Off to Martinique, Day 23

Today I had a fun and interesting day. I got a flight to Martinique to go look at a boat and experience a different island for a while. My day started off quite early, I woke up around 0430 and couldn't get back to sleep. I decided to just go ahead and get my stuff in order and packed. I had been planning on getting up at 0540 so while I wasn't happy about being up so early it was no big deal. After I got my stuff packed up I went out to the veranda and enjoyed the sunrise with a bottle of water, I was out of coffee. Mike had been nice enough to agree to give me a ride to the airport after his morning radio net was finished. I got my bags loaded into the car and then we put Bonny the dog in the back seat, she always joins for car rides. The the three of us headed for the Grand Case Airport. I had been worried about getting there early enough for my flight (I am used to big airports). Those fears were put to rest when I walked into the airport and saw that there were only 2 families at the check in counter. I got in line, checked my bags and then got in the que to wait for the security checkpoint to open.

Once through the checkpoint I entered the smallest departure lounge I have ever been in. I would guess that it was about 60'x80' give or take. I had been a little anxious about finding my gate but there were only 3 "gates" which were doors to the tarmac. While I was waiting in the departure lounge I decided to call my mom and see how her day was going. Then I just sat there and organized pics on my phone and watched as our plane arrived. I hadn't been on one of these inter-island flights before and so I was quite excited to be able to see the other island as we flew over them. I managed to get a window seat up in the front of the cabin. I did get a good view of the other island as we passed by, I also got some photos too. The flight had a stop in Guadeloupe to let some folks off and others on. I joined the others who were continuing in the departure lounge while we waited. Then it was back to the plane, this time I managed to get an exit row seat in the very front of the cabin. This gave me two windows and I had looked at google maps to sort out which side of the plane might have the best view. The second part of the flight was only about 30-min so that was nice, I also got some decent phots on this half of the flight.

We touched down on time in Martinique and filed into the terminal building. I approached the passport control desk and the gentleman took my passport and stamped it with hardly a word. I then collected my luggage and went to find the rental car counter. After I got the shuttle to the rental car depot I went in and got the keys and finished the paperwork. I learned a good lesson too, do not use rentalcars.com for anything other than research. They present an insurance option that appears to be through the rental car company but is third party. I got roped into this and then when I went to contact them yesterday and their phone was disconnected and the live chat was not functioning.

I got my car, a new Renault, and headed out across the island to Sainte Anne where my airbnb is. The drive was quite nice and enjoyable. I encountered a bit of traffic at first but then it cleared up pretty quick. I got a little turned around but I found the place not long after. The airbnb I got is in an old resort that has been repurposed into residential condos. They're nice and have a little kitchen and a veranda with a table and chairs too. I am really enjoying having all the birds singing and getting to see a bunch of butterflies in the garden outside my room.

I drove into town to check it out and look for some food since I hadn't had lunch yet. I was a bit surprised to find that most of the restaurants don't have food between 3-7, I guess this is a French thing. I walked around town for a little bit then went to the big Carrefour Market in Marin to get some groceries for the next few days. Food is definitely not cheap down here, eggs were $5/ dozen, so I had think carefully about what I bought. After my shopping expedition I went back to the airbnb and unloaded my groceries and charged my phone.

It was now about dinner time so I drove back into town. I went back to a Creole place I had seen earlier and got a table. Being that it was still before 7 I couldn't order food yet so I got a beer and perused the menu.  I ended up ordering a sampler platter because it had everything but was cheaper than some of the other options. The sampler had stuffed crab, Conch fritters, 2-kinds of grilled fish and some home made "puddings" (which I think were blood pudding but were great) plus a salad for 20 Euro. After dinner it was time to head back to the airbnb and get some rest after a long day.