Walking about 1/4 mile, approximately 12 minutes to ferry; flat, paved sidewalks and road. Ferry ride approximately 20 minutes, open and covered areas. In Fort de France, walking up to 3 miles and standing.
In the hotel restaurant, the daily breakfast buffet offers choices such as soft and hard boiled eggs, cheese, fresh fruit, cereal, yogurt, traditional French breads and pastries, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, water.
Orientation. We’ll gather in the hotel conference room where the Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Transportation for field trips will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through personal independent exploration, attending performances or other events on your own, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. The Group Leader will always be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local conditions/circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We’ll then set out with our Group Leader and walk to the Pointe du Bout marina and take the ferry across the bay to Fort-de-France. Upon arrival, a local expert will lead our walking field trip to explore Martinique’s capital city and see highlights such as the colorful central market, the Aimé Césaire Museum, and the Bibliothèque Schoelcher (Library). This small museum is dedicated to the renowned poet, playwright and politician, Aimé Césaire (1913-2008), one of the Caribbean’s most celebrated cultural figures. He was a long-serving Mayor of Fort-de-France and a Deputy from Martinique to the French National Assembly, honored throughout the French-speaking world. Unique in its architecture, the Schoelcher Library was built in France for the World Exposition of 1889. It was then dismantled, shipped to Martinique, and reassembled piece by piece as a monument to the 19th Century French abolitionist writer Victor Schoelcher.
At a traditional restaurant, we’ll enjoy a special buffet featuring Creole specialties, plus coffee, tea, water. Martinican cuisine is a mélange of African, French, Carib and South Asian flavors using local produce.
After returning on the ferry back to the hotel, we’ll gather for a lecture by a university professor to learn how the economy of Martinique operates as an overseas department of France. We’ll then walk to a nearby restaurant to enjoy conversation and cultural interaction with local Martinicans over an apéritif.
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. There are numerous choices in the area around the hotel.
At leisure.
