HOLY RELICS....we're in Iles des Saintes (The Saints), Guadeloupe
March 12, 2009
Thursday
Well....we're leaving this AM for Dominica.....our time in Guadeloupe has sadly come to an end. But what a nice way to end our stay by being in Iles des Saintes!
They are actually only 5nm from Guadeloupe mainland nearest point and consist of about 1 main island and three smaller islands, along with a couple of uninhabited rocks and even smaller islands. There is a nice anchorage just to the West of Terre D'en Haut in Bourg des Saintes...which we anchored in, well protected except for a little swell that creeps around the island.
We did visit The Saints last year during our trip down from Maine to Venezuela, and spent a few days exploring the island on scooters with another couple from CONTESSA, Jeff and Carolee. So...we really only planned to spend a couple of days here, just to revisit and enjoy the culture and beauty of the islands. This island is really a tourist destination....more so than any other that we visited in Guadeloupe.
Jim and I hiked to "the island's most spectacular view" up to La Chameau
where there is an old Napoleonic lookout tower. 
To hike up there is a paved road the entire way, but nearly straight up to 1000'. Once again, another beautiful hike with great views of the island and anchorage. The road is not for any motor vehicles, but of course, a huge truck passed us as we were walking up....and it was a dump truck. Jim discovered the dump on the side of the mountain....they pour the garbage down the side, then light it on fire!! It's such a contrast looking down thru the smoke and garbage to see the pristine blue water! But, I guess it's an effective way to deal with the garbage for such a small island.
We had a wonderful dinner in a little French restaurant last year with CONTESSAs, so we decided to splurge and have another great dinner there on our last night in Guadeloupe.
We were only one of four tables that were seated that evening and I had Mahi mahi with an excellent cream sauce.....Jim ordered steak and got chicken....and that kind of set the tone for the "not to happy" French waiter!! He continued to snub us throughout the evening....but the food was so good and there were two other tables that were kind of entertaining.....that we enjoyed our dinner in spite of the waiter!
After obtaining more fresh French baguettes and some fresh veges from the sidewalk market....we are ready to leave The Saints.
The wind and weather look spectacular for our crossing to Dominica!
Bye for now!
Thursday
Well....we're leaving this AM for Dominica.....our time in Guadeloupe has sadly come to an end. But what a nice way to end our stay by being in Iles des Saintes!
They are actually only 5nm from Guadeloupe mainland nearest point and consist of about 1 main island and three smaller islands, along with a couple of uninhabited rocks and even smaller islands. There is a nice anchorage just to the West of Terre D'en Haut in Bourg des Saintes...which we anchored in, well protected except for a little swell that creeps around the island. We did visit The Saints last year during our trip down from Maine to Venezuela, and spent a few days exploring the island on scooters with another couple from CONTESSA, Jeff and Carolee. So...we really only planned to spend a couple of days here, just to revisit and enjoy the culture and beauty of the islands. This island is really a tourist destination....more so than any other that we visited in Guadeloupe.
Jim and I hiked to "the island's most spectacular view" up to La Chameau
where there is an old Napoleonic lookout tower. To hike up there is a paved road the entire way, but nearly straight up to 1000'. Once again, another beautiful hike with great views of the island and anchorage. The road is not for any motor vehicles, but of course, a huge truck passed us as we were walking up....and it was a dump truck. Jim discovered the dump on the side of the mountain....they pour the garbage down the side, then light it on fire!! It's such a contrast looking down thru the smoke and garbage to see the pristine blue water! But, I guess it's an effective way to deal with the garbage for such a small island.We had a wonderful dinner in a little French restaurant last year with CONTESSAs, so we decided to splurge and have another great dinner there on our last night in Guadeloupe.
We were only one of four tables that were seated that evening and I had Mahi mahi with an excellent cream sauce.....Jim ordered steak and got chicken....and that kind of set the tone for the "not to happy" French waiter!! He continued to snub us throughout the evening....but the food was so good and there were two other tables that were kind of entertaining.....that we enjoyed our dinner in spite of the waiter!After obtaining more fresh French baguettes and some fresh veges from the sidewalk market....we are ready to leave The Saints.
The wind and weather look spectacular for our crossing to Dominica!Bye for now!
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