Not St. Martin, which certainly has more than its fair share of the icky creatures, but we were in Aruba one time, walking along the beach walk towards the old Americana Hotel from the Hyatt, and as we were walking by the pool area we could hear splashing noises. Trying to figure out what we were hearing, we went closer and realized the noises we were hearing were water rats, and lots of them, playing in the Hyatt pool in the absence of all humans. I was happy I wasn't staying there but then realized if they were there, they were probably everywhere, a fact which a security person further down the walkway confirmed.

Another time, we were in the airport in Barbados waiting for our flight to board when a good sized rat ran across the floor and under the seats just a few feet from where we were sitting amid lots of finger-pointing and screaming!

And lastly, lest people think I'm trying to draw attention away from our beloved St. Maarten/St. Martin, I've seen them in the alleys in Marigot and along the walkways by the restaurants there, transiting the overhead wires in Philipsburg as well as in GC and I've actually watched them run across the floors of a few of the most popular restaurants in Simpson Bay.

I came to understand early on they're an unappreciated but very real part of Caribbean living, just like la cucarrocha. They're there and you'll probably see them at some point if you visit often enough, but hopefully, not too up close and personal!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />