Happy New Year
01 January 2018 | Petit Anse D’Arlet, Martinique
Happy New Year to all! Celebrations on Barracuda were relatively quiet. We enjoyed the most beautiful sunset looking west over the Caribbean Sea (as you do). As the sun set on 2017 we reflected on a year that we hope was well and purposefully lived, and we also look forward to what 2018 may bring.
The first thing we are hoping for in 2018 is that the customs people are not reading this too closely, as we have yet to check in to Martinique. It seems to be a fairly relaxed system: in this tiny village, there is a special terminal at the Cyber-Café, and you turn up and log yourself into the country. We went ashore to try, but the office (and everything else, including the police station) was Ferme for the New Year holiday so we will try again tomorrow.
We also moved the boat up to anchor just off the village. It is a fine wee spot, steep green hills with brightly coloured houses and palm trees, full of French people here for their Xmas and New Year holidays. You would think you were in the south of France; holiday-makers roaming the streets in swimwear, children splashing in the sea. Turtles just off the boat, too. We went snorkelling on the reef at the north of the bay – excellent, with lots to see - and then enjoyed a swim on the beach with the holiday-makers. It feels like we are actually on holiday (which as we all know sailing ones’ yacht in the Caribbean is not)!