Thanksgiving in Martinique

11/25/2010

Another dodgy passage down island, and the former Canadian army tank commander reiterating “I think we can make it!” 

The beautiful and welcome island of Martinique welcomed us on Thanksgiving Day. 

Looming on the horizon and only twenty-five miles from Dominica, we were happy to drop anchor in St. Pierre. 

We keep hearing from other experienced Caribbean cruisers that this is the windiest November they have ever seen and we have to concur! 

Diane was kind enough to keep the captain in grapefruit and orange juice as he has developed a definite taste for it, and on this afternoon was deserving of a double!

A late arrival meant that all we were able to muster up for Turkey Day was a freshly BBQ’d chicken leg ashore from a local vendor and French fries!

A St. Pierre rainbow shared our am coffee time and the last bit of juice.

Friday was Market Day and visiting the stalls and seeing the local food is always one of our greatest pleasures.

Colorful, bountiful, wholesome, and healthy food is easily had on all these islands. 

Bonneted ladies out for the weekly fresh produce and fish, bunches of herbs and gossip.

Truly a farmer’s market, fish, oranges, ginger, squash, tania and cucumbers, a beautiful sight after our many months of Puerto Rican produce flown in from Canada.

St. Pierre at one time was the capital of colonial Martinique, known for its fine European architecture, fondly named the Paris of the Caribbean.

In 1902 disaster struck and the island’s 4800 foot Mt. Pelee erupted, instantly covering the city in ash and deadly gases. 

According to the local museum the government had plenty of warning and time to call for evacuation as small eruptions had been occurring. The impending elections and possible financial losses for local business took precedence. 

All 30,000 inhabitants save one lost their lives, one lone prisoner in the local jail escaping. 

The town has long since been rebuilt, with the new buildings incorporating the ruins of the old.

A few cannons and this grand Parisian staircase from the Grande Theater is all that’s left as a reminder of a bygone era.

Further down the coast Grande and Petit Anse D’Arlet were not to be missed. 

One large and full of sailboats and restaurants, the other sleepy and a working fishing village with the only thing to buy ….baguettes! This is becoming a serious habit...

Again the hallmark Caribbean colorful fishing boats and shops, with friendly locals having a rum and out for a chat with whoever walks by.

As we rounded the southern tip of the island and headed to our final Martinique destination of St. Anne we passed the HMS Diamond Rock.

In 1804 the British, perpetually at war with France, lacked a ship to stage off the coast of Martinique. Diamond Rock was “commissioned”  and supplied with cannons and men who for 18 months wrecked havoc on the unsuspecting French fleet.

 Another dazzling rainbow greeted us after the morning drizzle as we sailed past, leaving its “pot of gold” on the Diamond.

The next island of St. Lucia, home to our crew and our final destination for the moment was within sight on the horizon and the Starship made way once again. As we depart Martinique, one more incredible rainbow. Not in Kansas anymore!