http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , Martinique en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:32:29 BST Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:32:29 BST We spent over two weeks in Martinique and had a lovely time when the weather permitted. The trade winds kicked up to about 2530 knots constant the highest of the season and we were having squalls up to 50 knots with each tropical wave that moved across the Caribbean. Hurricane season has officially started. Most of our days we were stuck inside reading books or watching movies or playing d http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/blog-303369.html Martinique produces some of the best rum in the Caribbean distilled the same way for centuries with strict standards and using only local sugarcane. The French are as serious about their rum as they are for their wine so we decided to visit a few distilleries and go rum tasting yum The adventure begins with us renting a car actually I don't know if you can even call it a car it was a Twi http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/Marin/blog-298847.html We set sail at first light and got to St. Pierre on the northern tip of Martinique just before sunset it was a long day. But now we are here anchored in St. Pierre harbor at the base of Mt. Pelee a totally amazing site We are super excited to explore Martinique and are looking forward to visiting this famous town.St. Pierre has a fascinating and very tragic history. It was once the capital http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/St--Pierre/blog-298844.html We are in Anse Mitan Fort de France Bay. There is a weather window for Dominica Sunday through Wednesday.It was tough getting here today squalls wind from every direction but we want to be in St. Pierre by Sat to make crossing to Dominica.Lot's of boats...All trying to make crossing. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/Fort-de-France/blog-248709.html We crossed from St. Pierre to Portsmouth Dominica. We had 3 to 5 foot waves with a little chop. Winds were 18 to 22 knots. 67 miles Left at 0700 arrived at 1630. The first time anchoring rock or coral Actually it was coral but we have to say rock. Up came the anchor reset it then put out the Danforth as well very crowded anchorage. Next morning we reanchored. Finally only 1 anchor down http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/St--Pierre/blog-248708.html It is amazing what cruisers can do There was a rumor yesterday morning going around that Exothique would be having the super bowl playoff at their restaurant. After the carnival Kajun Diva took a dinghy ride walked a mile to find out that the super bowl was not on ESPN as someone had thought. Wilhelmina called us on the VHF we made the announcement on VHF 16 and then people were disappointed http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/blog-246804.html Carnival time Every day there is a parade do not believe the tourism office paper work it never happens at the correct hour. We soon learned that 1600 hours is to early more like 1800. It is crazy time. The locals dress up have these parades with music same as Gasparilla type thing. The costumes are not very dressy not like Trinidad or Rio. It was interesting the 1st group 1dt night were http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/blog-246798.html I understand recovery day now. It is the day after carnival most everything is shut down. Carnival lasted 4 days every night And still we continue to party Cruisers are like family we meet talklaugh sometimes complain cry etc. Last night we had a cruisers rendezvous with lot of new boats. Some we had not met. It was a wine cheese and pate sampler. Since our guest left us the word has http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/blog-246796.html We are back to St. Anne. The carnival starts officially Sunday. We are looking forward to these events. The Martinique rum is not drinkable. Lorraine beer is ok. Pates are excellent And the cheeses yum We were supposed to bring a share a dish this past Thursday night to a cruiser function we fixed it last night and went to Cheetah II and shared it with them it was chicken livers Maribel's st http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/Marin/blog-246795.html This past Monday we rented a Clio for 43 Euros split the bill in half with Cheetah II including the gasoline which was 32 Euros. For those of you coming this way we have found out there is a company worldwide called interrent.com. This company has cars for 12.99 Euros a day plus gas. The problem is you have to do the reservation 30 days ahead of time. Which for us cruisers represents a problem http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/blog-246794.html We left St. Anne this morning. Arriving in Fort de France around 230 pm. We had 25 to 35 knots of wind current against squalls. We are safe The chop went from 3 to 5 footers at times. We spent 3 weeks in St. Anne. We see a crossing window for Tuesday. We are trying to get set up by St. Pierre. We might even skip Dominica.We are at an achorage called Anse de Mitan. Problem here is ferries. Ev http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/blog-246657.html Our last night in St Lucia saw this beautiful sunset. The following morning it was taxi to Castries and the ferry trip to Martinique.Ohhellip how French is this OK itrsquos January and itrsquos hot but apart from that you could be anywhere in France. Hired a Peugeot and drove around the island. St Pierre where the whole town was destroyed in a volcanic eruption in 1903 Fort de France the http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/blog-240066.html Imagine you are stuck in jail for stealing a loaf of bread in St. Pierre the bustling and busy capital of Martinique. It is the fashionable place for the French to go for their holidays and has been dubbed the Caribbean Riviera or Little Paris. But you get to enjoy none of this as you peer out through the barred window of your cell looking out towards the harbour which is full of sailing boat http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/St--Pierre/blog-216119.html We left the Fort area headed for Marin we stopped in at some of the anchorages on the way. Arriving in Marin we found Chateau anchored out. We had a few drinks with them. They gave us pin pointers as to what and where to go. There is a very nice hurricane hole in this area. The marina is huge. All med style mooring. We paid 9 Euros for 1 gallon of diesel. Ouch We only put 10 gallons as we were http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/Marin/blog-204833.html We left Dominica Rousseau at 0530 we took a mooring for 10 US and the boat boy that helped us said what about the service Pete gave him 2. As we pulled anchored we saw another US flag sailboat leaving the same anchorage. This was 2nd Millenium. They were headed same way to Martinique. We spoke on VHF several times during the crossing and were within eye view of each other the whole time pr http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/blog-204829.html Une petite anecdote concernant l'ascension de la montagne pele....Pendant les 3 heures de monte je rappelle parfois sous la pluie et les pierres hyperglissantes... nous avons t suivi par un chien... qui avait apparement ses petites habitudes...Ainsi alors qu'il commencait vraiment me faire che... l'odeur de chient mouill n'tant pas ce que je prfre il a dcid de prendre un raccourc http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/St--Pierre/blog-193784.html Je viens de passer 1 semaine en Martinique.L'activit principale tait la plonge...Mais la pluie battante sur le bateau et l'eau trouble ont eu raison de ma motivation... J'ai termin le sjour en changeant les profondeurs par l'altitude en gravaissant les pierres glissantes du sentier montant la montagne pele....point culminant de l'le http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/St--Pierre/blog-193684.html Copie du message reuPrparation notre dpart ce matin avec les douanes. Nous avons dcouvert qu'un bateau a un enregistrement avec une date d'expiration.Enfin un dpart 11 hres et demi. Le vent souffle dans la baie environ 15 noeuds. Nous sortons avec une vitesse de 65 noeuds et esprons que le vent tienne car nous serions l bas en 25 heures.Mais non aussitt que la pointe de http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/blog-176551.html Dpart pour GrenadenbspCentral America Caribbean raquonbspMartinique By MOANAJuly 2nd 2007France et Guy Copie du message reu Hier aprs la plage de Ste Anne ou nous nous sommes reposs et baigns Nous sommes demeurs sur le bateau pour prendre un bon souper baguette fromage pat de compagne et vin avec de la belle musique Qubcoise. Ce matin nous avons t pour faire la sortie avec le http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/blog-176548.html Une communication en HF avec Guy et France ce matinIls sont 6 milles de leur point d'arrive soit Marin en Martinique.Passage difficile entre la Dominique et la Martinique actuellement voile et moteur avec un vent dans le nez d'environ 15 noeuds leur arrive ils se rendront faire le plein d'eau et de diesel ainsi que les provisions pour le gardemanger. Ancreront probablement prs de Ste http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/blog-175059.html Viimeinen purjehduspiv YHYYYNostimme ankkurin St. Pierren edustalta aamupivn aikana ja suuntasimme keulan kohti Martiniquen etelosaa ja La Marinin satamaa. Aurinko paistoi kauniisti. Ilma oli kirkas mutta meill mieli haikeutta tynn. Tnn purjehtiminen loppuu. On aika alkaa valmistautua tulevaan kotimatkaan.Nostimme purjeet viimeist kertaa aamuauringon paisteessa. Merell ei ollut suu http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/blog-139029.html MoikkaTnn matkattiin Roseaun kaupungin edustalta St. Pierren lahdelle Martiniquen pohjoisphn. Matkaa oli n. 20 mpk. Apua Viimeinen purjehduspiv lhestyy Yhyy...Me pyshdyttiin matkalla aamuuinnille yhteen komeaan poukamaan. Helenaa ei ankkuroitu vaan se pidettiin moottorilla paikoillaan virtaavassa vedess. Lhes koko miehist hyppsi veteen vilvoittelemaan ja peseytymn. Osa roikkui http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Martinique/St--Pierre/blog-139017.html