Basse Terre

I'm behind... bad internet. This should have been posted a week ago.

We had a good ride from Dominca to Basse Terre, Guadeloupe. We were in Basse Terre in 1998 when we chartered a boat out of Point a Pitre but have not been there since.

Basse Terre is the capital of Guadeloupe, and it's second largest city. Point a Pitre is larger and funkier. Basse Terre is functional and business focused. Not to say that it isn't without it's fun attractions. There is a nice - hurricane battered - beach front walkway full of food trucks, benches and trees... tree stumps in many cases. There is an open air market, surrounded by restaurants and bars. A couple of big grocery stores and pharmacies.

It was kind of fun. We walked into town and had a look around, trying to fit our 20 year old memories into the current reality of Basse Terre.

Saw a crazy-ass Rasta Man at the market with no shoes. I've got an old pair of sandals that I was going to throw out so we decided that the next time we came into town we would bring M. Homme de Rasta my old shoes.

We shared a Big Mac at the MacDonalds so we could use their internet and then went out in search of a beer. It has been raining a lot so we were constantly looking for cover.

A boat next to us suffered a medical emergency so we helped a bit speaking to the French (because, of course, I am fluent in French) and helping Brian move the boat into the marina where the ambulance could get involved. A terrible way to meet someone but once Nadi was released from the hospital we enjoyed their company for a couple of visits. She's German, he's English but they were married in LadySmith in Canada, just down the road from where my sister, Donna lives. Small world.

Avoiding a Basse Terre downpour

Bologne Rum sugar cane

Bologne Rum boutique

What else? Bologne Rum

Oh No!!! Broken dinghy davits. Break out the wallet.

When we left I put my worn-out sandals back into the closet. Never saw M. Le Rasta again.

In the wind-shadow of Guadeloupe, we headed up to Deshaies to stage for our last leg to Antigua.

Deshaies, where they film "Death in Paradise," is one of my favorite spots and we had a lovely time shopping at the French groceries and eating baguettes stuffed with ham and cheese.

Busy boat harbour, all staging to go north

Honoré Police Station

It is very blowy... so we are looking for a weather window to head north to Antigua... along with a fleet of other boats.

Later!