An extraordinary meeting

On Saturday I went with four French couples on a motorboat from Saint Anne to Pointe-à-Pitre.

I was completely surprised that the coast was so rocky and on our way there were only small beaches. Suddenly the captain shouted: "Une ba....!" I did not understand, but immediately all the others were completely excited and looked out on the sea. After a few minutes I saw in a distance a back fin coming to the surface. And now the excitement also seized me. Our captain changed course and with the next resurfacing we recognised a medium-sized whale. Everybody was quite happy, particularly when he was resurfacing next to us and diving under our boat.

Then he disappeared and therefore we went to the harbour of Pointe-à- Pitre. At the market I was surprised once more of the variety and size of the offered fish . Some fishermen sold their products singing creolic songs.

At the moment when we were leaving, a gigantic cruise ship docked at the harbour.

Afterwards we went by the narrow passage between Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre, past mangrove woods and several islets. Because the weather was very clear, we could watch "La Soufière" smoking in the distance. Finally, we dropped anchor at a small island where the captain served to us a nice lunch. After short journey we snorkelled in an offshore reef, this was my most impressive underwater world up to now. Completely cooled down I returned and layed down in the sun on the foredeck. Back at Saint Anne everybody was completely enthusiastic about our excursion.

Cooking, diving, ...

On Wednesday I took a cooking class with 8 other students. There was "Colombo de poulet" at the cook`s house. She showed us the vegetables and the herbs and washed them. We men peeled potatoes; some women chopped the vegetables.

Then she fried 10 marinated chicken legs and added the vegetables, the herbs and the marinade. 20 minutes later we were invited to eat, hmmm!

Next afternoon I dived for the first time on Guadeloupe. My diving teacher Annabelle led me to a fishing boat which was sunk near our coast years ago. Unfortunately, only rests of the deck and the rail were to be seen.

Besides, we discovered a suitcase fish in a cave and 2 spiny lobsters under a rock projection, as well as many colourful fish. Back at the beach the boss invited us to a Coco punch.

On Saturday I had lunch with John in the fish restaurant “Au board de la mer”. We sat beside an aquarium. He reported with poems in the Viennese dialect and I told him about my children and my newborn granddaughter. Suddenly the landlord grabbed a spiny lobster and got them from the aquarium. It moved her feelers so violently that I was shocked.

Afterwards we enjoyed the marvellous weather on the beach.

On Sunday it was raining for the first time the whole day long. Finally, I came to an end with „Hard-boiled wonderland and the end of the world“ from Haruki Marukami. It was very exciting like all his books and very special.

My first weekend on a catamaran

At the week end I made my first tour on a sailing boat with 7 other students.

On a catamaran we sailed with heavy wind 4 and high seas to the islands Petite-Terre and Maria Galante. Nobody fell overboard, but some of us fed the fish or got wet. The others were fascinated by the brightness of the water, which colours changed from light turquoise todark ultramarine.

On the way we saw 3 dolphins and many flying fish.

We were also impressed by the underwater world where we went snorkelling.There were fish in very different colours and sizes. It was lucky that 2 barracudas were not interested in us.

With the captain we saw many iguanas on the island.

At night I was so fascinated by the millions of stars that I slept on deck.

On Guadeloupe

Happy New Year to everybody! I left cold Germany again.

Since January, 4th I am on Guadelope to improve in French. Together with Reto I am living in a house in St. Anne. It`s a small town on Grande Terre. Our hostmum takes care of us very well. We have breakfast at 7 and dinner at 19 o`clock.

From 8 to 14.30 we are at school. We aretrying to learn the features of the French.

After school we are on the beach. There is always a light breeze, so you can stand with 30 dregrees and sultriness. The water is nice, about 26 – 28 degrees and very clear. Even here we keep going on learning irregular verbs!

At dusk we walk home. Because of my jet lag I am going to bed quite early.For the first I sleep under a fly net. Is there fresh air somewhere?