Martinique > On the beach of Martinique

Today’s excursion doesn’t start until quarter past nine. This means we can set the alarm an hour later. However, this does result in a busy breakfast. We have to wait a bit at the entrance until tables become available. We have a relaxed program today. We are going to the southern part of Martinique to Point du Marin, one of the island’s most beautiful beaches. We’ll return at the end of the day. Several coaches are waiting at the quay. We get on bus 33. The capital, Fort-de-France, looks much more developed than the cities we visited in the past few days. More industry, more high-rise buildings, and especially more traffic. A wide dual carriageway runs south, so the trip across the island to Marin goes smoothly. Unlike Saint Lucia yesterday, where we drove through the rainforest, Martinique’s landscape is relatively dull: rolling hills and deciduous trees. In the north of the island lies the active volcano Pelée, where the mountains are located. Toward the south, it becomes flatter and drier. The most beautiful bays are near Saint Anne, the southernmost town on Martinique. After about an hour’s drive, we arrive at Point du Marin. We find a spot under the trees to roll out our towels. We look out over the clear blue water of the bay.

Martinique - Point du Marin is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean

The water is colder than I expected, but that might be because it’s thirty degrees Celsius in the shade today. In the sun, it’s warmer. It’s easy to get through the water. The bay’s water is calm with hardly any waves. On the shore, I let myself dry off again. Many local families are on the beach. They have come with chairs, tables, and coolers. The people next to us welcome us to Martinique. When they hear we’re from the Netherlands, the conversation doesn’t go beyond Amsterdam and Ajax. Around noon, we want to order coffee. This is possible, but only takeaway. I understand the tables are reserved for people who also eat here. We take our drinks to our towels. I read in the travel guide about the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, go for another swim, and before I know it, time flies. We order a local Lorraine beer from Martinique, but here too we can’t sit down to drink it—not because food is served here, but it seems to be more about licensing. We drink the beers on a low wall and watch people playing Jeu de Boules under the trees. The distance between the balls is measured enthusiastically. It’s fun to watch them. At half past three, we pack up and walk back to the parking lot.

Martinique - The beautiful beach of Marin

The bus arrives shortly after. We drive back to Fort-de-France via the same route as this morning. It’s very busy leaving the city, with long traffic jams. Luckily, we can keep moving and arrive around half past four at the cruise terminal. This is not yet the ship. Due to maintenance work, the ship couldn’t dock at the usual terminal this morning. At the current docking spot, passengers are not allowed to walk to the city on their own. Bus transportation is arranged. First, luggage is checked upon entering the terminal. Because multiple excursions return simultaneously, along with people who have been to the city and new passengers boarding today, a long queue forms for the security check. Then, there is a new line at the buses. It takes a while before another bus is available. Despite all the procedures, we are sitting with a glass of wine on our cabin balcony a little later. The last rays of sunshine shine over the suburbs of Fort-de-France. At dinner, we say goodbye to our tablemate Jan. He’s flying back to the Netherlands tomorrow. He’s already spent two weeks on board. Maybe we’ll get new tablemates tomorrow. In the theater, there is a show with singing and dancing. Tonight’s performance is again spectacular. The Caribbean party by the pool afterward doesn’t really take off. We go to bed.