Caribbean 2.0: Starting the Trip

This is our 2nd trip to the Caribbean. The first was back in early 2000, our first big trip together, when we explored the US and British Virgin Islands.  This time we're planning 1 night in St. Lucia, 3 in Martinique, 4 in Dominica, and finishing with 6 in St. Lucia.  We also had the choice of red-eyes or nights in Atlanta, so we're spending 2 nights there, 1 each direction. 

Although I'm sitting in Martinique right now after our first day of "vacationing" rather than "traveling to the destination", this entry won't get that far.  We haven't had internet in the Caribbean until today so I'm a wee bit behind.

Speaking of behind, we got scary trip-related phone calls Monday night.  Seems we hadn't paid for the 6 nights in St. Lucia and they needed payment by 7pm or they would cancel.  Of course, we didn't get the message until after 9pm.  Oops.  The background is that we started planning the trip in the spring, with Angela as our travel agent (yes, geocaching Angela).  Then she got a promotion and turned us over to Travel Agent 2.  The calls we received were from Travel Agent 3.  And oh yes, we had a wee little bit of stress in our household from June - August which hasn't (and won't) totally go away.  Long story short, Travel Agent 4(!) got my e-mail and voice messages from late Monday and reached me early Tuesday.  Seems Travel Agent 2 also had some family stress at a similar time. Travel Agent 3 also called me and sent me some info I hadn't received (but hadn't noticed I hadn't received....see aforementioned stress).  Anyway, all is good and no need to change plans.  That said, it's probably good no one took by blood pressure Monday night or early Tuesday.

The travel was uneventful.  My father chauffeured us to PDX, we had a nice flight to Atlanta on a new plane with fancy seat-based entertainment so we could watch movies and play games.  Atlanta lodging was fine (they did move our room because they couldn't find something).  The flight to St. Lucia was good with no one in the seat between us, though without seat-based entertainment.

Clearing customs was uneventful, and we now have St. Lucia stamps in our passports.  Then we took an advertised "1-hour" cab ride that took over 120 minutes.  Fortunately the driver was quite entertaining and showed us all sorts of interesting things about St. Lucia.

We got to our room and heard a very high-pitched rhythmic squeak.  It sounded like soprano crickets. Turns out it was tree frogs.  Who knew?  We had our first Caribbean meal at the hotel, in a typical Caribbean indoor-outdoor location.  Unlike at home when it's clear whether you're inside or outside, many places here have very wide "doorways" and then open-air porches.  Air conditioning is only for "inside" and sun only for "outside" and fans are often used in "hybrid" spaces.  Rain turns out to be at least somewhat equal access.  We had just ordered our meal when the skies opened -- it went from humid but dry to torrential pour in about 10 seconds.  Needless to say, we moved a wee bit further inside....but of course then it stopped almost as quickly as it started.

Two travel days done, one to go.

The last travel day was a boat ferry from St. Lucia to Martinique.  We arrived early which turned out to be a good thing.  The ferry company was definitely functioning on "island time" in terms of opening check-in, immigration, security, and the boat arriving. Then an ambulance came for a passenger on the incoming boat, and then a second one.....sure hope the passenger(s) are ok.  That meant we left over an hour late which probably made the crossing a bit choppier.

Clearing customs in Martinique involved a long line but we had no trouble.  Perhaps my "bon soir" to the police officer helped, perhaps his amusement at our Yukon Territory stamps helped, or who knows.  Getting a taxi was a bit challenging since waiting where the "taxi" sign was didn't make much sense.  We befriended some 30-something newlyweds and agreed to share a taxi to the airport where we were all renting cars.  I was successful with my French in requesting a taxi to the airport for 4 people, and soon we were in the car.  We'd purchased 38 Euros from my father which was perfect since that was the exact cost of the cab ride and the newlyweds didn't have any Euros.  How convenient when things work out like that!

It was well after 8pm when we got the car.  We knew the name of our lodging and the town but couldn't decipher the address.  We drove around for a bit then decided to have dinner and perhaps ask for directions at the restaurant. We had different delicious lamb dishes, I spoke French 90+% of the time with our server -- she did offer us help once in English but then reverted back to French. 

Jeff shared that he'd texted Rob for info but hadn't received an answer (the next day it turned out that Rob had answered but it somehow didn't go through).  Hmmm.  I'll see your Rob and raise you one Klossner. Our conversation went something like this: are you at at a computer and can you help? Yes.  Here's the hotel info we have -- name and "address"-- can you give us the coordinates and oh by the way here's where we are now.  Here are the coordinates, which are about 1/3 mile from where you are and here are directions. Thanks and what a great application for geocaching! Yes, I love this century.

We did ask our server for directions and got this (translated) go up this street, go over 3 speed bumps, turn right, then it's on the right.  It might have been only 2 speed bumps and it was on the left.  But otherwise quite consistent with Klossner's research and indeed accurate.

While we were eating dinner our car got nicely pinned in.  We had parked perpendicular to the road, there were cars on either side of us and one behind us. Jeff tried a few back and forths, then I got out to direct him ("you have about 6 inches, keep coming.....stop").  It took a few tries and probably an 11-point turn before we escaped without touching any of the other cars. 

After a quick drive, we were welcomed to a lovely hotel and room like long-lost relatives, though chided a bit for not calling -- something we admittedly hadn't considered, though if they proprietor had spoken only French it wouldn't really have helped. Our room is the "penthouse" with a sloped roof, a gorgeous view, and well-engineered (except for the low ceiling on part of the shower). The 2 floors up a well-built spiral staircase reminded each of us of a "penthouse" with a sloped roof, not so well-engineered, and uneven steps where we'd stayed in Amsterdam.

We crashed hard after 3 mostly travel days, and woke ready to explore Martinique.