Martinique and Guadeloupe Alive! (Hunter Travel Guides)

408 Pages·2001·2.41 MB·English

by  Lynne M. Sullivan

MARTINIQUE
& GUADELOUPE
!!
EE
VV
II
LL
AA
LynneM.Sullivan
HUNTER
HUNTERPUBLISHING,INC.
130CampusDrive,Edison,NJ08818
(cid:1)732-225-1900;800-255-0343;fax[phone]
[email protected]
www.hunterpublishing.com
UlyssesTravelPublications
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TheBoundary,WheatleyRoad,Garsington
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ISBN1-58843-262-9
©2002LynneM.Sullivan
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmayberepro-
duced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy-
ing,recording,orotherwise,withoutthewrittenpermission
ofthepublisher.Briefexcerptsforuseinreviewsorarticles
arepermitted.
This guide focuses on recreational activities. As all such
activities contain elements of risk, the publisher, author,
affiliatedindividualsandcompaniesdisclaimanyresponsi-
bilityforanyinjury,harm,orillnessthatmayoccurtoany-
one through, or by use of, the information in this book.
Everyeffortwasmadetoinsuretheaccuracyofinformation
in this book, but the publisher and author do not assume
and hereby disclaim, any liability for any loss or damage
caused by errors, omissions, misleading information or
potentialtravelproblemscausedbythisguide,evenifsuch
errorsoromissionsaretheresultofnegligence,accidentor
anyothercause.
MapsbyKimAndré©2002HunterPublishing,Inc.
Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the relevant copyright,
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Acknowledgments
AveryspecialthankyougoestoMr.MyronClement
at The Clement-Petrocik Company and Ms. Sylvie
RéginaattheMartiniquePromotionBureaufortheir
invaluableassistancewiththisguide.
www.hunterpublishing.com
Hunter’sfullrangeoftravelguidestoallcorners
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Hunter’sRomanticWeekendsseriesoffersmyriad
things to do for couples of all ages and lifestyles.
Quaint places to stay and restaurants where the
ambiance will take your breath away are
included, along with fun activities that you and
yourpartnerwillrememberforever.
About the Alive Guides
R
eliable, detailed and personally researched by
knowledgeable authors, the Alive! series was
foundedbyHarrietandArnoldGreenberg.
This accomplished travel-writing team also operates
arenownedbookstore,TheCompleteTraveller,at
199MadisonAvenueinNewYorkCity.
We Love to Get Mail
T
his book has been carefully researched to bring
youcurrent,accurateinformation.Butnoplaceis
unchanging. We welcome your comments for future
editions. Please write us at: The Alive Guides, c/o
Hunter Publishing, 130 Campus Drive, Edison, NJ
08818, or e-mail your comments to hunterp@
bellsouth.net. You can also contact the author by e-
mail through her website (www.travelynne.com),
whichcontainsislandupdates,commentsfromfellow
travelers,andanswerstoreaders’questions.

Contents
Acknowledgments........................iii
AbouttheAliveGuides ....................v
WeLovetoGetMail ......................v
Introduction ................................1
◆ TheIslands..............................2
Location ................................2
Language ...............................4
Lifestyle ................................5
ASharedPast ...........................6
LifeoftheArawaks&Caribs..............6
VisitorsFromEurope ....................9
Climate.................................9
TheLand ..............................11
PlantLife ..............................13
Birds..................................14
Mammals,Reptiles&Amphibians..........15
GettingtotheIslands ....................17
ByAir................................17
ByCruiseShip ........................19
GettingAround .........................21
CarRental............................21
OtherOptions .........................22
BestPlacestoStay ......................22
ALookattheOptions...................22
Food&Drink...........................24
CommonFrench&CréoleMenuItems.....25
MoneyMatters..........................28
Cash&ExchangeRates.................28
CreditCards ..........................28
EntryRequirements .....................29
Health&Safety.........................29
TheBestAttractions&Activities...........32
GoingMetric–Quick&Painless ...........33
(cid:1)
viii Contents
CustomsRegulations.....................33
Electricity..............................35
TimeZones.............................35
Martinique ................................37
◆ Overview...............................37
◆ ABriefHistory..........................38
DiscoverybyColumbus...................38
ArrivalofTheFrench ....................39
Sugar,Slavery&TheBritish..............40
The20thCentury........................41
DestructionoftheMartyredCity..........41
EmpressJosephine.....................43
◆ GettingtoMartinique....................44
ArrivingByAir .........................44
ArrivingBySea.........................46
FerryService..........................46
CruiseShips ..........................46
PrivateBoats..........................46
◆ GettingAround .........................47
CarRentals ............................47
Rates ................................47
Buses .................................48
Taxis..................................49
Ferries ................................49
◆ Festivals,Events&Holidays ..............50
MajorAnnualEvents ....................50
Carnival..............................51
Public&ReligiousHolidays ...............51
◆ ExploringtheIsland .....................52
Fort-de-France .........................52
PlacedelaSavane......................52
FortSaint-Louis .......................54
SchoelcherLibrary .....................56
ArcheologicalMuseum ..................57
CathédraleSaint-Louis..................57
SermacFloralPark.....................58
Marketplace...........................58
(cid:1)
Contents ix
SouthwesternTour ......................59
Lamentin.............................59
Ducos ................................59
Trois-Ilets ............................60
DomainedelaPagerie ..................62
BotanicalGarden ......................62
PointeduBout.........................63
LeDiamant ...........................63
NorthCaribbeanCoastTour ..............64
Schoelcher ............................65
Case-Pilote............................65
Morne-Vert ...........................66
LeCarbet.............................66
Saint-Pierre...........................67
ChestoftheDead ......................70
HabitationCéron.......................70
RoutedelaTrace........................71
Balata................................71
Saint-Denis ...........................72
MorneRouge..........................73
Ajoupa-Bouillon........................74
Basse-Pointe ..........................76
GrandRivière .........................78
WestCoastTour ........................78
LeRobert.............................78
CaravellePeninsula ....................79
MornedesEsses .......................80
Sainte-Marie ..........................80
Marigot ..............................82
TheBestRumintheWorld................82
DistilleriestoVisit .....................84
OrganizedTours ........................86
◆ SunuptoSundown.......................87
FunintheSun..........................87
Beaches................................88
SouthernBeaches......................88
WestCoastBeaches ....................94