Fort de France
The harbor at Fort de France is 3.5 nm wide and 2 nm deep with the fort and town just about in the middle. The Foreign Legion still occupies the fort, so no tours. We checked in at a marine chandlery, hit the market for a few things, and took a rest from our trip down from Anse Belleville. In the morning we went a short to get a few more things and were successful in getting a new switch for the anchor windlass. We have been using a foot pad which was very difficult to activate. The new button one is much easier to squeeze/press into action. We were not able to get another Fram filter as our French wasn't up to local standards. One must say "gasoil" for diesel, for instance. Anyway we came back to the boat and moved on to another anchorage croon the bay: Trois Ilets. Not remembering it was Friday we relaxed for the rest of the day and went in the next morning when everything was closed. This is where Josephine's mother is buried in a lost grave. No one knows today which one it is.
From here we proceeded to Grand Anse d'Arlets just down the coast on the way to the Roche du Diamant
The Diamond is an 500' tall rock/island on the south western end of Martinique opposite the most southern point across from St. Lucia. All shipping from Europe came thru this channel hugging the coast to keep out of the westerly current and Trade Winds that would blow them out into the Carribean. A wonderful book by Dudley Pope, Ramage's Diamond, tells the tale of its strategic capture in 1802 by the British in its blockade of Fort de France. The British manned the island for 17 months having hauled up cannons to the top to command the waterway.
From the Diamond we went to St. Anne and them Marin. I have not seen so many boats in one place in a very long time. There must gave been 200 or more anchored off the beach and town. When we moved 2 nm to Marin we were again blown away by large number of moored and anchored sloops, ketches, cats, power boats, etc. outside the three marinas there.
We rented a car and set out to explore the island.
The Diamond from the shore.
A memorial to the drowned slaves in a wreck near the Roche.
The cathedral above Ft. de France
This is a peninsula on the central, eastern side of Martinique.
The partially restored plantation/mansion where they made sugar, rum, cotton, and coffee. Quite an amazing operation in the moddle of nowhere.
On Saturday we left the boat at 7 am and hit the backery and got sweets and ran down to the beach near Salines for breakfast before turning in the VW Polo we'd rented for 62 Euros a day. Damned expensive considering we had had quote for 42, but no cars 'till Tuesday.
Even hThe roads here are narrow to US standards. They were built by the mile so they are very windings get lost too often, especially with Stephen who has b and curving: more $ per mile if you go in and out of every nook and crannie. Switchbacks are everywhere as are roundabouts. Signage is ok so you don't get lost too often, especially with Stephen who has been here to many times as navigator from the back seat. Everything is very green and lush...a lovely place! The drivers are courteous except for speed: the faster the better, so they are right up your butt. Still, all in all, very pleasant.
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