Day Eight - Heading for the airport

6.5.11 : 156/365

In an effort to make the most of our final day, we went on a final little tour prior to packing up the car for the trip to the airport and handing over the keys.

Joséphine de Beauharnais aka first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, was born Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie in Trois-Îlets, Martinique to a Wealthy, white Creole family who owned a sugar plantation. La Pagerie and the ruins of the sugar plantation were our destination during our last few hours of vacation.

In summary, our short week vacation was really quite fantastic. We got to visit several different, and gorgeous beaches, some beautiful natural sites (I've now climbed that volcano twice), and some real island culture. We had an amazing time, and truly cannot wait to return!

I hope this re-cap really showcased some of the islands natural beauty and appeal. I'd love to hear stories if anyone decides to go.

Thanks for sticking around, even if the re-cap did take forever! :)

Day Six - A little piece of paradise

6.3.11 : 154/365

On the sixth day we made our way back to the beach that we had checked out earlier called 'Le Diament'. This name covers a town, beach and that rock you see up there in the distance. The rock itself is 2.5 miles off the coast and stands proudly out of the water for everyone to see. The beach is very long and the water is active and yet crystal clear. Thanks to the sheer length of the beach, large portions of it were virtually secluded - fantastic!

Here were the fruits of my shutter happy labours, it was just so beautiful;

I'm pretty sure this is where the crazy waves took the goggles clear off the mister's face!

When we got back to our village, there was a really pretty sunset;

What a relaxing day!

Day Five - Mmmm Chicken!

6.2.11 : 153/365

Thursday, June 2nd, 2010 was a stat holiday in France meaning there wasn't much to do by way of relying on businesses in Martinique... no trouble at all, we are very versed in entertaining ourselves!

To start we went for a drive. We were told, the evening prior, that because it was a stat we would be able to find that marvelous road side chicken that I promised the mister I would find for him. Turns out, this is really just a weekend thing (I was starting to panic when I couldn't find it), but stats are like weekends, so this was our day. So yes, went for a drive and purchased a road side smoked chicken, six cod accras, and a pineapple, all just outside of a roundabout (I'll show you more pictures of this in the next installment).

After all of this though, we spent a fair bit of time at the beach. It was busier than most days because the locals were out in full force, spending time with friends and family on the beach, swimming and playing a little 'football' (read: soccer). After a relaxing morning, we decided to go for a drive to explore the south Caribbean portion of the island that we had yet to discover.

Here are some pictures of Le Diament in the distance (more to come);

After a long afternoon drive, we went back to the flat and settled in for dinner;

Fresh pineapple from the roadside stand...Delicious!-

A totally relaxing and awesome day!

Day Two - A little exploring in Martinique

5.30.11 : 150/365

On day two of our trip we spent the morning at our little beach down the street from our apartment but then decided to head out and see what the 'nicest beach on the island' was all about. We went driving from our little spot towards the very south of the island and ended up at 'Les Salines' beach near Ste-Anne.

After doing a little swimming in the turbulent but nice Atlantic water (this was on the bottom east corner of the island or the south Atlantic coast), we were hungry. There was a little food 'truck' across the parking lot from the beach and while we were having a bite, this little guy poked the mister in the foot. He looks cooked, right?

After the beach, we took off on an impromptu hike in search of 'La Savane des pétrifications' (the petrified savanna).

All those little things that look like rocks are the edge of the water are tiny crabs

See?!

And again as they were fleeing!

Cabrits Island with the Cabrits 'lighthouse'

'The Devil's Table'

Almost lost my flip flop in that tiny bit of water while crossing the rocks

Across this bridge is where the savanna is said to begin. I've looked and looked for a reasonable explanation of what this place really is, and it's near impossible to find. I must say even while we were visiting it, we still weren't sure just what it was!

Here's what little about it I could find (in french);


Au sud de l'île entre la plage des Salines et l'anse Trabaud, vous trouverez une zone aride, un véritable désert : La savane des Pétrifications. Il y avait avant une forêt qui fut engloutie sous la lave lors d'une éruption volcanique particulièrement violente. Les anciens troncs d'arbres ont peu à peu disparu, mais le spectacle est resté impressionnant. (via)

Essentially, what this is telling us is that once upon a time a volcano engulfed a forest and what we are left with is this;

 

The mister, checking things out

There you have it... day two was great!!