” is fabulous!! She looks happy, content, and intelligent. Love her ears too.
October 14, 2020 at 21:29
Hi Lea!
These photos were taken when we were on our sailing journey, from 2007 to 2015. The airport of St. Maarten is a tourist attraction in addition to a means to get to and from the island. You can almost touch the planes when they land. And when the big ones take off, you better scurry or hold on to a structure so you don’t blow away! Many towels and sunglasses end up in the ocean from the blast. Including one of mine. Exhilarating to say the least. 🙂
The dog’s name in the first photo shoot is Mariah. We dog sat her on our boat for a sailing friend who was racing during the weekend. Unfortunately, she passed away a couple of years ago. These photos were taken way before Maya was born. I think Maya is cuter than Mariah. 🙂
October 14, 2020 at 15:35
No to both of those, but I’ve often been square, Liesbet 🙂 🙂
October 14, 2020 at 21:29
Oh Jo, you’ve been very square, recently and frequently. 🙂
October 14, 2020 at 15:40
Kinda cute, and kinda interesting – brilliant combination of photos and a fabulous start to squares. 😀
And yes have almost been that close in Madeira!
October 14, 2020 at 21:32
Thank you, Becky! I’m glad you swung by. I’d love a good photo challenge – perfect for my tens of thousands of archived photos – but I only post once a week (due to lack of time) and have heaps of topics and adventures to touch upon. That being said, I would LOVE to participate again. And more often!
October 14, 2020 at 15:53
Wow, and I thought the planes were low by the San Diego airport! Great pics!
October 14, 2020 at 21:35
Hi Janis! This beach on St. Martin (called Maho Beach, I believe) is very popular with tourists, as it’s located right across the street from the airport. All the planes land – literally – overhead, but most are much smaller than the ones in San Diego. One of the things to do here, is hold on to the airport fence when a massive Boeing takes off. An interesting experience! Don’t forget to remove your sunglasses whenever you try this stunt!
October 14, 2020 at 15:57
Wow that plane was flying low!
October 14, 2020 at 21:36
This plane was about to land across the street from the beach, Alex. They all come in this low – you can almost touch them. Or, you can pretend to touch them for the photo! 🙂
October 14, 2020 at 16:21
We both decided to go wordless (mostly) today. Wordless posts drain less energy from both writer and reader. Yay!
October 14, 2020 at 21:38
Exactly, Marian. It was either that this week, or nothing. It’s been so crazy busy and I’m getting exhausted by all the writing, planning, reading, researching, and other (non book-related) jobs that blogging is too much sometimes! Sorry for the moan – time for bed! 🙂
October 14, 2020 at 17:51
Wow, that plane! Was that a normal landing?
The dog is beautiful! Was that some kind of professional photo shoot?
October 14, 2020 at 21:44
Hi Duwan!
Yes, all the planes arriving at the airport of St. Maarten (SXM) fly this low over the beach during their landing maneuver. It’s a tourist attraction. But, the planes that take off create an even more interesting scene, as unsuspecting beachgoers run after their airborne towels and other gadgets from the blast of the take-off! 🙂
Our friend, Axel, who took the dog photo (and I should credit him!) is an amateur photographer. He’s great and has amazing equipment. He also took our wedding party photos in St. Martin. So, no, this was not an official shoot. Just Axel taking photos and me taking a photo of him. We often laughed at his humongous zoom lens(es) when we met up on our boats.
October 14, 2020 at 18:35
Amazing shots, Liesbet, no words necessary!
October 14, 2020 at 21:45
Well worded, Terri! 🙂
October 14, 2020 at 18:43
I’ve seen photos of that beach before with the planes that land right next to it and it never ceases to amaze me. What a crazy spot! Great photos of it… it must be SO LOUD!!!
October 14, 2020 at 21:49
Yep, Maho Beach is a crazy spot. And, people have been killed here, usually when a plane takes off as tourists hang on the chainlink fence to feel the blast. Guilty! Not of dying, luckily, but of being crazy. Lost my sunglasses in the process. The take-off is louder than the landing. The plane landings are awesome from a photographic standpoint. The plane departures shake a few senses! 🙂 The bar on the beach has a display of all the arrivals and departures, so visitors know when to get ready for that perfect shot or perfect blast…
October 14, 2020 at 21:18
Á photo tells a thousand stories, what a contrast. The sea dog is so much more tranquil. I remember the plane photos from a previous post, worth a repeat showing.
October 14, 2020 at 21:52
You have a better memory than me, Suzanne! I must have posted the plane shot on a previous Wordless Wednesday a few years ago. You are right about the contrast in sound and setting! I hadn’t realized that until you mentioned it. Peace versus chaos; silence versus noise! 🙂
October 15, 2020 at 16:41
Yes, I remember all sorts of things many of them obscure. Then this morning I forget to turn on the washing machine while sitting here waiting for it too finish!. So, there you go 😉
October 20, 2020 at 09:01
Haha! That could happen to me and – I believe – has happened. My most notable mistake when it comes to using a washing machine is forgetting to add the detergent. When this happens at a laundromat, it turns into an even more time-consuming and expensive event! 🙂
October 15, 2020 at 12:28
Those are some impressive photos for this week. Thanks for playing along 😀
October 20, 2020 at 08:56
You’re very welcome, Cee! I hope to join again in the future, when and if time permits. 🙂
October 15, 2020 at 14:03
Great shots, I have see photos and films of the planes landing at St. Martin, quite incredible. Crazy place, but also fun to be so close to a plane landing.
October 20, 2020 at 08:58
Thanks, Gilda. I find these things exhilarating as well. But, then again, I’m not too fearful and maybe I should… 🙂
October 15, 2020 at 14:29
I’ve been there when planes are landing and it is scary crazy that they allow people that close to the runway.
October 20, 2020 at 08:59
Mahu Beach is a popular tourist attraction in St. Martin, as you have witnessed. It’s one of those places where the “do at your own risk” rule applies. Take it or leave it! 🙂
October 16, 2020 at 06:52
Wow! No way would I want to be that close to a plane when it’s landing. I can’t image how being on that beach would be restful and relaxing with planes that close. That’s such a scary shot, Liesbet. Thank goodness for the pictures of the dog.
I had the pleasure of visiting St. Matin, although it was at least 20 years ago. It was only a day trip from a cruise ship, but I recall many of the Islands being wonderful places.
October 20, 2020 at 09:40
Hi Hugh! I’m glad you managed to visit the Caribbean a while ago. Much has changed now, twenty years later, I’m sure.
No relaxation on this beach. You come here to visit the beach bar, take a quick swim, or be enthralled by the planes. Luckily, St. Martin has many beautiful beaches and most are super-relaxing. 🙂
I’m not even sure my readers realize that it’s me standing under that plane, taking a photo upwards. That was part of my “photo story”. Good thing nobody took a photo when I was holding onto the fence when a big Boeing took off, haha.
October 20, 2020 at 09:46
You were brave, very brave, taking that photo. I think I’d have rather been at the beach bar ordering cocktails, eating fresh pineapple, and listening to holiday music on my headphones.
October 20, 2020 at 09:51
That certainly is an option, Hugh! Or, you could listen to the reggae tunes coming out of the beach bar’s speakers. Not a bad alternative to having a plane almost guillotine you. 🙂
October 20, 2020 at 09:52
Agreed, Liesbet.
October 21, 2020 at 09:12
🙂
October 16, 2020 at 12:02
Proof that a picture is worth one thousand words.
Beautiful!
October 20, 2020 at 09:40
Thanks, Donna. I’m liking these photo posts, as they save me a bunch of time and they seem to be popular with my blog visitors. 🙂
October 19, 2020 at 00:28
Wow, that plane is WAY too close! The only time I’ve been that close to a landing plane was on a golf course in Calgary that was right in the landing path at the airport. I didn’t realize until then that the wings cause mini-whirlwinds on the grass as they pass over.
October 20, 2020 at 09:44
Hi Diane! That must have been quite the experience (and surprise) to have a plane land that close overhead in Calgary. Interesting about the whirlwinds on the grass. All I’ve seen is sand that gets airborne.
At this beach, I think people expect it. Imagine they don’t… That would be a shock. Visitors are surprised by the back draft of departing planes, though. I’m sure a lot of towels have found their way into the bay. It would be a good place to go “treasure hunting” with a snorkel mask here!
October 21, 2020 at 11:39
Hard to believe that beach is a tourist attraction!! But then again….
It’s the LAST place I would personally want to be. Wonder if any planes have landed on the sand just a few seconds too early … yikes!
Peta
October 22, 2020 at 11:37
I haven’t heard of such accidents/incidents, Peta. The landing part is actually not too dangerous or scary. When the planes take off from the airport across the road from the beach, that’s a different story. Exhilarating. Or, crazy… When it’s a big plane anyway.
October 23, 2020 at 20:27
The plane appears dangerously low, Liesbet. I don’t recall being this close to a landing plane. Yes, to helicopters a few times. Great photos!
October 28, 2020 at 09:37
Helicopters cause entirely different effects and vibrations than planes when they’re close by. Other than some noise (not much, actually, as it has slowed down substantially) – and seeing it up-close – a plane just lands without commotion. Helicopters cause so much noise and wind upon approach, that I find it much more “disturbing” to be in close proximity of than of a landing plane.
October 28, 2020 at 20:07
You are right, Liesbet. I don’t want to be close to either one when they are landing. 🙂
October 28, 2020 at 22:15
Wise decision! 🙂
October 27, 2020 at 08:23
I can only find St.Martin on the map. Your photos are super!
October 28, 2020 at 10:17
Thanks, Milos. I hope you’ll be able to set foot on St. Martin one day. Then, the map (and these photos) makes much more sense. 🙂
October 28, 2020 at 13:56
Airplanes landing at the Vancouver International Airport fly very low over the beach and many times when landing, I have feared that the plane will drop its tail in the water before hitting the runway. However, I don’t believe they allow anyone to be on that beach. Similarly, at the Sandspit airport on Haida Gwaii, the plane comes in low over the ocean and beach.
Jude
October 28, 2020 at 22:14
I don’t think the beaches along the pathway of planes in Western countries are open or accessible anywhere. Sometimes, I really enjoy being in places where rules are less strict. It keeps things a tad more exciting, haha. Of course, I understand why those rules exist and I abide by them, wherever and whenever they do exist. 🙂
Where is Haida Gwaii?
December 7, 2020 at 13:29
Haida Gwaii, previously known as the Queen Charlotte Islands is an archipelago of islands off the coast of BC just north of Vancouver Island. It is home to the Haida people and there is a UNESCO world heritage site there.
Jude
December 8, 2020 at 18:11
Thanks for the info, Jude. I had no idea!!