On the other side, I start with
Sacre Cæur
de Balata,
and its rather impressive basilica, located on a pointy hilltop. The sun
comes an goes in seconds.
A bit further out the gorgeous N3 mountain road, I find
Jardin de
Balata
– along with a lot others. Here are some great views to the surrounding
pointy mountains, and 3000 species of plants - they claim. With the weed
perhaps? Well, it is not a botanical
garden, as the only name-tags are for the trails, canopy-walk and children's playground. However, it is truly a
beautiful park, located on a hillside. I see the sceneries, do
Close by, by a little mountain trail, I find the Cascade Absalon, deep down in a narrow gorge. The overgrown bridge and the share amount of greenery make is such a great area, and strangely enough, I have it to myself. Bit odd, after the packed park a kilometre away.
A further out the road, a national reserve is found behind
Station Thermale d'Absalon, and it is truly amassing. I follow the creek
deep into the I head to lower grounds, along the coast, to find the sun. It is a bit drier, with Bursera, a few Agaves and Acacias, but still green. The car is thirty, the gasoline price close to Danish, while the car is quite demanding on these twisted and steep mountain roads.
It is close to lunchtime, and I head for
Bellefontaine, Further up the coast, the larger Le Carbet is found. I first stop at the large Plage du Coin, which is a long line of palms, sand and fishing shags.
Closer to
Le Carbet,
I park at the Reviere du
Carbet,
a large river. Then I raid the first patisserie I find: Not healthy, but
tasty, and I get to share it with the local hen and chicks, patrolling the
area under my table.
This is close to several other planned sights, but I save them for other days. At twelve, I have finished the planned tour for today.
In an effort to avoid
the jammed traffic around Fort-de-France – and because I’m sure it will be
great, I head home over the central mountains. It is, as anticipated, into
the drizzle an rain, but I truly enjoy the drive. Well, till it is blocked,
due to renovation. Back to the coast and then up the next, larger
mountain road from Saint-Piere. It connect to the lovely D1,
which I truly enjoy once again, despite the rather intense rain, from 300 to
660 meters.
I’m home just after four, hoping for better weather forwards. At least Yr.No
predicts it, although every day has rain on the program, and the predictions
around here are unreliable at best. Yet another el Nino
year; the third in row, I hear.
I follow the main street, doing some alleys as well. In one, I find the iconic photo for these old colonial towns: An old wooden shack without any paint left, and a the biggest BMW, I’ve ever seen.
I turn around at the mangrove river. Not much is happening anywhere, this
early Saturday morning. I find a cup of coffee, but as usually, milk is not
an option. I find the coast outside town, at the marina. Or rather; fishing
port. It ends at a rocky beach, with a few shells.
Further down the coast, Le Vauclin is another bigger old port town. The rain and drizzle is quite persistent, all the way. However, the sun breaks through, as I park the car. Unfortunately not that reliable, and my photos are suffering from the lack of light.
I follow the low-key main-street down to the water. Besides from sand and
seaweed, here are numerous shells and huge conks. In an effort to find that, I head across the peninsular to Le Marin. Here are quite some Indian oxen, on the way up the 130 meter high hills. And the other side do have glimpses of sun – but everything is still soaked, me included.
I
It is strange, how the town right next to the huge and fancy marina, is worn
down. The recent hundreds of years have taken their tow in the paint and
plaster. While I wait for the sun, I have an interesting chat with a young
But now, the sun is really bright, and I head a bit further down to the
southern beach, Grande Anse
des Salines.
The sky open near bye, and I stay put in the car for a few minutes. It is
truly a iconic Caribbean beach, with only a few guests on the one kilometre
golden sand. I do a walk on the beach and in the
My last sight in this area is
Savanna of Petrifications,
which I’ve been looking forward for, as it is desert like – they claim. What
From here, a flooded trail leads out through the mangrove, and then the
endless white beach. I follow it for some time, then continues
It is getting late, and I start the long walk back to the car, and then the drive home. I reach it at dusk, a bit worn down. Highlights All photos
Day
It is
a good two lane road, twisting it’s way up the mountains. I do many
photo-stops, and a long hike, along some creeks. It is next to Cascades de l'Alma but I don't see them.
I walk along the river on the other side, and I actually think; this is the most beautiful rainforest - and even nature in
general, I’ve ever walked. It is so lush, way down to the ground. So many
species from tiny mosses, to giants trees. I I stop to gain strength in little Fond Marie-Reine, where the bar owner share his instant coffee and raisin role. I then pass over 500 meters, then head downwards on N2, to the western coast. The landscape is more open, and here is more farming. The GPS has some odd but nice shortcuts, and I just enjoy them - more than the car.
The
beach i reach is made up by small rocks and pebble.
At the end of the real twisted coastal road, a tiny road leads towards
Cascade de
la rivière Couleuvre.
Cars are parked in any possible place, the last two kilometres, but I’m But there are still 1600 meters of real challenging rock-hopping, to the falls. It is in a dense forest, but besides from a few huge trees and giant lianas, I don't see much interesting. The forest floor is almost barren, and real muddy. The challenging trail follows, and cross a little creek, multiple times, and that is the fall’s creek. After an hour of demanding hopping, the falls reveals themselves. And they are sure the struggle worth. I try to frame them with my camera – and fails. It is after all 120 meters high. Here are quite some locals on this Sunday, and they have set the day off for it. Me, on the other hand, did plan to do a four hour hike at Mont Pelee as well.
It is a great day for it, but the road from this side, is closed. An
alternative single lane concrete trail leads five kilometres up the
mountain, but I fail to find a trail from here, despite the peak is only a
I set the GPS for home, and chose the eastern coastal road, instead of
the central mountains. Well, I have to cross the mountains to get there, and
the northern mountains are always a treat. Home by five, with 426 photos and
quite some videos, to prove what a fantastic day it have been. |