3rd March

Death in Paradise

After a frustrating sail in very light winds we finally made the short but slow trip less than 10 miles up the coast of Guadeloupe and dropped anchor in the bustling deep bay of Deshaies.

Our reason for stopping off here was primarily to obtain the covid tests that we needed to enter Antigua and to complete the checking out formalities necessary to leave Guadeloupe. However the reason we were so excited to be here is because Deshaies is the location of the fictitious town of "Honore" on the fictitious island of "Saint Marie" in one of our all time favourite long-running TV detective series "Death in Paradise". We have been fans of the show for several years now and the thought of walking the hallowed albeit deadly streets of Honore; perhaps stopping for a drink at "Catherine's Bar" and stopping by Honore Police station was just too good to resist. Fortunately Deshaies doesn't really have a crime rate to rival Midsummer and the nearest we got to a murder was when I managed to impale my own foot on a rusty nail whilst sneaking around the back of the Police station set to peer in at the prison cells... which was TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!!! 

We first enjoyed a cooling swim off the boat where I insisted Jamie photograph me floating face down in the water like a cadaver - just incase the opportunity to audition for "dead floating body" should ever arise! I'd been playing dead for quite some time when I climbed back aboard and spotted a large dorsel fin less then 3 metres from our boat. A cold feeling of utter dread washed over me before I realised it was infact a dolphin - one of the few we have seen so far on this side of the Atlantic and what it was doing in our anchorage I have no idea... maybe he wanted a part in one of the best TV detective shows of all time too!!!

We went ashore and managed to locate the bars which featured in the show but sadly Catherine's bar was closed so we settled for a cheeky photo and a couple of bottles of beer from the supermarket down on the beach.

The next day we queued up with a large number of other yachtsmen all trying to obtain covid tests outside the local pharmacy. It was one of those experiences where at the time it all seems very chaotic and disorganised as everyone seems to be milling about unsure of what they need to do. We had made an appointment for our test in advance and were initially irritated in that very British way that despite the requirement for an appointment it appeared there was no organisation whatsoever. Well despite our initial impressions we were seen shortly after our allotted appointment time and the process was swift and efficient and we were soon clutching our precious certificates declaring us covid-free and ready for Antigua!

Before leaving we went and checked out the set of Honore Police station and took all the obligatory pictures and selfies before the rusty nail incident which reminded us we really should get moving.

As we sailed out of Deshaies anchorage we passed the open bay of Grande Anse where the beach scenes of DIP are filmed and set off towards Antigua excitedly discussing all things Death in Paradise!!!