032802 6:00am seems to be the standard time for rising. A quick dip over the side for Scott, Tim and me followed by breakfast and we motored into xxx where we disembarked to wander through an enchanting little french town with narrow winding roads The cars park half on the sidewalks. Lush flowering shrubs overtaking the structures everywhere.

We walked to the bank so we could get Euros to pay for things then wandered back down into the heart of town to window shop. Bought my first T-shirt. I keep looking in all the local parfumeries for any varieties of my scent, but no one seems to have it. We sat at an inner harbor and had cafe aulait, cafe noir and banana squeezes. All very French and everyone so well dressed.

We stopped at a couple of local fruit vendors to get some more melons, pineapple, and lettuce then made our way to the beach (more topless treats for the boys) and down to the jetty. Local children launching themselves into the waves there. We climbed on board then motored to Ft de France where Tim hoped to register his entry.

Very choppy in the harbor there so S & D and Bill stayed on board while PLP and I accompanied Tim to shore. The jetty was under construction so we had to literally climb over two fences in order to get off the jetty. Over the last fence and you're immediately into the hustle and bustle of a very busy city. Cars and people everywhere and lots of construction ongoing. Made our way to the customs office which of course was closed for lunch and wouldn't reopen until 1:30pm (1:15 away.)

PLP and I were hoping to change some money so we wandered along the main streets (very reminiscent of Ecuador) until we found an ATM. Unfortunately the bank itself was closed for Easter and we didn't want to take out money, just to change it, so we called it a complete waste of time and headed back o the jetty. Up over the 2 fences (workmen standing watching the whole time) and off to Avrion. We motored out of there for xxx [St-Pierre?].

Lunch was an array of spinach and lettuce with multiple veggies, chicken, and fruits to top them.

Which was a charming little town strung along the beach. The swells were inescapable just about everywhere and we had to hope that things just eventually settled down before bedtime. Scott and Tim took a quick jaunt to shore to register before the office closed and the rest of us relaxed onboard.

After their return, it was time for a swim! We were close enough to the beach for Scott, Tim and I to swim to it. Patti, in keeping with her vow to snorkel everyday, donned a mask and fins and kept us informed of the starfish, eels and fishes swimming amongst us. We have discovered a new (minor)discomfort, technically referred to as "stingy things" which we assume are jelly fish encounters leaving a stingy trail of welts on our extremities as we swim trough them. A round of rum and cokes and some munchies (Tim is never far from 'em) and we decided to go ashore for dinner.

St. Pierre was destroyed in 1902 by the eruption of Mt. Pelee which looms very close. There is a museum showing the old town and explaining history of the eruption. You can still see some of the old, blackened walls which front on the beach from buildings which were destroyed in the eruptions. Only two survivors were left of nearly 30,000 residents (one was in his cellar, one was a criminal in a jail cell.)

We wandered through town looking for a place to dine and ended up in a pizza place just opposite the moored boat. Tim and Debbie each had a different kind of seafood pizza. Scott had the special chicken of the day, PLP and I split a veggie pizza and Bill stuck to his favorite anchovy. As usual, plenty of rum and beer to lubricate. Back to the boat for a nightcap and bed. The swells were still evident,but very little keeps any of us awake anymore.

[smk]