Last full Day in Martinique

Relaxing day, walked about, swam in the pool, walked to the ocean. We've had beautiful sunny weather for the last few days-- a heavy downpour once in the afternoon. Martinique is famous for its rum-- made from sugar cane- so on every drive field after field of sugar cane, and the other side bananas, but their #1 industry is tourism. The bananas are very small- pic. Our hotel was very high end, in the pics below is our last nights menu, 4 course! Everynight, same thing but different food of course. Unfortunatley, dinner didnt start till 7pm, and by the time we were finished desert it was 930. not great to go to bed on a full belly. One evening we had entertainment, and another time we were instructed on how to make a great rum punch - which we did and enjoyed. Then the gals got to make a table center piece-- pic below. Our resterant was open to the outside, pic of Neil having breakfast this morning- you didnt dare leave your food or a bird would be right there to steal from your plate. As marti-graw is coming up, in the hotel

, they have been painting huge leaves, bright colours. This is a big thing down here

Day 3 and 4 in Martinique

Day 3 Tuesday was a lazy day, great walk in the morning after breakfast to explore some of the many beaches, but very hot, so back to the hotel to jump in tbe pool. In the afternoon walked to another beach, great swim, water soooo clear. Sand lovely. Back for dinner, but first there was entertainment in the lobby, a band and dancers, but the fellow who introduced the dancers ect, talked and talked-- and talked, all in french, so we didnt understand a thing that was happening, other than they were showing life of the black slaves. That made us an hour late for dinner, so by the time we finished it was 930. Too late to eat!! Day 4, wake up call at 6am, down for breafast, the on the bus for 745. First stop was some famous Botanical gardens, which were beautiful. Next stop, another rum distillary, but we were luckly, they had just started cutting the sugar cane, so actually got to see the huge machinery working. A bit of rum tasting, then to restaurant for a typical Creole lunch--a bit disappointing. Then off to visit a museum, telling about the volcano eruption in 1902, that killed 28,000 inhabitants. There had been tremors and other sign for 3 days, but the mayor was holding an election, and he did'nt call an evacuation. The volcano, blew up, spreading hot gas and ash, but no lava--temperature ofvtge hot gases-- 1000 degrees. so fried everything, completly obiterating the whole town. Back on the bus, but stopped at a beach for a bit, dark sands due to the volcanoes. home at 6 pm- pooped!!

Day two in Martinique

Well it was a little rainy today. we were bused to Fort De France today. Saw a beautiful cathedral-- in the rain! saw Bibliotheque Schoelcher, built in France for the 1889 World Exposition and moved here--in the rain! then went to a market, which thankfully was under cover. Took the ferry back to our town--in the rain. Got back, the sun came out and it was a beautful afternoon. had a swim in the pool at the hotel, then walked to the beach for a very nice swim in the ocean. so sorry, I still cant figure out how to get my pics to come up for the blog. need help!

First full day in Martinique! The temperature is warm, but cloudy with occasional light showers.;Interesting, they tell us that February is mostly hot and dry— but not this year, warm, but lots of rain. Making for lush undergrowth. Left the hotel this morning at 830, heading to the south end of the island. First stop was the birthplace of Josephine, who married Napoleon.The family came to the island, from France, hoping to set up a sugar cane plantation. Which they did, and became very rich! Josephine was born in 1763, and if I remember right married Napoleon when she was 16. We had great tour guide showing us the workings of the sugar plantation back in the day— of course all run by slaves. Saw the old ruins where the cane was made into brown sugar, for shipment to France, and the mill where the cane was squeezed to get the sap. Then we were off to a rum distilery-- martinique is famous for its rum. were able to tour the old mill, not in service anymore. Did some rum tasting, and toured the home of the owner-- the way it was back in the day. off for lunch at a nice restaurant right on the sea side. then we were supposed to go swimming at a famouus beach in tourquiose water, but it was poring rain, so decided not to stop. I have been trying to download pictures, but cant seem to do. will have to get some help-- Ella , where are you when we need you!! so no pics this time.

Last full day on the island March 21st

 Quiet day, went for a walk, stopped for coffee on the street.  Walked sone more -  bought a couple of things.  Walked again this afternoon, then I was determined to get in that pool at the ocean.  Sun was out in the morning, but by 4 pm it was chilly!  So the water didn’t feel cold at all!  I think I am the only one from the whole group of 34, that had a swim in the pool!   So tomorrow, we pack up, back on the bus for 3pm, and head to the airport.  It really has been a great trip!  But look forward to getting home.  

Right in— did it for you Jodie!  You said you would love to swim here! 

Getting in, it was very slippery 

Carefully! 

Decisions— should I do it! 

Coffee, an Americana Grande, for Neil, cappuccino for me! 

Saw these crazy plants lots of times— assume they are weeds! 

Very pretty 

Neil got this guy to come down to his hand, but he didn’t take the chip— too fast for me to capture the pic. 

That’s about the biggest thing on the island, other than in the zoo.  No snakes!  

All there homes have the red tiled roofs. 

These are Canary pines, which they are very proud of.  Before I showed a pic of the whole pine forest that was burnt last year, on the mountain side. 

March 20th, Wednesday.

 Ouch— one more full day on the island!  Today another great day— no bus trips scheduled, so we walked a good hike (just Neil and I) to the  Macdonalds, where we picked up the yellow train, that would take us to the Loro Park which is a zoo!  Spent the whole day there.  The exhibits were great— the list is too long to tell all the things we saw, but the 3 shows, the Orcas, Dolphins and Sea lions, were absolutely amazing.  I wish I could send some videos on the blog, but will have to wait till we can show them in person.  The display of the Emperor Penguins was a highlight. It was a huge area,  snow covering the rocks, and snow coming down from the ceiling.  Needless to say it was behind glass- all enclosed. We think there must have been 250 of those big birds, it was very impressive.  

Curious Meerkat

Hippo, there was supposed to be a baby, but we didn’t see it— unless this was it!! 

The dolphins

Before the dolphin show started, the flew these 2 large parrots, back and forth over our heads

It’s amazing that they can train Orcas— killer whales 

That’s a lot of body to get into the air

Beautiful 

Just to show the crowd!  So many people! 

The white tiger

Hard to see but this is a sloth, hanging all fours from the tree branch. 

An anteater in the background, not sure what the white thing is. 

Anteater again. 

Sea lions

Chatted with us. 

The trainers were great with these guys, giving them lots of hugs

The only view we got of the lions!  Can you figure out the male?  The lion king.

The yellow train, that took us to the zoo!