Guadeloupe to Iles des Saintes

Mike goes to check us in at the customs office but they send him to the internet cafe as they have one of the dedicated computers which does the forms online.  However, today the machine is broken so we can’t complete the formalities.

While he is there, he buys one hour’s worth of internet access for six euros.  The guy is adamant that we won’t be able to get access from the boat but Mike tells him we’ve already found it, we just need the code.  The guy seems put out by this.

Mike also uses his initiative and buys some food.  Not necessarily what we need, but he does quite well although the boulangerie was shut which was the real purpose of the shopping.  Oh well, croissants another day.

Mike and I do our internet stuff while Johanne makes us bacon butties then we set off.  The winds are not kind to us today.  They are light and almost directly from behind.  The waters around Guadeloupe are strewn with small logs and lots of fishing markers, most of which are hard to spot.  Johanne and I entertain ourselves posing on the bow.

Photos:  Posers! 

As we round the south west corner of the island the wind changes direction and picks up a lot.  It is now coming directly from where we want to go.  Typical.  In the distance we can see it raining and there is a water spout in the rain clouds.

Photo:  You can just make out the water spout

The Isles des Saintes, when we finally reach them, are bathed in lovely sunshine.  We crack open a bottle of bubbly and practise taking photos with the self timer and little tripod.

Photo:  Harbour at Bourg des Saintes

Photo:  A bit over-exposed (the photo not Johanne and I) but not bad for a first go

Photo:  Can’t get enough of those sunsets

Mike and Steve go for a late siesta (note, I don’t) then we get ready to go out to dinner.  We haven’t been off the boat for two days and Johanne and I feel like getting a bit dressed up, so we do.  Johanne’s new shoes are given their first outing.  We find a restaurant advertised in the cruising guide, tiKaz’la, where we have an excellent meal right by the side of the water.  The owner/chef comes round to all the tables checking everyone is happy with their food.

Photo:  Johanne and Steve

Photo:  Johanne and I

Photo:  Steve looks bemused by his kebabs – should he eat them or wear them as earrings?

The food is excellent and the portions are so large that we end up bringing some of it back to the boat.

The walk back through town is eerily quiet.  There is no one around except a few people sitting at one roadside restaurant just near the dinghy dock.  Everything else is closed.

We manage to heave our full bellies into the dinghy and get back to Jeannius, then it’s straight to bed.