Lunch stop at La Chaudiere Restaurant in Le Mourne Rouge, Martinique
After our rum tasting we proceeded to La Chaudiere Restaurant for a nice lunch. We had some tasty baked chicken with plantain, rice & peas and other yummy sides, along with some French wine and coffee with dessert. After that, we yawned our way to Jardin de Balata Botanical Gardens to walk the grounds and enjoy the tropical plant life. After that we visited The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Balata. The church reminded me a bit of some of the churches we visited in Italy.
Lunch stop at La Chaudiere Restaurant in Le Mourne Rouge, Martinique
There aren’t too many cruises that visit Martinique (yet) but we really enjoyed our time there. Next time I might plan a longer visit to the distillery and perhaps more time checking out the scenery and some of the small villages we passed through on our bus. The lack of flexibility being one of the downsides of a ship tour.
Lunch stop at La Chaudiere Restaurant in Le Mourne Rouge, MartiniqueLunch stop at La Chaudiere Restaurant in Le Mourne Rouge, MartiniqueLunch stop at La Chaudiere Restaurant in Le Mourne Rouge, MartiniqueLunch stop at La Chaudiere Restaurant in Le Mourne Rouge, MartiniqueLunch stop at La Chaudiere Restaurant in Le Mourne Rouge, MartiniqueJardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueHummingbirds at Jardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueHummingbirds at Jardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueJardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueJardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueJardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueJardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueJardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueJardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueJardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueJardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueJardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueJardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueJardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueJardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueJardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueJardin de Balata Botanical Gardens in Fort-de-France, MartiniqueThe Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Balata, MartiniqueThe Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Balata, MartiniqueThe Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Balata, MartiniqueThe Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Balata, MartiniqueThe Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Balata, MartiniqueBicycle taxi in Fort-de-France, Martinique
Distillerie Depaz, rum distillery in St-Pierre, Martinique
The next stop on our Martinique tour was the Depaz Rhum Distillery. Now this was pretty nice rum, and the facility has some very historic origins. There was plenty to see and photograph there. The taste of rum was good, but was pretty skimpy, however.
Distillerie Depaz, rum distillery in St-Pierre, Martinique
I didn’t end up bringing home any ‘liquid souvenirs’ from this trip. Unfortunately the cruise lines are strict about bringing liquor on board. And while I could have brought it onto the ship from the port on this cruise, the rules would prevent me from taking it on the next ship. Strange but there is no getting around it – I asked ahead of time!
Distillerie Depaz, rum distillery in St-Pierre, MartiniqueDistillerie Depaz, rum distillery in St-Pierre, MartiniqueDistillerie Depaz, rum distillery in St-Pierre, MartiniqueDistillerie Depaz, rum distillery in St-Pierre, MartiniqueTrees at the Depaz Rhum Distillery on the Island of MartiniqueDistillerie Depaz, rum distillery in St-Pierre, MartiniqueDistillerie Depaz, rum distillery in St-Pierre, MartiniqueDistillerie Depaz, rum distillery in St-Pierre, MartiniqueDistillerie Depaz, rum distillery in St-Pierre, MartiniqueDistillerie Depaz, rum distillery in St-Pierre, MartiniqueDistillerie Depaz, rum distillery in St-Pierre, MartiniqueDistillerie Depaz, rum distillery in St-Pierre, MartiniqueDistillerie Depaz, rum distillery in St-Pierre, Martinique
Approaching the cruise terminal in Port de France, Martinique aboard Celebrity Equinox
Our stop in Martinique was our first visit to this lovely island, so we made the best of it by taking an all-day ship tour. Over the course of 8 hours we visited: the ruins from a 1902 volcanic eruption, a rum distillery, a local restaurant for authentic Creole-influenced island cuisine, a botanical garden, and to balance off the rum distillery, a church.
Approaching the cruise terminal in Port de France, Martinique aboard Celebrity Equinox
For length, I have divided the photo highlights from Martinique over 3 posts. The first one covers our approach to the island and our visit to the ruins and the Musée Frank A. Perret, memorial to the Catastrophe of 1902 in St-Pierre.
Musée Frank A. Perret, memorial to the Catastrophe of 1902 in St-Pierre, MartiniqueMusée Frank A. Perret, memorial to the Catastrophe of 1902 in St-Pierre, MartiniqueMusée Frank A. Perret, memorial to the Catastrophe of 1902 in St-Pierre, MartiniqueMusée Frank A. Perret, memorial to the Catastrophe of 1902 in St-Pierre, MartiniqueMusée Frank A. Perret, memorial to the Catastrophe of 1902 in St-Pierre, MartiniqueMusée Frank A. Perret, memorial to the Catastrophe of 1902 in St-Pierre, MartiniqueCachot de Cyparis, ruins of a 19th Century Theater and Prison, both destroyed in the volcanic eruption of 1902Cachot de Cyparis, ruins of a 19th Century Theater and Prison, both destroyed in the volcanic eruption of 1902Cachot de Cyparis, ruins of a 19th Century Theater and Prison, both destroyed in the volcanic eruption of 1902Cachot de Cyparis, ruins of a 19th Century Theater and Prison, both destroyed in the volcanic eruption of 1902Cachot de Cyparis, ruins of a 19th Century Theater and Prison, both destroyed in the volcanic eruption of 1902Cachot de Cyparis, ruins of a 19th Century Theater and Prison, both destroyed in the volcanic eruption of 1902Cachot de Cyparis, ruins of a 19th Century Theater and Prison, both destroyed in the volcanic eruption of 1902Cachot de Cyparis, ruins of a 19th Century Theater and Prison, both destroyed in the volcanic eruption of 1902St-Pierre, MartiniqueSt-Pierre, MartiniqueSt-Pierre, Martinique
