Martinique the last of March

Thursday, another tour this time the North East corner, via St Joseph, -a tiny hamlet in the heart of the mountains. Gros Morne—an agricultural area which also makes produce from its yields like rum, fruit juice and sweets.  St Marie  - steeped in Martinique's culture where we found more caterpillars feeding on Allamander leaves.  We ate Croissants here looking out over a pleasant sea view.  Then we continued on through Le Marigot,- a charming flower filled village with an amphitheatre facing the Atlantic Ocean. Le Lorraine— The Kingdom of the banana where they also brew beer.  Basse Pointe,- also noted for Bananas and pineapples. Macouba,- another distillery and a 17th century Church. Finally, Grand Rivière—at the Northern tip of the island and where the road ends.  During our picnic the local catch was being filleted and a dozen pelicans were on patrol nearby.  Our afternoon walk took us along one of the coastal paths towards Mont Pelée.  It may once have been a real road but is both steep and in bad repair but makes a brilliant hiking trail.  30 minutes higher with nice views Malcolm carried on upwards while I chilled out (as usual)
We then started the drive home.  Once getting as far as Le Morne Rouge we decided to take the over-land route through the mountains.  We were rewarded by some tremendous views.
 That just left the rush hour in Fort de France again andsome final shopping before we got home.
  Friday was spent defrosting the freezer again which appears to be only working on one side.  Rather a lot had to be cooked since it had defrosted –such a shame that Caroline and Jack aren’t here to help eat it all!
  Saturday, we tool the bus to the Museum de La Pagerie this being the maiden name of the Empress Josephine wife  of Napoleon Bonaparte.  She started out as an upper working class girl who married into the nobility about the time of the French Revolution.  She had two children (a boy and a girl) to her first husband, who lost his head to the guillotine.  She then came to the notice of a young Napoleon who then married her.  Unfortunately she could only give him daughters so he divorced her for another.  Meanwhile the Pagerie family fell on hard times (after a hurricane) and had to move from their house into the sugary refinery which they owned.  All that remains of the house is the foundations of the kitchen and the ruins of the sugar refinery.  After lunch back aboard we spent the afternoon on the beach.
   Sunday, We took the bus again round to Anse Diamant. The remains of an ancient volcano which earned its’ fame as a strategic stronghold.  The British first conquered it to place guns at its peak and from then on it was the fighting point for many years.  It faces on of the largest beaches in Martinique with coconut and sea grape trees for shade.  On the Southern coast it is open to the Atlantic channel and so has breakers most of the year but we weren’t here for the beach with only an hour and a half before the last bus back (Sunday timetable)  This was sufficient time to have a coffee and pastry. See the small town and a walk along the beach.  The bus ride out through stunning landscapes was well worth the €1.50 fare.

Monday, we sailed back to St Lucia, a fast and pleasant sail, now to see some more technicians...answer your emails and upload images to the Martinique folder and the St Lucia folder (this has taken 4 hours so I do hope you all enjoy it very few comments apart from those who have a Gmail addresses [thanks Robyn])