Monday 10 March
Since I arrived in Guadeloupe by boat, I have to take the bus to the airport for the rental car. Then to my accommodation in Pointe à Pitre. I am welcomed by a nice lady and immediately get some tips. Around Place de la Victoire there are beautiful French colonial buildings. The presbytery of the cathedral is something to behold, but also the building that is used by the tourist centre. The Cathédrale Saint Pierre et Saint Paul is a special building, the construction of which is entirely made of steel in Eiffel style. The modern counterpart is Mémorial ACTe that is nicely lit in the evening. I take a tour around the island, first the east side. The north coast has a large mangrove forest between Vieux Bourg and Petit Canal. In Petit Canal, the centuries-old dilapidated prison is a picture, with trees that have grown over the walls. At Poyen I visit the old plantation and the station, where to my surprise an old train arrives. Along many sandy beaches, such as Port Louis and Anse Bertrand to the rugged rocky coast of Pointe de la Grand Vigie and Pointe des Châteaux. Fantastic. Along the south coast via Saint Anne and Le Gosier to the northwest coast. Again beautiful beaches, such as Plage de Clugny, Plage de Grand Bas du Vent and Plage de la Perle. Basse Terre has little to offer, maybe the town hall, but otherwise… I take a beautiful walk in the rain through the rainforest on the mountain to the Carbet Falls. Strangely enough, it turns out that it has not rained a little lower down and the sun is shining.
