La Savane des Esclaves (The Savannah of the Slaves) is a tour through 400 years of the history of Martinique. It is a representation of the old Martinican traditions, with its huts and habitats of yesteryear. Set in a botanical garden, it offers a pleasant view.

You are invited into an ancient Amerindian village with its traditional houses, typical of Martinique. Through a park of three hectares, you will discover a reconstruction of the authentic Creole hut. In each hut, you will find surprising information about the daily life of yesteryear. Antique objects and furniture are displayed to help you imagine daily life and traditions. Immerse yourself in the history of 400 years ago until the abolition of slavery. Learn more about the ancestors, but also the customs of Martinique and its natural beauty.

Gilbert Larose is the creator of the Savane des Esclaves in the countryside of Trois-Ilets. The project is realistic and authentic: materials and techniques of yesteryear are used to reconstitute the Creole hut. Twenty-five Gaulette huts (made with gaulette braided branches and thatched roof) and traditional huts made of original wood, cane leaf roofs, dirt paths: nothing has been left to chance to immerse yourself in an early 19th century Amerindian village. You will discover in particular the history of the Neg Marron. He is a slave who fled the plantations and his master’s property to take refuge in nature. Together, these slaves freed from their chains created a way of life with specific customs and a local language.

Continue reading →

Caroline and I had a girls’ day on the 23rd. We decided to hike the Canal de Beauregard. From AllTrails:

“4.5-mile out-and-back trail near Fonds-Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 7 min to complete. Highlights include stunning views and a pleasant ambiance along the canal. Challenges are narrow paths and vertigo risk.”

Info from https://azmartinique.com/:

Built in 1760, it owes its name “Canal de Beauregard” to the man who conceived it, Mr. Beauregard. It was subsequently appointed “Canal des Esclaves” to honor the men who carried on their backs stone for its construction.

It was once a vestige of the economic life of the 18th century. Its main purpose was to supplement traditional energy sources. It was also used to carry water from the river Carbet to the houses of the Caribbean Coast and to irrigate crops.

The hike is not recommended for those prone to vertigo, as the coping (cemented band) of the channel is only 30 cm wide in some places and it overlooks ravines over 100 meters deep.

Here are some pictures of the path, the canal and views along the way:

Continue reading →

If you have been following this blog at all, you know that I love to visit gardens, especially botanical gardens. Caroline and Jim were also eager to see it. And, happily, the restaurant next door had excellent food for lunch after the visit! (Caroline’s favorite meal in Martinique, in fact.)

Jardin de Balata (aka Botanical Garden)

Here are some of the things said about the garden:

One of Martinique’s most famous sites, the Balata Gardens will let you know why this is “the Isle of Flowers.” This private botanical garden just outside Fort-de-France is home to a staggering number of begonias, bromeliads, bamboo and about 300 different types of palm trees.

The Balata Garden is the image of an earthly paradise. Bamboos crackling in the wind, dancing hummingbirds, shimmering tropical flowers, a refreshing pond, surprising exotic leaves, shady hills and views of the sea… Nothing is missing from this enchanting place of delights, colors and fragrances.

Continue reading →

One of my besties from junior high and her hubby were going to be joining us in Martinique for about nine days. I could not have been more excited! We had been talking about this for over two years.

Prior to their arrival, we took time to clean Seahike and eat out (once). Here are some pictures I took from my walk to and from the chandlery to buy deck cleaner:

This is where we had dinner. Weird, we didn’t see Pamela Anderson or Davis Hasselhoff. . . but they do have Heineken!

The food was yummy. Michael had a pizza with lots of toppings. I had a chicken, potato, squash, and apple salad.

Continue reading →

After visiting the Memorial ACTe Museum (see previous post), I stopped by the Cathedral de St-Pierre et St-Paul. Unfortunately all of the exterior doors were locked. Here are some pics of the exterior:

I don’t know who any of these folks are (below). I assume they are saints in the Catholic Church. They caught my eye because: 1) they are on the exterior of the building, and 2) they are each accompanied by something: a book, an eagle, a child, a lion . . .

Continue reading →