Thursday 8th Nov
After spending a few hours wandering around housing estates on the outskirts of Pointe a Pitre, the graveyard comes into view... much to Ian's delight [only pretending]... and it is cheerful, all saints day being only a few days away, all the flowers are beautiful and most of the graves have been painted. It is a huge graveyard, perched on a hill. The views on the surrounding housing estates are stunning. Interesting contrast between the city of the dead and the city of the living. Love the old graves.
Friday 9th Nov
The anchorage is right by the Memorial museum, where most of the celebrations for the Route du Rhum race will be taking place. The village is being inaugurated today. Loads of tents with local products to taste and local crafts to look at. And live coverage of the race on huge screens. The place is mobbed. It gets even more crowded for the band in the evening. The acts are obviously well known and loved. Everyone is singing and dancing along despite the rain. For the next few nights we’ll be treated to live music... we don't even need to go ashore, we have a boat near the band.
Saturday 10th Nov
We got our engine back fixed, no more rowing for now. Last chance for food shopping. We’ll get all our perishable items here. The shop is a fair way in the dinghy, by the aquarium. We set off in the sunshine, by the time we get there, we are soaked. It rains so hard for over 4 hours that we have to seek shelter in the restaurant next to the aquarium.... fortunately they make good coffee and play good music.
A full trolley later, we finally get back to the boat in the dry.
