Martinique > Walking through Martinique's rainforest

Today we are back in the port of Martinique, the same port where we were last week. Last week we spent a day at Pointe du Marin, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. Today we are going for a hike through the rainforest around the Pelée volcano. At nine o’clock, we meet Nico by the bus. He is an enthusiastic young man from Martinique. He speaks good English, although he sometimes searches for the right words. He probably doesn’t guide English-speaking groups very often. It doesn’t matter much, because even today only a few people understand him. Nico notices this and also tells his story in French. By bus, we go higher into the mountains. We get off at Fontaine Didier. Back in 1833, soldiers discovered a mineral spring here. This led to the creation of a spa. Since 1933, the water has also been bottled and the natural sparkling mineral water is commercially exploited. The mineral water is tapped at the higher-lying Absalon and transported via a pipe. Our walk today follows the stream to Absalon. Nico asks everyone to pay close attention because the path can be slippery at times and encourages helping each other on difficult sections. Along the way, Nico talks about the plants, fruits, and trees. It’s amusing that he refers to himself in the third person singular. After about two hours of walking, we arrive at Absalon.

Martinique - Nico explains the flora and fauna of Martinique

This used to be a spa as well, but since the water has been tapped, it fell into decay. Nowadays, three adventurers live in the Absalon housing blocks. Here, we get back on the bus. The bus drives past the Absalon waterfall and then descends back towards Fort-de-France. Halfway, we make a short stop at the Sacré-Coeur de Balata of Martinique, a smaller replica of its French counterpart. At the ship, Nico lets us taste some of the Fontaine Didier water. "You must try this before leaving Martinique," he emphasizes. I take my backpack to the room and put on a clean shirt. It was oppressively warm in the rainforest. We also grab a bite to eat on deck nine. In the afternoon, we stroll into Fort-de-France, the capital of Martinique.

Martinique - The hiking trail through Martiniques tropical rainforest

Our ship is docked at the second terminal, so we have to walk a bit to the city center. The first terminal is already in use by another cruise ship. We arrive at Fort Saint-Louis. The fort was originally built in 1638 by French colonists to defend the island. Today it is still used by the French navy. The former parade ground is now La Savane Park, an open space in the city. Adjacent to the park is the Schoelcher Library. The building was originally designed as a pavilion for the 1889 World Exposition in Paris but was later dismantled, shipped to Martinique, and rebuilt as a library. The library houses the collection of Victor Schoelcher, who played an important role in ending slavery in Martinique and Guadeloupe in 1848. One street further is the Cathédrale Saint-Louis. Like other churches on the islands, this cathedral is designed to withstand fire, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

Martinique - A theater is now located in the former city hall

The cathedral’s frame is made of steel. The former Palais de Justice was once a stately building in the center but now looks dilapidated. Presumably, restoration work has started. The Victor Schoelcher square is fenced off and the statue of Schoelcher has been removed. There are noticeably many abandoned and dilapidated houses in the streets of Fort-de-France. On one street, we avoid the sidewalk because the overhanging balcony looks unstable. Our final stop is the former Hôtel de Ville. The old town hall now serves as a theater. We are allowed to look inside briefly. We walk to the boulevard and order a drink. Having seen the main sights of Fort-de-France, we return to our ship. We board for the last time. In the room, we start packing our luggage. The main luggage can be placed in the hallway tonight. Tomorrow morning, the suitcases will be ready in the terminal hall. This means it will be a bit of a puzzle deciding what to wear tonight and tomorrow morning. We go for our last dinner. Regie is already waiting for us. While pouring the wine, he says he is sorry that we are leaving. For him, there will be new guests next week. In the theater, the show Bele is playing—a dance and music performance. When the show starts, we realize we watched this performance last week as well. It’s entertaining enough to watch again and a nice way to conclude the trip. In the room, we finish packing and put the suitcases in the hallway. Meanwhile, the ship is on its way to Guadeloupe, our final destination.