Fort-de-France, Martinique: This is our second visit to beautiful Martinique. The first time was on a cruise in 1997 while Lisa was on Winter Break from high school. Of course, Jimmy has a song about everything:
If I ever live to be an old man, I'm gonna sail down to Martinique.
I'm gonna buy me a sweat-stained Bogart suit and an African parakeet.
And then I'll sit him on my shoulder and open up my trusty old mind.
I'm gonna teach him how to fuss, teach him how to cuss,
And pull the cork out of a bottle of wine.
- Migration by Jimmy Buffett
In 1902, Mont Pelée exploded with a blast of poisonous gas, killing 30,000 people in minutes. Our 1997 tour of the island included a stop to a jail cell where one of the few (3!) survivors was discovered.
By the time I woke this morning (Wednesday), we had already docked in Fort de France. I would not have recognized this as the same city we visited in 1997. So much has changed and the city has been built up quite a bit, with obvious improvements continuing. I had one mission today: buy Colombo - a curry-type spice mixture popular in the West Indies. It is sold everywhere on Martinique, so it wasn't a difficult task. The six of us walked into town together. It was super hot and humid, so it was a 30-minute slog to the Grande Marche Couvert.
Our French isn't good enough to actually read an entire book... plus we were sailing away at 5p... so we did not get a library card. We continued to the market. I knew we were at the right place because I could smell the lovely curries a block away.
Though we did not see any meat or fish, dairy, or eggs for sale here, there was everything else anyone could need - plus a ton of tourist junk. Same tourist junk we have seen on every island and so much of it made in China with the words Martinique, or Dominica... or wherever, printed on the item. How sad. I am pretty sure my spice powder was local though. 3 euros for about 1/2 cup.
Closed today, or always closed - we did not learn.
We didn't find anything else we wanted, and the kids headed off to the beach. Dave and I walked down to the beach for a while, then walked back towards town to find some lunch. Oddly enough, we found a Belgian chain restaurant we had tried in Luxembourg last summer, so ate there. Our lunch was just okay, but they had icy-cold sparkling water and we were soooo thirsty. Then we decided to walk back to the ship - passing the fancy French department store, Galleries Lafayette. Yes, I just passed right on by. We visited this store in Paris. Didn't find a thing I needed then, and they do not offer Colombo spice mix.
Everyone was back on the boat before 2p this afternoon. We were all pooped from walking in the heat. We saw Mt. Pelee as she emerged from the clouds:
We met for dinner at the up-charge Italian restaurant, Sabatini's, where we had excellent service and delicious meals. I had Veal Milanese (one of my favs, as you know I love anything breaded). It was so soft and yummy, but too much food.
Lenny and Leo ordered Panna Cotta for dessert, and it was most inspired. Deconstructed! Panna Cotta in a glass, with a chocolate sauce, then a cookie "lid" on the glass, with meringues and berries. So clever.
Speaking of clever, we all went to a magic show in the Princess Theater, starring Joel Meyers, a "celebrity magician" - whatever the heck that means. His 60-minute show was entertaining. Though I know it's not magic, but only trickery, it is difficult to figure-out his tricks. He did get himself out of an old-school straight jacket in two minutes, made a table float, and guessed the name of a woman's deceased mother. He chose several people from the audience to come on the stage to assist him (unbelievably, not Leo this time), so the entire crowd was involved. Fun evening with the 4L's, but it was off to our beds, as we have an early adventure planned for tomorrow.
Until my next update, I remain, your "dang that was a long way to go to buy a spice mixture I could have ordered on-line" correspondent.
LINKS:
Martinique Tourism Office
Grande Marche Couvert
About Mont Pelée
Current location of the Enchanted Princess
Enchanted Princess bridge cam