February 11
Since we arrived in Martinique, we stayed in three anchorages: Le Marin, Sainte-Anne and Fort-de-France. Martinique has many anchorages, many points of interest, many hiking trails. It would be easy to stay here for many months. So, we decided to stay for at least 5-6 weeks. We spent a few days in Le Marin for provisioning, cleaning and just enjoy the sights and French food (I’ll probably gain a few pounds). Le Marin is the sailing hub where a sailor can find all necessary gears and services. Sainte-Anne is a large bay, has a quaint village and many hiking trails to beaches and hills. Fort-de-France is the government seat and big city (take that in perspective) feel where cruise ships come for the day. The bus system in Martinique is the best so far: bus maps/schedules online and large, comfortable, air conditioned buses.
At Sainte-Anne, on a Sunday morning, we happened to pass by a French Catholic church where the priest was celebrating a mass. The church was full so I stood at the entrance and listened to the well-known words and songs. I don’t go to church very often anymore. I’ve questioned my faith for many years. But listening to the priest saying the same sentences heard in my youth and the congregation sing the same songs, I had a feeling of belonging, fondness and comfort. When you travel to new places and new cultures as much as we do, you may get a “I’m home!” feeling when your senses capture something you’ve known all your life. To me, it was very powerful.
We went twice to the Salines beaches, on the ocean side of the island, by bicycle and by foot. At a beach restaurant, I tried a fish called balaou. It looks like a sardine. It is mostly grilled and eaten in its entirety. The head and tail are crispy; the body is soft with a crunchy spine. Yummy! Talking about food, I also cooked dasheen which has a bland taste like potatoes but the meat is a lot more dense. It goes well in my one-pot meals with christophines, eggplants and a protein. This morning, I diced a small pineapple. It is soooo tasty and juicy. The ones we buy in Canada are insipid in comparison.
We invented a drink for happy hours; we call it Passion because it’s made of passion fruit. Here’s the recipe (measures depend on your mood):
passion fruit juice
passion fruit liqueur
vodka
soda water
lime juice
ice
Soooo delicious!
Besides its location and the various activities nearby, we’re in Fort-de-France for its carnival that’s officially starting today. It lasts three days. I’ll tell you all about it in my next blog.
Happy Carnival (Quebec) and Valentines Day!
