All the way around the World!!!!!!
Safiya
Harvey & Sue Death
Sat 6 Apr 2019 16:43
Marigot Bay Resort and carried on heading North, next stop Martinique, the
largest of the Windward islands and French owned. The capital Fort de France
is a bustling city with a thriving economy. We stopped across the bay at a
small sea side resort. We had some excellent meals there and I encouraged
Harvey, aided and abetted by Alice to visit the lovely little boutiques in
the town to do a spot of birthday shopping!
Following the sophistication of Martinique, the next island we visited
Dominica is the total opposite. It is the most unspoilt country in the
Caribbean, with an interior of mountains and valleys covered in lush green
vegetation. The tourist industry seems to have passed Dominica by, although
there are two large hotels under construction so maybe that will change in
the next few years.
We hiked up to Fort Shirley, an 18th century fortification built by the
British which has been beautifully restored (EU funded!).
Dominica marked the end of our circumnavigation as this is where our journey
started 27months ago when we left the Caribbean and headed west towards
Bonaire. We celebrated with Alice and Matt and friends who were anchored
nearby.
After Dominica we were back in little France again when we arrived at the
islands of Les Saintes, just south of Guadeloupe. This pretty little town is
packed full of restaurants and boutiques and swarms with holiday makers
during the day when the ferries ship them in from Guadeloupe. We enjoyed a
fantastic typically French meal with the group of Oysters that were in the
Bay. We decided to spend a second day there and hired an electric car to
drive around the island. This was a bit of fun as the island is very hilly
with extremely narrow twisty roads and lots of one way systems!
Fort Napoleon built in 1867 stands on a hill to the north of the town with a
commanding view of the harbour and Guadeloupe in the background.
We left Les Saints and sailed up the length of Guadeloupe, on the way Matt
landed his first Tuna which was very exciting. Unfortunately although he
likes catching fish he doesn't eat fish, but Alice and I enjoyed fantastic
fresh sushimi for dinner.
We arrived in Antigua on the 26th March and anchored off a pretty sandy
beach in Falmouth harbour. The next day, my birthday I was treated to a
cooked breakfast- scrambled eggs and smoked salmon washed down with pink
bubbly. I had some lovely presents and cards not only the from Harvey and
the girls but also from friends and family back home that Alice had bought
over. At lunchtime we dinghied across to a beach side restaurant where we
were joined by friends and enjoyed a fabulous lunch which stretched into the
evening! It was a perfect birthday.
The next day we made our way round to Nelson's Dockyard to take up our
berth. This is where we started our round the world trip 27 months ago and
coincidentally we were put in exactly the same spot. It felt very strange
and a bit of an anti climax to be back after 28,000 miles, 801 days, 27
countries and over 85 different islands. What on earth do we do
now............?!
Alice and Matt flew home on the 30th but saying goodbye wasn't as hard as it
had been on previous occasions as we know we will see them again in a few
weeks when we fly home.
Our circumnavigation is now officially ended, we've got the parties to look
forward to and then the hard bit, saying goodbye to the people that we've
been sailing with for the past two years who have become very firm friends.
We will post one more blog about the OWR after the party's and we receive
our official circumnavigation award. We would love to know who reads our
blogs other than the friends who reply by email, so please just send us a
note if you have enjoyed the blog!
safiya {CHANGE TO AT} mailasail {DOT} com
