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Trip Report #2: MartiniqueFiled from Bequia, the Grenadines13 00.17N 61 14.57WMarch 4, 2005
Photo: The anchorage at St. Anne, Martinique, looking toward the channel into Marin We only spent a week on Martinique and then only in St. Anne's and Marin, but we loved being there. Perhaps it was getting there after an Atlantic crossing; perhaps it was being there with friends; perhaps it was being in a little piece of France, with good French food, wine, cheese and bread. But we would like to go back. Checking into customs at Marin was a breeze and it was free. Most of the other islands in the Caribbean charge a fee for a visa to cruise. We met Lorraine at the Custom's Dock the day after we all arrived. She had had a long day of traveling and was quite willing to settle in at the Hotel Caritan on the beach at St. Anne's. And we were quite willing to sleep the night away the day we arrived. Lorraine and Garry spent two days at the Hotel Caritan, a very French hotel with all the amenities. We cleaned out the boat, especially the "swamp", the forepeak where Garry had slept for 3 weeks, with very little ventilation to air things out. After a little cleaning up and airing, the V-berth was again ready for visitors and Garry and Lorraine came back aboard. Photo: Peg, Lorraine, Garry & Tom at breakfast, Hotel Caritan We didn't do very much during the week. We shopped in the town of St. Anne and enjoyed that. Lorraine purchased a mask and a bustier made of calabash shells - very chi-chi - and lots of souvenirs to bring home. We had dinner at a wonderful French restaurant, which we found simply by strolling through the streets. We went into Marin and walked along the waterfront, stopping into the boutiques and shops there. We spent time at the local market, which sold a variety of fresh vegetables, some of which were new to us. We bought some really nice pork chops at a local supermarket to grill on the boat that night. Lorraine purchased a dress which will look lovely on her any time she gets to a tropical climate - don't know how it will go in upstate N.Y. We took our laundry into an establishment run by a short, very French, elderly man, who was very kind and helpful, driving us to the port after we picked up our laundry. We spent a day lolling on the beach, watching the topless bathers stroll by.
Photo: Garry and Lorraine arrive at the beach Martinique is lovely, but it is not easy to get to from the U.S. One has to fly to St. Lucia and then take a small plane over to Martinique. We motored the 21 miles between Martinique and St. Lucia and arrived in Rodney Bay, a large bay with good holding in a beautiful setting. We had a great dinner that evening at the Eagle restaurant on the waterfront in the channel into the Rodney Bay Marina. The next day, Lorraine shopped in the duty-free shops at the marina, purchasing gifts right up to the minute the taxi arrived. She and Garry left in the taxi for a 45 minute ride to the airport at Vieux Fort to head home to the cold and snow of Upstate, N.Y. But also to family and work and all the things that make life good. We enjoyed being with them so much and were already looking forward to the next time we see them.
Photo: Garry & Lorraine on the boat in Rodney Bay, St. Lucia Our next mission is to explore St. Lucia and await the arrival of Garth, Sandy, Lia, and Ali. 73s, 88s, love and hugs Peg & Tom S/V Starboard Home
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Grand Daughters' web pages: Anna's Home Page, Anastasia's Home Page Isabelle's Home Page
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