THE SCENTED SAINTES ..............................

We really didn't stop in GUADELOUPE, that beautiful rain-forested butterfly island, but sailed on to a small island group just to the south of it, called LES SAINTES ............ Picture postcard perfect ............ Little red roofed houses with people that nowadays are geared to tourism ........... Those that are not involved in that do fishing or small scale farming ............... And everybody rides a scooter, usually with a couple of French loaves under one arm ......... (Do a double-click on the photo to enlarge it)



The ferry boats arrive early in the morning from GUADELOUPE and disgorge about a thousand tourists and the 'Gendarmes', all three of them, are there to let them know that " We have le situation under control " .......... Our French is no good at all but the expressions on the Gendarmes' faces speaks an international language "Hey, check that one out, now she is real cute ....."



Some come to shop, or swim or hike or sunbake and some come to play football (soccer) ....... You dare not say soccer here in FRANCE ........'Non, Non et non .... And the locals, like mother and daughter, are there to sell "Love Cakes" having baked them the night before ....... This is a micro-economy fulfilling the island's economic needs and doing it very well ............ Notwithstanding that despite the numerous fishing boats and powerboats, there is no gasoline or diesel to be had on the island ...... Still trying to work out how they get the stuff for the hundreds of scooters and outboards .....



" A little fresh bread for you, Monsieur et Mademoiselle or perhaps a crepe suzette with ham and cheese " ............



We have to keep our hand in with climbing to see the forts .......... This one is FORT NAPOLEON ....... A massive stone structure overlooking the bay ........ Impressive for its sheer size, and even more impressive when you realise that every single stone has been hand-cut and hand placed .......... Spectacular views from the top for which you are charged five euros ............ Which we declined, after all, the view twenty feet lower is just as good ............ And free ......



Beneath the palm trees is where the fishermen gather to show off their catches ......
Do a double-click to sharpen and enlarge the image ........ You too would want to check out the day's catch ........



The boats, the colours, the floral scents and the spectacular views all stir the senses and the emotions .............. This is the 'Caribbean Paradise' that everyone longs to see and feel ........ And even when you have retired from the sea you can still build your house as though you have just stepped ashore .......... Best of both Worlds really ...............



Hard to beat for a peaceful anchorage that wafts with the smell of freshly baked bread right into your cabin on board ARITA ....... Do a double-click and you might just get the same delicious 'waft' ...



And with a lot of yelling and clapping the HUNGARIANS anchored next to us and invited us on board for a presentation that bought us both close to tears ....... They presented us with a beautiful book of paintings by a famous Hungarian artist who lives and works in GUADELOUPE ............. The book was duly signed by all twelve crew members, who are in fact doctors, engineers, bankers and other professions taking time out to go sailing .......... The chef on board is actually a plastic surgeon in real life and obviously good with a knife ........... We took photos of their departure under sail ..... Photos that are hard to get when you are all on board and nobody has an arm that long ........




Les Saintes has many seafood restaurants, but none of them had an impresssive sign like this one .............. That swordfish is well above scooter height ......... And if by chance you are on your way to the beach and you have left your hat behind ....... Do not despair .............

BUT DEFINITELY DO NOT TRY THIS ON YOUR WAY HOME ...........