GUADELOUPE
Clearing into Guadelouope was quick and easy. Done at the marina office service charge = 3euro. Our 40litre of freshwater, in jerrycans, costed one euro. Day charter boats raced dangerously through the anchorage at high speed. So does the big dinghies. Where the youngsters swim next to their boats. An accident in waiting.
There is an excellent laudromat in walking distance from the marina, full automatic - even with soap etc.
Bus service is very regular and cost 1.20 euro to town. No busses at night.
International Cruising boats other than French, can be counted on one hand.
Internet upload speed is impossible.
There is an excellent laudromat in walking distance from the marina, full automatic - even with soap etc.
Bus service is very regular and cost 1.20 euro to town. No busses at night.
International Cruising boats other than French, can be counted on one hand.
Internet upload speed is impossible.
Port-a-Pitre is a sad city. With an amazingly busy harbour.
- tankers, container vessels, inter island ferries, car carriers, cruise ships - the one bigger than the other. All of them almost every day.
Les Saints was a tourist madhouse both on land and on the water and with seas.
Craven Bay (under the cross) was an off-the-road seastead and very enjoyable.
De Bouillante had an 'old' country feel, enjoyable hot water into the sea, and a surprisingly stocked China-shop. Would love to return here.
Deshaie - a small town - aptly priced for the tourists, is a one-night-hub for boats. Interesting winds. Clearing out, done in the boutique.
- tankers, container vessels, inter island ferries, car carriers, cruise ships - the one bigger than the other. All of them almost every day.
Les Saints was a tourist madhouse both on land and on the water and with seas.
Craven Bay (under the cross) was an off-the-road seastead and very enjoyable.
De Bouillante had an 'old' country feel, enjoyable hot water into the sea, and a surprisingly stocked China-shop. Would love to return here.
Deshaie - a small town - aptly priced for the tourists, is a one-night-hub for boats. Interesting winds. Clearing out, done in the boutique.
Every evening (February) the water is mirror flat in the heart of the butterfly.
And everything on groundlevel in PtP city is locked up with roller doors. Burglarbars are even more prominent then in South Africa.
Port-a-Pitre = Grafity, filth, ruins, decay, amidts normal life. Lots of unemployed youngsters with a prominent presence of drugs money . Pretty women, scantly clothed parading in the streets and on the show-off boats with the macho men. Obesity is common. Thin cigar-speedboats like in the movies, making unexpected fast chases in the channel behind the boats.
We went to the carnaval which lasts three months, every Sunday night. What a waste. Unorganized, very late at night, all over the city - means one don't see most of it, very quick passing-by, few weak streetlights - costumes, make-up and decor poorly visable. Lots of police around but they were not in action when the fifty bikers chased through the parade uncontrolled.
One time we came back from town and our dinghy was sprayed with fish ofval.
And everything on groundlevel in PtP city is locked up with roller doors. Burglarbars are even more prominent then in South Africa.
Port-a-Pitre = Grafity, filth, ruins, decay, amidts normal life. Lots of unemployed youngsters with a prominent presence of drugs money . Pretty women, scantly clothed parading in the streets and on the show-off boats with the macho men. Obesity is common. Thin cigar-speedboats like in the movies, making unexpected fast chases in the channel behind the boats.
We went to the carnaval which lasts three months, every Sunday night. What a waste. Unorganized, very late at night, all over the city - means one don't see most of it, very quick passing-by, few weak streetlights - costumes, make-up and decor poorly visable. Lots of police around but they were not in action when the fifty bikers chased through the parade uncontrolled.
One time we came back from town and our dinghy was sprayed with fish ofval.
There were the few delights:
- The artist Prosper Thierry from whom we bought a painted t-shirt, was a man of the Wa-ka. The big energy. The drums. He was so consumed in the energy, one could not other but smile and feel with him.
- The cultured lady from the art gallery was a super knowledgable salesperson of her country. And named the 'poverty' here due to handouts.
- Some of the wall art is amazingly good.
- The spice lady who's face fan out in a delightful friendly and inviting smile when she talks. She didn't speak English and I don't speak French but we had conversations which both of us thoroughly enjoyed and understood.
- The artist Prosper Thierry from whom we bought a painted t-shirt, was a man of the Wa-ka. The big energy. The drums. He was so consumed in the energy, one could not other but smile and feel with him.
- The cultured lady from the art gallery was a super knowledgable salesperson of her country. And named the 'poverty' here due to handouts.
- Some of the wall art is amazingly good.
- The spice lady who's face fan out in a delightful friendly and inviting smile when she talks. She didn't speak English and I don't speak French but we had conversations which both of us thoroughly enjoyed and understood.
In Guadeloupe Eelco made the bridgedeck in the cockpit removable and fitted the new mainsail runner we had made in South Africa. And we had time to recover from our old-age-ailments.
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