In 1502 H. Columbus discovered new island Martinique and called it “the most beautiful country in the world”. His admiration is understood by guests who have visited the Eden corner, immersed in greenery. Wonderful resort with extraordinary nature attracts and developed infrastructure, which allows tourists to feel at home. It has everything you can dream of: luxurious beaches, comfortable hotels, miraculous sights, the beauty of which will take your breath away.
Fairy island
Martinique is an island located in the West Indies. Located in the center of Malye, it is in Madinina, as the Indians called their homeland, has a mountainous relief and stretches over a thousand square kilometers. The “Island of Flowers” \u200b\u200battracts all ecotourism lovers.
The warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean, washing the paradise resort, volcanic landscapes, virgin nature make tourists fall in love with it forever.
History of Martinique
Columbus's fourth expedition, reaching the shores of Martinique, was struck by the beauty fabulous corner... However, the main goal of the team was gold and minerals, which were absent on the island, so the Spaniards did not linger here and went on a new journey.
Upon learning of the opening of the expedition, the French appeared on Madinina and founded their own colony, which became the first European settlement. In 1664 Martinique (the island) was bought by the French government, whose troops exterminated the indigenous people - the Caribbean Indians who protested against the invaders, and the colonial administration had to import slaves from Africa.
At the beginning of the last century, a volcanic eruption occurred at the resort, as a result of which the city of Saint-Pierre, founded by the French, with a population of 30 thousand people, was completely wiped off the face of the earth. Only one prisoner survived in the cell.
After the abolition of colonial law, the island of Martinique, the description and history of which are given in the article, was given the opportunity to elect four of its representatives to the French parliament. Thus, the population has all the rights of residents of a European country.
Climate and weather
He welcomes his guests fabulously beautiful island Martinique. The weather in a paradise place pleases tourists who dream of soaking up the sun. The tropical climate with an average annual temperature of 26 degrees is softened by sea winds. The south of the island is much warmer than the north, where weather conditions depend on the altitude of the place.
Tourists need to know that the dry season lasts from December to May, and the wet season begins in July and ends in October.
Population
The island is inhabited by about 400 thousand inhabitants. Martinicans are the descendants of slaves brought from Africa by the French, but there are people from India, China, and Italy. Most of the locals are Catholic (85 percent).
Passive and active rest
Embodying paradise on earth, the tropical island of Martinique, whose photos serve as an excellent evidence of its marvelous beauty, is a continuous beach area. Not only amateurs of passive recreation are in a hurry to the resort, but also everyone who wants to try themselves in sea sports. It hosts annual regattas in sailing, windsurfing, yachting, and some status competitions are held as part of the World Cups.
But divers are perhaps the happiest of all, because excellent conditions have been created to satisfy their needs: coral reefs, clear water and even perfectly preserved sunken ships. Most often, thrill-seekers stop on the volcanic island of Roche-du-Diamant.
If we talk about the beaches, then they are divided into wild and well-equipped. The latter will delight you with white or black sand and emerald-colored water. The largest is the Pointe de la Sherry, which stretches for 12 kilometers. It is possible to note Ens-Terin, Ens-Siron, Ens-Letan, famous for their picturesque views. There are hotels and restaurants nearby, and too much garbage is nailed to the shores of wild beaches, cut off from civilization.
Capital of the island
The administrative center of the resort is the main port of Fort-de-France. Most big city called "little Paris" for its unique flavor. Colonial mansions, modern office buildings, port facilities are combined with a huge number of cozy cafes and cute shops that are typical for the capital of France.
Located in the heart of Fort-de-France, La Savane Park is replete with beautiful fountains, palm alleys and spacious areas under open airwhere various city events take place. Among the age-old trees, which provide the shade necessary in the heat, it is so nice to hide and enjoy solitude with nature. There is a sculpture of Bonaparte's wife, a native of Martinique.
Fort Saint-Louis, which was once an irregular pentagon and protected from pirate raids, is popular with tourists. Curiously, thousands of French gold bars were kept here during World War II.
The wonderful Floral Park will amaze the guests of the resort with a variety of plants and flowers. The city library with a Byzantine-style dome cannot be ignored, cathedral, which appeared at the end of the 19th century, is a museum of history and ethnography.
Natural attractions
Recognized as the ideal destination for all nature lovers for a reason sunny island Martinique. The landmarks created by Mother Nature are visited by thousands of tourists, enchanted by the untouched beauty.
One of the most scenic spots located on the mountain. The majestic waterfalls, the views of which are breathtaking, attract romantically-minded couples, because according to local legends, everyone who has been here flashes love in their hearts.
Known for the tragic events that took place in 1902, the Mont Pele volcano delights with its power. The slumbering giant watched by scientists will always be a living reminder of the catastrophe that claimed the life of an entire city. Now Saint-Pierre has risen from the ruins, but has lost its economic importance for Martinique.
In the south of the resort there is a lake with very salty water. Etan de Salin beckons tourists with wonderful landscapes, reminiscent of the scenery for a fairy tale.
Martinique Island Resorts
Belted on all sides by beaches overseas territory France is a huge resort.
One of the most picturesque corners of the earthly paradise is the Grand Riviere, which lies at the foot of the coastal cliffs. The former fishing village enjoys a well-deserved popularity among amateurs aquatic species sports. Main center beach holiday will delight travelers who dream of exoticism.
The coast of Le Saline is one of the most beautiful. Even when heavy clouds hang over the main part of the island, the sun always shines here, and the developed hotel network allows a huge number of tourists to stay.
Presquil Caravel is famous for its nature, untouched by civilization. This corner is chosen by guests of the island who dream of a secluded vacation.
Developed tourist infrastructure
It is no coincidence that the wonderful island of Martinique attracts travelers from different parts of our planet, the hotels of which are distinguished by highly professional service personnel. Tourists have a place to stay, since the resort has a very developed hotel infrastructure. Comfortable hotels of different price categories (some of them are even located in historic mansions) and inexpensive hostels are always waiting for guests, however, for the New Year and Christmas holidays, rooms should be booked several months before the start of the trip.
Most hotels have their own beaches and promenades. The island of Martinique, which turns into a real fairy tale, is the most hotel-rich resort in the Caribbean.
Hotels for every taste and budget
Five Star Cap Est Lagoon Resort The & Spa, located near the airport in Le François, will appeal to those who are accustomed to luxury holidays. 50 rooms, many of which are located in luxury villas, restaurants and bars, spas, swimming pools, a gym - this is just a small list of what the hotel has to offer its guests. The Creole-style complex will appeal to couples with children, large companies and lovers who dream of retirement. Almost all rooms, which are from 60 to 130 square meters, have a sea view and are equipped with everything you need for a comfortable stay.
Hôtel Diamant Les Bains (town of Le Diamant) is a two-star hotel located on the beach. Decorated in green shades and decorated in a tropical style, the rooms will appeal to those who do not want to pay much for a comfortable stay. Air conditioning, cable TV, a safe for keeping money, a clean swimming pool will be a pleasant bonus for student youth companies spending all their free time on the beach. It is impossible not to note the amazing local cuisinefor which the hotel is famous.
Le Domaine Saint Aubin 3 * (La Trinité) in the east of the Caribbean pearl provides tourists with 28 rooms, including suites and apartments. The comfortable boutique hotel offers its guests a service at the highest level, to which no one will have any complaints. Its main feature is the provision of rooms for people with disabilities. physical capabilities... Businessmen from all over the world come here not only to have a great rest, but also to work. One of best hotels, located near the main attractions of the resort, is famous for the island of Martinique. Feedback from tourists only confirms the high quality of service.
What do island guests need to know?
- There is no direct connection between Russia and Martinique, so the flights are carried out via Paris.
- The official language is French, but locals prefer to speak their patois dialect.
- A visa and a passport are required to enter. All documents are submitted to the consular section of the French Embassy. Without proof of financial solvency (at the rate of $ 100 per day of stay), a visa will not be provided.
- The number of imported and exported money not limited, however, the amount of more than seven thousand euros must be declared.
- Martinique is an island with a low crime rate, but the number of petty thefts is quite large, so you should beware of thieves at airports, public institutions, do not carry valuables with you and do not leave them unattended.
- Local shops are open strictly until 18.00, the day off is Sunday. Sales season begins at the end of October and prices for all products are significantly reduced.
- The main currency of the island is the euro, which is equal to one hundred cents. USD is also accepted.
The island's flag with the image of a spear-shaped snake appeared more than three hundred years ago, but has not yet received official recognition.
Once upon a time Martinique (island), to which the first coffee tree was brought, had great merits in the distribution of an invigorating drink. Unfortunately, the resort has now stopped producing it commercially.
The wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, Josephine, was born here, and the islanders are extremely proud of this fact, who have opened a museum dedicated to the life of the great empress.
The charming island of Martinique, the photo of which can hardly convey its originality, is famous for its colorful carnival procession and cheerful street dances.
On May 8, residents who take to the streets with lighted candles mark the commemoration day of the volcanic eruption.
Martinique is an island of volcanic origin in the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles archipelago. The island is washed in the west by the Caribbean Sea, in the east by the waters of the Atlantic, in the north the strait of the same name separates Martinique from the island of Dominica, and in the south the St Lucia Strait from the strait of the same name. The name of the island after the discovery was given by the Spaniards in honor of the Catholic saint.
By its shape, Martinique is a land area in the form of an almost regular oval, stretching from north to south. The coastline of the island is very heavily indented by bays and coves, some of them are quite convenient for berthing and anchorage of ships. There are a lot of rocks and small islets off the coast of Martinique, among which it is worth highlighting the islet of Ramville and the rocks of Le Douz, Le Fevre, and La Mizier. total area the islands of Martinique with adjoining islands and cliffs are over 1,100 square kilometers. 
Martinique Island was discovered during the fourth expedition of Christopher Columbus in 1502. Before the discovery of the island by Europeans, the Caribbean tribes lived on it. Since the island was not rich in resources or gold, Spain did not pay attention to it, which in 1635 took advantage of France, which founded the first European settlement on the island - Saint-Pierre. Since the Caribbean tribes were very quickly exterminated, the colonial administration of Martinique began to import slaves from Africa to work on the plantations. In the 18-19 centuries Martinique was captured by the British several times, but invariably returned back under the control of France. In early 1902, the catastrophic eruption of the Mont Pele volcano occurred, which destroyed almost the entire population of the city of Saint-Pierre.
From 1946 to the present day, Martinique has been an overseas department of France and has the right to elect its members to the parliament of that country.
The monetary unit in circulation on the territory of the island of Martinique is the euro (EUR, code 978), consisting of 100 euro cents.
The population of Martinique in terms of its number exceeds the figure of 400 thousand people. In ethno-racial terms, almost the entire population of the island (97% of the total) is mulattos and blacks, the rest of the small part of the island's inhabitants are descendants of Europeans, Indians and Arabs. The state language of the island, as in all territories of France, is French, but in everyday life you can often hear Creole speech.
The administrative center of Martinique is Fort-de-France, located on the west coast of the island. The city is inhabited by about 90 thousand of its inhabitants. To other significant settlements the islands include the cities of Saint Pierre, Le Marigot, Tartan, Saint Joseph and others.
The island's economy is based mainly on tourism and tourist services. It is these industries that bring the lion's share of revenues to the local territorial budget.
Numerous tourists and guests of the island can get to Martinique by air and sea transport. Most often, tourists use, of course, air transport. Not far from Fort-de-France, the largest airport in the region, Aimo Cesare, operates, which has international status. The airport, although built for one terminal, is capable of providing a fairly solid passenger turnover from both Europe and the countries of the region. The seaports of Martinique, of which Fort-de-France is the largest, are capable of receiving regular flights sea \u200b\u200bpassenger transport and to serve on the reception of ships of various classes, including cruise liners with low draft.
There are 61 hotels of various service classes arriving on the island. Among them there are small hotels by the sea for just a few guests, and there are also fashionable hotels both in the very administrative center of the island and on the coast not far from the beaches. Among the most prestigious establishments of this kind are five-star hotels such as Hotel La Pagerie, Residence Oceane Hotel, Le Cap Est Lagoon Resort & Spa, Hôtel Corail Résidence and others.
The climate on the island of Martinique is trade wind tropical, there are no significant fluctuations in air temperature depending on the season, therefore all year round the temperature is kept within 25-28 ° C. Precipitation on the island falls in the form of rain mainly in the period from late summer to early autumn in amounts ranging from 1,700 to 2,000 millimeters per year. Sometimes tropical hurricanes strike the island, but they do not cause significant damage to the island's economy. In general, the climate is very favorable for both everyday life on the island and for recreation.
Almost along the entire coast of the island there are beautiful beaches with the purest dazzling white sand and emerald-colored coastal waters. Here the beaches are divided between well-maintained and wild. Each of them has its own charms. So, for example, there are hotels, bars and restaurants near the equipped beaches nearby, and wild beaches, as a rule, have sufficient seclusion from civilization, being far from the infrastructure of the island. The most grandiose in size is considered to be the 12-kilometer-long Pointe de la Sherry beach.
The beaches of Martinique attract not only lovers of passive beach recreation, but also lovers of sea sports. The island hosts annual regattas in sailing in various classes, yachting and windsurfing, some of which are even considered stages of the World Cups by their status. Martinique is a real find for divers who come here from all over the world. All conditions have been created here to meet their needs. These are coral reefs, located in some places near the coast, and a large number of sunken ships of different time periods and eras, which have survived in fairly good standing. A particularly good spot for diving and spear fishing is the coast of the Roche du Diamant islet, where coral reefs are extraordinarily beautiful and full of marine life.
The interests of fans of local attractions and architectural monuments will be more than satisfied by Fort-de-France. Here you just need to see the original building of the Scholscher Library with a Byzantine-style dome, the old Catholic Cathedral of Saint Louis built in 1895, the Palace of Justice built at the beginning of the last century, the museum of archeology with a sufficient number of interesting exhibits, the Regional Museum of Ethnography and History of Martinique and Oceanarium, where samples of marine life inhabiting the waters adjacent to the island are collected.
The Indians who inhabited Martinique in the pre-Columbian era called it the island of flowers, which is quite consistent with the essence. The island is literally buried in the greenery of tropical forests and blooms before our eyes in the spring and summer. The lack of mammals on the island is compensated by the huge number of birds that nest both on the coast and in the tropical forests of the island. Numerous forest and mountain trails are at the service of amateurs hiking cross country. While walking around the island, you can also admire the slopes of the grandiose volcano Mont Pele.
On the small island of Martinique in the Caribbean, there are several dozen rum factories and their slogan: "We will become the rum capital of the world!"
The Caribbean Sea is part of the Atlantic Ocean, named after the "Caribbean" - the indigenous peoples who inhabited this area before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the late 15th century. Since the introduction of European culture and mechanization, these lands have become the center of cultivation sugar cane and rum production .
The first mention of rum dates back to 1650th year in documents found in Barbados. A little later, rum production appeared in Jamaica and in the French Martinique ... They quickly learned to get this drink industrially, by distilling fermented sugarcane juice, the plantations of which were planted on these islands.
Martinique Island is a French colony since 1635 , has an area of \u200b\u200b1100 sq. km. and a population of about 450,000 people. It is one of the richest islands in the Caribbean, after the Cayman, Bahamas and Virgin Islands. Almost the entire population of Martinique works in tourism or rum production.
Curiously, the island's tourism activities are closely related to the history of the Roma. So, for example, one of the most popular excursions is a trip to Saint marie , in rum museum located on a sugar plantation Saint James .
Today, dozens of rum factories operate in Martinique, and the island's slogan is: "We will become the rum capital of the world!"
Among the most famous rum productions on the island are:
Distillerie Dillon Fort-de-France
Distillerie Depaz Saint-Pierre
Habitation Clement François
Trois-Rivières Sainte-Luce
La Mauny Rivière-Pilote
Rhum Neisson Le Carbet
St. James Rum Museum Sainte-Marie
Bally (Habitation Lajus) Le Carbet
Distillerie JM Macouba
Distillerie St. Etienne Gros-Morne
Distillerie La Favorite Lamentin
Due to the fact that Martinique is one of the departments of France, local rum is produced under very strict control. WITH 1996 year Martinican rum awarded an honorary title A.O.S. It is awarded to rum if the entire production of an alcoholic beverage, from the moment of growing the cane to bottling, is carried out to the highest standards, and the strength of the distillate is at least 65-75 degrees.
Yuri Dymov
Especially for CIGARTIME ©
/ Martinique
MARTINIQUE
Martinique is located on the island of the same name in the West Indies, which is one of the largest in the Lesser Antilles archipelago. The hilly plain divides the island into two parts - the flat southern and northern, occupied by volcanoes, among which the active volcano Montagne Pele stands out. The western coast is washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea, the eastern coast is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Total area 1.128 thousand sq. km. ... In the north of the island there are mountains covered with dense tropical forests. On the southern plains, plantations of sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, coffee, cocoa and spices replace each other that overlook golden beaches with turquoise waters.
The island of Martinique was named by Christopher Columbus "the most beautiful country in the world". And this is not surprising. The island is replete with spectacular landscapes and is considered one of the most beautiful in the Windward Islands group. Superb beaches, secluded coves, lush rainforests, numerous diving and other sports facilities attract tourists from all over the world.
Martinique has all the excellently developed recreation infrastructure - numerous luxury hotels, small colorful cities with colonial architecture, well-developed transport and communication facilities, as well as traditional distilleries and nature reserves. The stormy mountain rivers are especially beautiful, forming numerous waterfalls - rarely on the Windward Islands you can find such an abundance of fresh water as in Martinique. Despite the ubiquitous French influence on the culture of the island, Creole traditions are well visible and practically dominate in cuisine, language, music and customs.
The main attraction of Martinique is nature - excellent beaches, bays hidden from prying eyes, tropical forests, nature reserves, numerous places for scuba diving and other sports, hotels for every taste, from inexpensive to fashionable. Here you can go for water sports and snorkeling ... or just laze around enjoying the mixture of clove, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg aromas. Small towns with colonial architecture are cute. Tasting rooms at the rum factories are open for tourists. Mountain rivers are especially beautiful, forming numerous waterfalls. Beautiful sandy beaches "Caribbean Riviera", old French urban architecture, a developed service sector with excellent hotels, beaches, many cafes, bars, discos, casinos, truly French and Creole cuisine (and for exotic lovers of Chinese, Italian and Vietnamese cuisine) will not leave indifferent even seasoned traveler. The capital of the island is Fort-de-France.
Martinique is an island of flowers. The overseas department of France is the island of Martinique, located on the island of the same name in the West Indies and is one of the largest in the Lesser Antilles archipelago. The western coast is washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea, the eastern - by the Atlantic Ocean. Area ~ 1.1 thousand sq. km.
In the famous picturesque resorts of Martinique, with its rugged shores of incredible beauty, covered with tropical forests, and volcanic massifs, thrills and discoveries await you. Admire the magnificent Fort-de-France Bay, Dufour, Noir and Trabaud coves. On excursions to lakes, hills, plantations and the slopes of Mount Pele, you will see nature in all its splendor. Follow the Flower Road to Red Hill. If you go fishing, stay away from swordfish and barracuda. Relax on Saline Beach under the shade of coconut trees ...
This small island in the Caribbean has a special place in the distribution of coffee. It is from Martinique that all coffee production began. Central America... The first coffee tree was brought here by French captain Gabriel de Clier, and from here the coffee trees were transported to Guadeloupe, Haiti. Dominican Republic... Unfortunately, coffee is not produced commercially in Martinique, an overseas department of France these days.
Martinique is an island of eternal summer with magnificent hotels (voltage - 220 volts), beaches, true French cuisine along with Chinese, Italian, Vietnamese, Creole. Many cafes, bars, discos, casinos. Great opportunities for sports and recreation - golf, tennis, diving, sailing, horseback riding and cycling. Martinique is covered with tropical forests. Coastline abounds in picturesque bays and bays. A hilly plain divides the island into two parts: a low southern and northern, occupied by old volcanoes, among which the active volcano Montagne Pele stands out.
CLIMATE:
Tropical trade wind, sea. The average annual temperature is about +26 C, while the temperature drops during the season are small (the average monthly temperature almost never drops below +20 C). The hottest month is August (up to +31 C), but the sea winds blowing from the northeast soften the heat even at this time. The "coldest" is January (about +22 C). In the southern part of the island, the average daily temperatures are slightly higher, in the north, where weather conditions significantly depend on the altitude of the place (but here it is warm all year round).
The climatic rhythm is determined by the alternation of two seasons - the dry season (“brown”), lasting from December to May, and the “huvernage” season, warmer and wetter, lasting from July to October. The local climate is characterized by high humidity - from 80% (March) to 87% (September-October). Annual precipitation is 1500-2500 mm, mainly in the form of powerful but short tropical showers from May to September. The driest month is April, the wettest is September. Destructive tropical hurricanes are quite frequent.
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EXPORT:
Sugarcane, bananas, pineapples are grown for export; local rum is also popular. Revenues from tourists are significant, who, first of all, are attracted by the nature of Martinique. Mountain rivers are especially beautiful, forming numerous waterfalls. The beautiful sandy beaches of the "Caribbean Riviera of France", old French urban architecture and developed service industries attract many tourists.
WHEN IS BETTER TO RIDE:
The best time to visit Martinique is during the dry season from February to May.
MARTINICA - COUNTRY REFERENCE:
Capital
The administrative center and main port is Fort-de-France.
Geography
Martinique is one of the Lesser Antilles, a group of Windward Islands, and lies between Dominica to the north and Saint Lucia to the south. It is washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea in the south and west, and the Atlantic Ocean in the north and east. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe territory is about 1.1 thousand square meters. km.
Population
About 429 thousand people. The majority of the population (90%) are Martinicans - blacks and mulattos, descendants of slaves brought from Africa, as well as immigrants from South India, Chinese, Italians and other ethnic groups.
The majority of the population professes Christianity - about 85% of Catholics, 10.5% of Protestants, Muslims (0.5%), Hindus (0.5%) and representatives of other confessions also live here
Difference in time
Time is 8 hours behind Moscow time in summer and 7 hours in winter.
Language
The official language is French, but the local dialect of Patois (French Creole
mobile connection
cellular the GSM 900/1800 standard covers the whole island, the neighboring French Antilles and even Guiana. Roaming with local operators Orange Carapbe and "Bouygues Telecom Carapbe" is available to subscribers of the largest Russian communication companies.
Visa
To enter, you need a visa and a passport. To obtain a visa, you must apply to the consular section of the French Embassy at least 30 days before departure. To obtain a visa, you must submit 2 completed application forms, 2 passport-size photographs, an invitation or travel voucher, an insurance policy, photocopies of the first, second and third spreads of the internal passport and a passport with at least one blank page (must be valid at least 3.5 more months after the end of the trip), as well as round-trip tickets and proof of sufficient financial resources not for the entire period of stay in the country at the rate of $ 100 per day of stay.
Customs
The number of imported and exported means of payment is not limited. An amount over 7,000 euros must be entered in the declaration. A foreign currency converted into euros can only be re-converted into a foreign currency up to the equivalent of 500 euros. Duty free up to 1 liter of strong alcoholic beverages, drinks with a strength of less than 22 ° - up to 2 liters, up to 200 pcs. cigarettes, 500 gr of coffee (or 200 gr of coffee extracts), up to 50 gr of perfume ( toilet water - up to 250 g), tea - 100 g (or 40 g of tea extracts), as well as food (fish - up to 2 kg, caviar - 250 g, animal products - up to 1 kg) and other goods - for persons over 15 years in the amount of 15 euros (for children - 10 euros). The labeling of the shelf life of food is required!
Tip
In most hotels and restaurants, tips are already included in the cost of service, if not, it is customary to leave a tip in the amount of 10% of the total cost.
The import and export of drugs and psychotropic substances, items of historical value, weapons and ammunition, as well as animals and plants included in the list of endangered species are prohibited.
Entertainment
In January, the official opening of the carnival season is held, during which a solemn procession in carnival costumes and street dances are held. The island attracts water sports enthusiasts from all over the world. Island sightseeing tours by jeep, horseback riding and hiking are also popular.
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RESTAURANTS:
Martinique's cuisine is quite vividly defined by a mixture of French and Caribbean culinary traditions. Moreover, the methods of cooking are inherited from the French cuisine, and the products and the abundance of tropical fruits are inherited from the local, Creole cuisine. A characteristic feature is the abundance of all kinds of seafood, rice and various exotic fruits - local eggplant "belange", guava, anona, cassava, pumpkin "girumon", cassava, paradise banana, breadfruit, pineapple, okra and others.
SPORT:
The island attracts water sports enthusiasts from all over the world. Island sightseeing tours by jeep, horseback riding and hiking are also popular.
HOLIDAYS:
march-April - Good Friday.
april - Easter.
end of May - Holy Spirit Day and Trinity.
Museums are closed on public holidays, but some shops are open.
SECURITY:
Martinique has a relatively low overall crime rate, but the number of personal property thefts is high. You should especially beware of pickpockets, who often "work" in airports, ports, public places and places of large gatherings of people. You should not carry valuables, documents and large sums of money with you; there are hotel safes for this. You shouldn't take out your wallet in crowded places or leave things in the front seat of your car.
There are words in the world that are clear to everyone, without exception. Here is the Caribbean. You say "Caribbean" and everyone sees paradise. But no matter how great and diverse it may be, nevertheless, in paradise, everyone will find a favorite place. So it seemed to me that the island of Martinique in those parts is the best. And if I am ever asked to choose for myself a paradise Caribbean corner, I will not hesitate to poke my finger at this point. Although, paradise, in my understanding, is generally on the other side of the planet, but today we are talking about the Caribbean!
Martinique, like the French part of the island of Saint Martin, is the territory of France. When our cruise ship arrived at the port, we were greeted by a warship. "So here they are, Mistrals" - I suddenly thought to myself - "now they are guarding the Caribbean.")))
Many caribbean reminded me of the Moscow Domodedovo airport. And why? Yes, because you go down from the ladder to the ground - and taxi drivers begin to surround you, ready to take you anywhere and in any way, and most importantly for as long as you like)).
Particularly adventurous "Martinists" offer large minivans for 30 or 40 euros per seat per person. This is completely inconvenient, it is much more interesting to take a whole car for 150 euros and go wherever you want, without listening to anyone). So I did. I was lucky with the driver - Lucien was not only the owner of a beautiful name, but also spoke surprisingly good English.
Fort de France is the capital of Martinique and the largest city on the island.
Near the port of arrival of cruise ships there is an old fort, where those tourists who are sorry for money for an excursion and who want to lie on a beautiful beach usually go. It's just that the old fort is closer to the rest of the "rookeries", where you can relax and roast like a pig on a spit to reflect clouds.
Lucien drove the old "shop", and the price for sightseeing tour was at a discount. But his friend Franz on a BMW 5th series in the back of E60 asked for 50 euros more for the same excursion).
I decided to see all significant places, and from Fort-de-France, Lucien and I went inland.
When you drive through Martinique, you get the impression that you are driving through alpine villages: the same serpentines, only under the bright Caribbean sun.
The first stop is the beautiful Balata Church. Connoisseurs will easily recognize it as the Parisian Sacré-Coeur Basilica.
Probably, this is bad - not to understand the intricacies of the rules of conduct in churches of various denominations. But when visiting Catholic churches, there are usually no problems: you do without unnecessary attention from those present. But two weeks before this trip I happened to visit the Tula province. And in one of orthodox churches the servant, seeing the camera on my neck, pounced and began to demand Mother's blessing for the shooting.
I invited the lady to leave the temple and "discuss in detail": I really wanted to understand the reason. I tried to find out from my interlocutor: is it possible to order and receive Mother's blessing online, and is the permission multiple, a kind of subscription), or is it only one-time. The servant could not answer, she became furious and went away, taking with her in the hem my mood to go to church again.
And in Catholic monasteries take pictures as much as you like, no problems).
As soon as we drove from Fort-de-France into the mountains, the lungs immediately felt the influx of fresh air. In little Martinique, the Lord seems to have tried to fit all his most important wealth. White beaches with blue water, there are jungles, mountain rivers and waterfalls. And not to see this, getting here - perhaps a crime.
This is the small river Alma, named after the one that once played one of the decisive roles in the Russian-Turkish war.
Coconut coke seller next to observation deck on the Alma river. With this machete, he got his right to sell green nuts with hearty milk on the road. The cold blade became his best friend and together they are forever
Our next stop is the Gendarme's Leap or Cascad de Saut Gendame.
After walking under the hot sun, it is nice to cool off in the cool lake, after taking the Turbine flag with you.
Martinique is of volcanic origin, and the most high mountain on the island is called Pele. There is no road there, but there is a wonderful hiking route. There was no time to go up, of course - on cruises, alas, only a few hours are given to each island. But I stopped in a beautiful village at the foot of this mountain.
This is how people live near a volcano. There is always a risk that he will wake up and hide a small settlement under a thick layer of ash.
Martinique, like many other Caribbean islands, was discovered by the famous Christopher Columbus. It happened back in 1502. Then the island was inhabited by the Caribbean Indians. The Spaniards did not find gold here and did not show much interest in the island, and in 1635 the French came here. The French knew very well the ancient wisdom "A good Indian is a dead Indian", so they quickly exterminated all the Caribbean, and black slaves were brought here from Africa to work on plantations.
Initially, cotton and tobacco were grown on the island, followed by sugarcane and coffee.
Rum is made in Martinique. Our next stop was a demonstration factory where a pirate drink is made. I didn't know that little Martinique produces such a huge number of names of one of my favorite alcoholic "delicacies".
Work is in full swing here. Tractors carry sugar cane almost continuously, and local "magicians" turn the plant into a "noble drink." But connoisseurs of rum, to whom your humble servant belongs, are getting smaller day after day. Drinking alcohol is no longer fashionable. Young people will more and more fly off after the body, while away time on treadmills in gyms, take selfies. Went to the gym - selfie, ate - selfie, drank tea - selfie.
American "phone pictures" servers literally explode with daily faces, breakfasts, dinners and everything else.))
And I love "classics" - in the evening, under a glass of a noble drink, write or read something on the Turbine).
So from this thick foam you get a strong oily drink that burns Hemingway's throat.))
After such a pleasant walk through the factory, how can you not go to the store and buy home a couple of bottles of dark Martinique rum? I still drink at home in the morning with a hangover mineral water from a glass "Rhum Depaz". A very pleasant and worthy drink - I recommend it.
The next stop in Martinique was the town of Saint-Pierre. It is located in the northwest of the island, and once upon a time it was called the "Paris of America". Saint-Pierre is located right at the foot of the aforementioned volcanic mountain Montagne Pele ("bald mountain"). This volcano has always been restless. He puffed all the time. And when in April 1902 he really woke up, the residents of the city did not even think of running.
The entire population remained in the city. And on May 8, a catastrophe occurred: a cloud of stifling hot gases, stones and ash descended on Saint-Pierre and took the lives of almost 30 thousand people. Only the prisoner survived, who was sitting in a prison in a deep basement.
Dima described this story in detail. I highly recommend reading.
From the old city now there are only black charred stones.
They do not plan to remove them. This is the memory of that distant tragedy.
103 years ago there was nothing here, but now here you are - a new Saint-Pierre. Everything is cyclical in this world, as in the classic song "Red red blood, in an hour it is just earth, in two there are flowers and grass on it, in three it is alive again ..."
