Point-a-Pitre Guadeloupe
Eowyn
Tue 4 Feb 2014 18:51
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Éowyn is in Marina
Bas-du-Fort, Guadeloupe
On Saturday, as planned we
slipped from Rodney Bay and took a perfect trade wind to St Pierre, Martinique. We had not planned to go ashore,
just get some shut-eye. The inevitable Frenchman anchored way too close in his
20 tons of rusting steel hulk and needless to say, we were screaming blue murder
to him as his stern hit ours at 0230!
Chris had some tummy problems,
so wind permitting, I decided we would skip Dominica and sail direct to the
Saintes. Once again those wind gods were with us and we averaged 7 knots to moor
in Isle a Cabrit well before dark. After some helpful information from Chris
& John Lytle on Oriole, we pressed on to Point-a-Pitre to the marina Bas du
Fort where Chris was inducted into the very efficient French medical system.
EHIC card in hand she was seen quickly and efficiently and is now on the way to
recovery following a diagnosis confirmed by ultrasound scan. The French system
seems to work better than most in the world. The French pay a percentage of each
treatment and are therefore well aware of the cost of medical care. The balance
is met by insurance or the Social Security system as appropriate. It's a good
reminder to carry your EHIC card and then you will get the treatment at the same
cost as the locals.
We will stay here a few days
before returning to the Saintes and then on to
Antigua.
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