But restaurants were not necessary, families had been arriving early with their own lamb for a "mechoui" ! The smell!!!! Thanks to Marleyne, and these nice people, we got a taste of freshly roasted (and so well spiced) lamb.

En allant aux Salines, nous avions vu la préparation du mechoui...en revenant, 4 heures plus tard, c'était a point: je me suis servie de mon charme habituel (!) pour demander a ces cuisiniers ce qu'ils servaient...on nous a offert de goûter! Ah! ces herbes de la Martinique! et cet ail juteux! Un délice!

It made us hungry!!!

A French lunch ... Marleyne (green cap) is getting the needed beers!


Une peinture de Renoir...enfin, sans la chaise en plastique rouge. Ce joyeux petit resto de plage offrait 2 menus, des assiettes de crudités, des espressos, des sandwichs frais...et attendez de voir ce qui vient...des sorbets maison!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Taking a rest, enjoying the breeze up there.

.... on the way to the beaches of Salines, with a view of the Diamant Rock in the background. We were going to pass this former British H.M.S. on our way up North along the coast of Martinique.

La plage des Salines: le joyau de la Martinique! Sable blanc, cocotiers penches sur la mer! Pour y arriver, nous avons marche de notre mouillage (4-5 km) sur un chemin ombrage longeant la mer, saluant les nombreuses familles (française, martiniquaises...) déjà installées sous les arbres pour profiter de ce jour de conge (Mercredi des Cendres) au soleil!

... a walk along the street, overlooking the harbour.

Toujours a Sainte-Anne: nos promenades nous ont fait découvrir de petits restos sympatiques: voyez ce menu!




et de beaux jardins!!Ah! Les plantes tropicales dans un environnement tropical! Ca fait un peu baver...quelle beauté quand même!

A view onto the anchorage. On this day we had many rain showers moving through, lasting only minutes, if not less. We appreciated the clouds - this way it was easier to adjust to the temperatures (from -30C to plus 30C).

The dock in St. Anne. These little churches, you find them everywhere, most with a little plazza in front of them.

Sainte-Anne: le mouillage le plus populaire de l’Ile! Cette petite église est typique pour les bourgs martiniquais. Celle de Sainte-Anne fut incendiée par les Anglais et reconstruite en 1730...Il y avait beaucoup de musique et de tambours ce soir la sur la place de l’Eglise...Mardi Gras oblige! Plus la nuit avançait, plus l’atmosphère s’egayait!

And have a look at these docks - impressive and very well maintained structures.

This little town was a fitting introduction to cruising in Martinique.

After a night in le Marin - a large and very full anchorage (we thought about Nomad ...!), we went shopping.

The first trip was to the boulangerie - fresh baguettes!!!! Then an extended breakfast - we were ready for a hard day of life in the tropics.

What do you want more: You jump into the dinghy and drive up to the supermarket take a shopping card, and serious shopping could begin. We had a week ahead of us, and this was one of the best places to fill up the boat, get wine, rum - everything.

Ma première expédition d’épicerie fut au supermarché CHAMPION...Heiner et Peter sont venus me rejoindre plus tard. Ah! J’étais fébrile tellement que j’étais excitée! Des fromages, des vins, des yaourts et fromages frais, des légumes inconnus et intrigants...Il y avait ce jour la des Christophenes (aussi appelées Chayotes) en vente: j’ai évidemment demande a deux clientes de m’instruire sur la chose....je n’en ai acheté qu’une, ne sachant pas trop a quoi m’attendre !

First round went fast - we knew what we wanted, and in not time was the dinghy full.

The next round for some small items we thought we may also want to have, was soooooo much slower. The store was going to close at noon - Carnival - and every man and women on the island must have decided to engage in some last minute shopping - with the cashier working on island time. Marleyne had enough time to make acquaintances in the store - she felt like "at home" in her French environment (just much hotter!).

Ouais, Heiner faisait la queue...il y avait au moins 20 personnes devant et autant derrière...je me suis donc permise quelques escapades au travers cette foule bigarrée...mais très patiente...j’ai déniché quelques merguez, d’autres fromages, et fait la causette avec le monsieur sur la bière locale...très sympa!

Making it back to the boat, up came the anchor and we left for St. Anne a few miles down the bay - to go swimming and to relax (meaning: enjoying one of the many good red wines we had bought!).

Le bateau Aquataurus avait une cale bien garnie avec des conserves de bonne qualité (tomates, champignons, haricots, couscous, et de petits cartons avec de la crème fraîche...)...essentiels si on veut être capable de mijoter de bons petits plats même s’il n’y pas d’épicerie dans le coin. Mais ca reste quand même un challenge de trouver ustensiles et aliments sur un bateau qu’on ne connaît pas...

One week of sailing in Martinique.

Peter picked us up at the airport, via a rental, and drove us south to le Marin, showing us the coastal stretch while doing so. It gave us the first impression of Martinique (that is: heavy traffic on the highway, wonderful and charming side roads, beautiful views ...) - and we had our first beer in a small village overlooking the harbour - one which we were going to see again in a few days.

It was a wonderful way to arrive in the Caribbean!

Aussi appelée “Madinina”, l’Ile aux Fleurs, la Martinique mesure 80 km de long par 39 km...et aucun point n’est éloigné de la mer par plus de 12 km!!!! La douce France...version antillaise!

... waiting for us ....!

It is February by now, 2007, and the winter finally arrived. Late, but unmistakenly there!

It may be fun for a while, but hey, we had enough snow, and enough work removing the snow so that we can drive the car out of the garage .... we had it!

Ruth and Peter, our friends on Aquataurus, happen to be sailing in the Caribbean.

We got an invitation to join them - unfortunately only Peter, Ruth had to go back home.

Who can say NO! to such temptations!?

Martinique! Here we come ... from minus 31C windshield and parka, mitten and hats .... to plus 30C and shorts!

On the way back we stopped in Prynier's Cove - we were the last boat in the water. What a weekend we had!

Yup, that's me!

Clear sky again a short while later.

Having our first coffee in the morning, looking out into the anchorage, fog lifting. At night it was thick with fog, barely were we able to see our own bow.

Anchoring in historical Picton harbour.

The Fall colours are out ...

Thanksgiving ... a long weekend is coming up and we are heading West, with following winds (we are lazy sailors!).

Our Fall destination - weather permitting ....!

We have had very unpleasant weather the last couple of weeks. We wanted to go the islands and see the fall colours and spend our weekends there, but with heavy rain and low temperatures in the forecast, we were happy if we made it out on the boat for a single night - if at all.

Here are some views of things we are missing ....
http://www.visit1000islands.com/Gallery-1000Islands/

Instead, we are getting ahead on our house projects - well, some benefits of a lousy Fall weather!