T&T: Avoid Martinique

[Marty Campanella]

Don't cruise to Martinique.  You would think the boaters in the PNW and
Alaska have it bad, well if you want someplace to avoid it is here in
Martinique.  Each day starts with the pungent smells from bakeries located
on every block.  One can hardly sleep it is so bad.  Each morning I go in
and complain in good French:  Une baguette s'il vous plait.  But they only
laugh.  
Then there is the lousy climate.  The temperature is generally in the low
thirties each day without fail.  Rarely will it get above 40c.  What are
worst are the breezes which are continuously from the east at 15kts, unless
there is a hurricane  when they get very strong and very confused.    All of
this makes one long for a winter in Chicago, never had a hurricane there.  
There are so many boats here, it looks like a sailboat regatta.  The
accepted explanation for all the boats is that so many people have  sailed
down here expecting  paradise and in their disappointment have abandoned
their boats at anchor and have flown home. The bars and restaurants are
crowded with boaters trying to raise enough cash to buy airplane tickets
back to the states. People are so desperate trying to sell things that long
sleeve shirts and pants can be had for pennies.  I saw a perfectly good
winter jacket going for a bottle of rum. 
Poverty is rampant, you can tell just by looking at the women that food is
scarce and there is little money for lots of clothes.  No one could survive
in Chicago with one of these outfits.
 My wife and I are planning to leave as soon as we can - we keep getting
held up by friends  inviting us over to join them in drowning their misery
in the rot gut  rum and lousy French wine they almost have to give away to
get anyone to drink it.  

Marty Campanella
mv Bay Pelican
LeMarin Martinique