MARIGOT – The waterfront boulevard in Marigot is not what it used to be anymore after Hurricane Irma hit the place. Now it appears that two of the main attractions on this stretch – the French bakeries Sarafina and Le Divin – will not be rebuilt.
Le Divin has been completely obliterated by the monster hurricane and the debris is still exactly where it landed on September 6. Attempts to locate its owner, and to make arrangements for a cleanup, reportedly have failed so far.
It seems likely that the owner has simply left the island.
A bit further down on the Boulevard de France, French bakery Sarafina has also been wiped out. We did not manage to get a hold of its owner, but we heard that the damages to the property add up to €1.5 million ($1.74 million at the current rate of exchange), that the insurance claim has been paid out and that the establishment will not be rebuilt.
The only difference between Le Divin and its close neighbor Sarafina is that the latter place has been neatly cleaned up. The house above the bakery has been destroyed and the Mini Cooper its owner drove stands forlorn and heavily damaged at a spot where once locals and tourists alike queued for fresh croissants and other French delicacies.
With the disappearance of Le Divin and Sarafina, the waterfront is suddenly without French bakeries. Earlier a third outlet, La Sucrière already closed its doors. Its former location, near the also destroyed Claude’s Mini Club, is now home to Maison de la Presse.
Photo caption: Sarafina was the place to go to for a nice French breakfast. Photo tripadvisor.com
Photo caption: Cleaned up and cleaned out: Sarafina is no more Photo Hilbert Haar
Photo caption: Le Divin was in good shape as a close neighbor of Sarafina. Photo tripadvisor.com
Photo caption: Le Divin is in a shambles after the hurricane. Nobody has shown up to clear the debris so far. Photo Hilbert Haar
