Some times when you go into a new place with low expectations, you are pleasantly surprised.
I thought there would be nothing for a dog to do in the capital city, but I was mistaken.
Right off the anchorage in Fort de France is a big open park called La Savane.
At the corner of the park is a statue of the Empress Josephine holding a locket with a portrait of Napoleon. Evidently the empress was not highly regarded by the islanders, who believed she was directly responsible for convincing Napoleon to continue slavery in the French West Indies so that her family who had a plantation on the island would not suffer.
Behind the headless statue is the Bysantine domed Bibliotheque (or library)
It was built in Paris and displayed in the 1889 World Exposition, then dismantled and rebuilt here in Fort de France.
Fort de France is a weird mix of old and new. This church was built in 1895 with an underlying steel structure to withstand the frequent earth quakes that strike the island. We met a gentleman who described being on the beach during the last one 5 years ago. He said the earth rocked for over 20 minutes.
Mixed with the old is the modern.
Mixed with the new is the run down.
And like most cities it suffers from ‘urban sprawl’.
But no matter what….there is no mistaking you are in the Caribbean.
They have done a good job to try and attract yachts to the capital. The anchorage is right off the city ‘tourist’ centre.
And the anchorage is large enough to accommodate any size ship. We even shared it with a cruise liner for a day. This tall ship was an interesting neighbour.
They have built and extensive dingy dock right up to the small city beach with plenty of metal ring to lock your tender up.
Next to the anchorage is the ferry docks. Regular ferries run up and down the East coast of the island. These ferries are the fastest and most economical way to travel around the island.
Suttle busses in front of the ferry terminal run to all the rest of the towns on the island. All very reasonably priced.
The anchorage in Fort de France is well protected and a good place to anchor up to explore the rest of the island. Do try to get anchored up as close to the dingy dock as possible for a ‘more comfortable stay’. The ferries throw up quite a wake and the closer to shore you are the slower they are going.
Now, in true Caribbean fashion, I am going to try and start a new tradition of including a ‘sun downer’ at the end of my blogs. So, if you are human, and of an age to drink (fruit juice will do if you are not) get your drinks ready and here is your sun set in Fort de France.
