Bank Run and Some Exploring, Day 24

Today I had to do some running around. I needed some Euro since none of the shops here seem to take USD. The only bank on Martinique that I can use without fee is BNP Paribas and there are only 3 branches on the island. Thankfully I have a rental car and I downloaded the map for Martinique on my phone (thanks Google Maps). I easily found my way to the nearest branch, 35min away, and got some cash. I did manage to forget to stop at Carrefour (kinda like Walmart) to get a frying pan, bug spray and a spatula but I can get those tomorrow morning. After the bank I drove around the town of Francois a bit and looked around for a bbq stand for lunch. I found one on my way out of town and stopped in for some grilled chicken. I got 2-thighs and some white rice and a beer for 8 Euro which isn't too bad. I went back to a town dock that I had seen while driving around and sat down in the shade and enjoyed my lunch.

Then I set about heading back to St. Anne, the drive is quite pretty as you go through hills and valleys some of which are lined with Banana and Sugar Cane fields. I always thought the Banana trees on a plantation would be rather tall but they are surprisingly short. About half way through I saw some motorcycle cops coming with their lights on, they motioned for us (cars) to slow down and move over. They were escorting a very large group of people on motorcycles and atvs in what I can only guess was some kind of rally or poker run. I though it was pretty cool to see and interesting that the cops would do such a thing, talk about public service.

After I got back and dropped off my stuff at the airbnb I went back out to locate the office of the boat broker I am meeting with tomorrow morning.  I found her office pretty easily as it is in a really neat commercial development that is geared at cruisers. The property has offices for brokers, repair shops of all kinds, stores, bars and more. I decided to walk down the dock and just look at the boats that were there. As I walked down the dock I noticed a boat that looked familiar, it was the boat I am going to look at in the morning. I took a few photos and then walked away as casually as I could being that I didn't want to show my hand so to speak.

Then I headed back towards the airbnb and made a quick stop in town to see if any restaurants were open and of course most were closed. The exception was the hotel restaurant on the beach which is rather expensive. I then headed back to my airbnb and then walked down to the beach bar on the property for a sunset beer.

I then went back to my place and went about warming up some leftovers for yesterday for supper. After I finished my supper I did some reading on Amel Maramu's since that is what I am going to look at tomorrow morning and then called it a night.