This is a large bay, with several smaller arms containing villages, resorts, commercial port facilities, etc. Our view is of the main part of the city, and we get to observe the many large liners, freighters, warships, and other traffic arriving and departing. There have been an average of ten cruising boats anchored around us in the harbor each day.
Clipper Ship at sunset
The most beautiful building in the town is the Biblioteque (Library), a most unusual building that was manufactured in France, and shipped to Martinique for assembly. It appears to be made of mostly gilded metal and glass. Pictures are included here, but they cannot do it justice.
Our first day ashore was spent on a self-guided walking tour of the city. We found all 11 of the sights listed on the tourist map, and had a good lunch of crepes and beer at a little open-air kiosk on a square in the center of town. In the center of the square was a hand-made carousel for children to ride. It had no motor to make it spin or mechanical music. It was turned by the musicians while they played their drums and accordion in a calpyso rhythm. The children were captivated and wide-eyed!
While we were lunching, I had an unusual experience. A four-foot tall coffee-colored man walked up to me and held up his hand for a high-five. I said, "Good afternoon, sir", and held my hand up to meet his. He promply gave my hand the proper vertical slap, turned, and walked away. He never said a word. He was a distinguished looking fellow, well dressed and well groomed. I've been wondering ever since about the meaning of this encounter. After all, it isn't every day that a well-dressed dwarf high-fives me in a foreign port. I suppose "Little Person" is the PC terminology. Anybody have any ideas?
The "Crew" - Brian, Carol, Walt and Teffany in Fort de France, Martinique
Waterfront street - Fort de France, Martinique
Just another of the amazing sailing ships we've seen since leaving Marigot Bay, St. Lucia
Each evening this week, there has been a concert held in the waterfront park, with lively music emanating from huge towers of speakers from 8pm to around midnight. Vendors offer local produce, food, and fruit juices. An unusual feature of this festival is the LACK of alcoholic beverages in evidence. Nowhere did we see anyone drinking alcohol, and it is not offered for sale anywhere by the vendors. Not only that, but we saw almost no one smoking cigarettes. This struck us as particularly un-French! While we were in Paris, it seemed to us that Parisiennes smoked and drank all day long! Martinique is certainly a healthier place in that respect.
We've been waiting for a good weather window to proceed northward to Dominica. Seas have been 2 meters or more since we arrived. Today is Sunday, December 14th, and we will move the boat tomorrow to the small anchorage off St. Pierre, at the northwestern end of Martinique. We will spend the night there, and hope to make the crossing to the port of Roseau, Dominica on Tuesday. It appears that Tuesday is the only day in the next week that the seas will subside a bit. We will clear into Dominica, at Roseau, spend a day or two, then move northward up the coast to Plymouth, in Prince Rupert Bay, to await good weather for the crossing to Guadaloupe.
It is becoming clear that we will never make it to Puerto Rico by Christmas! Maybe by New Years...
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