Society & Culture
Imagine paradise where your senses explode with a banquet of color, or scents and flavors exicte, or where you experience exotic tranquility. That is Martinique. We enjoyed some planteur punch as we sat on a lovely Martinique beach with Muriel Wiltord from La Martinique Tourism who explained more about the island, it's unique culture and history and why Martinique is unique from other Caribbean islands. During our visit to the island we were treated to some wonderful accommodations including Hotel Bakoua--the very first tourist hotel on Martinique. Hotel Bakoua is a former family home that was built in a colonial architectural style. We also visited the luxurious Cap-est Lagoon Resort and Spa on the east coast of Martinique. The tropical oasis is tucked away on a garden on the edge of a lagoon that overlooks a coral reef in the Atlantic Ocean. One of Martinique's more powerful attractions is the Anse Cafard Slave Memorial. This memorial was completed in 1998 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the emanicipation of slaves in the French West Indies. The memorial is comprised of 20 eight-foot tall looming statues bearing brooding expressions of loss and mourning. The historic Habitation Clément tells the story of Martinique's creoles, its agricultural and industrial heritage. Rhum Agricole was born at Habitation Clément and that it boasts the culture of an ancient Créole sugarcane plantation with rich French West Indian history.