Another impact by Hurricane Irma, due to the damage caused on Saint Marteen by the hurricane we have now been re routed to Martinque. Just like to record our concerns for the residents of St Marteen, hopefully you will all recover from this disaster, our thoughts and Prayers are with you.

Arrived in Fort de France the capital of Martinique at 8am. Leisurely breakfast and then off the boat to see if we could get to see a Rhum Distillery. After being asked for $200 to simply take us there and back we thought ok we won't go. Then a guy approached us saying he need two more people to fill his bus and he was going to take us on a four hour trip around the island including a visit to a Rhum Factory for $40 each. So that was that, only 8 people on the bus, 2 Dutch, 2 Italians and 2 from Manchester and Lesley & I. First stop was the Sacre Couet de Balata around half way up Mount Pelee with great views over Fort de France. The church is meant to be a 2/3 scale model of the Sacre Couer in Paris?

We then carried on past Jardin de Balata up Mount Pelee into a tropical rain forest. Flora and Fauna was beautiful, also saw a beautiful Green Hummingbitd unfortunately it was a bit camera shy. Next stop was Cascade Saut Gendarme. A small Waterfall in the middle of the rain forest. By this time we were having a 100% rain forest experience as it was pouring with rain. Up to the top of Mount Pelee through a small village called Les Nuages, which means "The Clouds" called so as the village is nearly always in the clouds. Then onto Depaz Rhum Distillery. Here we tasted VSOP Rum, Rum Punch, Rhum with Orange similar to Grand Marnier, coconut Rhum and a Rhum made with Hibiscus Flowers. Lovely taste

Left the Distillery and travelled down the mountain towards Saint Pierre, previously the capital of Martinique. On May 8th 1902 the Mount Pelee erupted throwing larva and Volcanic ash all over the capital. It killed 30,000 people. We then drove back along the coast road passing a house that Gaugin painted from along with the place that Christopher Columbus first landed in Martinique. Back to the ship for 1.30pn a great day out, despite the rain. Bite to lunch and then Siesta/blog update. 5pm up to the Sunset Bar to see our departure from Martinique then shower and change to head off to the Martini Bar for pre dinner drinks. 8pm dinner in Blu then bed as plan to have a day on the beach in Antigua tomorrow