Though it was incredibly sad to leave Guadeloupe, I am happily back in the Bay Area with my family.
Thanks to all who looked in on my blog and continued to do so during my dry spells! I hope to do some throwback post amidst my job search, so I’ll send out bulletins when I have something new.
Thanks again!
I already gave you all the rundown on mud baths at Plage de Babin, but this recent picture was just too funny…
Pictured: Sherilee (Trinidad), Nicole (New York), Andrea (Trinidad)
Velo is the most famous drummer of Akiyo, a well-known cultural organization on Guadeloupe. Members of Akiyo marched to the drummers tomb in Pointre-a-Pitre last Saturday and performed a small ceremony on his behlaf. The ceremony included the placement of various tokens on the grave and a speech detailing Velo’s importance in regards to keeping traditional music alive when drumming was banned on the island.
Notice the old woman in the just behind the grave. She is ever-present at Akiyo events and we are always amazed at her enthusiasm and energy. The fact that she drinks, smokes, and pinches young women’s rear ends just makes it all the more funny.
The list of items you can derive from a coconut tree (“pyekoko” in Creole) seems never-ending. I’ve noted the use of coconut milk in cooking and you should already know that mixing coconut cream with fresh pineapple and rum makes a mean Pina Colada. I’ve previously mentioned coconut water along with coconut sorbet and personally have a growing collection of bracelets, earrings and other accessories made from the shells of dry coconuts (“koko sec”). Recently, at a Creole cultural celebration I was taught to make another coconut product, a hat woven of coconut leaves.
The cultural celebration took place in Petit Bourg and was hosted by a local teachers union. The event featured various areas where attendees could partake in different activities such as toy making, basket weaving, and, of course, hat making. The gentleman at the hat station was very helpful and demonstrated the whole process; it actually wasn’t too hard after you got the hang of it.
The process starts with an entire coconut branch that is split sown the middle. A portion of one of the halves is cut roughly two inches more than the desired band of the hat. The stalk is then stripped down to about a quarter-inch thick; the shreds of stalk removed are used to tie the band in a circular shape. At this point, the weaving begins; it can be done in a variety of patterns. I was shown a weaving method that basically braided three leaves at a time in a circular pattern to make the hat’s brim. You separate, then gather the remaining lengths of the leaves at the point of the hat and weave downward to complete the shape. When satisfied with the downward weaving the remaining leaves are neatly clipped in conclusion.
We are on the look out for some more big branches to make a few more hats and a nice “How-to.”
Editor’s Note: I am aware that the hat I made is WAY to small. There weren’t enough branches for everyone to make a hat their head’s size; hence the search for more branches.
While sitting atop one of my favorite waterfalls at Ecrevisses, I noticed a rock formation that looks like a face peering of into to the distance. Do you see what I see? Let me know!
Editor’s Note: If you can’t find it, look at the middle of the photograph.
So our rag-tag, Guadeloupean crew (myself, friend Andrea (pictured), and cousin Reggie) recently discovered a new beach called “Plage de Babin.” This isn’t your ordinary sun, sand and snorkel beach; it’s where Guadeloupeans go to find mud - yep, mud.
Mud baths are the draw to this spot in Morne-a-L’eau and whole families stop by to partake in the messy fun. You wade out into the water until you start to feel the slick mud between your toes. You go under for a few handfuls of the gray muck and carry it back to the shore. There, you slather a thin layer of mud all over your body and wait until it dries before rinsing off. The whole process is pretty fun and your skin feels extremely soft and smooth after the fact.
The mud is good for your hair as well; though I wouldn’t recommend it for people with locks. It takes days to get rid of all the little rocks and shells – not fun.
Damoiseau is the most popular brand of rum to drink on Grande-Terre. Situated in Moule, the distillery that produces the rum is an interesting place to visit. Rum was a driving force of the slave trade in the Caribbean region. Much of the rum was made with the assistance of mills of various types. The distillery houses the only old-fashioned, functioning windmill on Guadeloupe and provides a French-only display that overviews the different types of mills and how they work. The display also sheds light on the history of rum on Guadeloupe and the steps of the distillation process.
The actual “tour” of the distillery is pretty much you wandering around, directed by occasional signs that explain the part of the process you are viewing. Visitors definitely see how rum is made up close and personal; from huge trucks dumping loads of sugar cane into the new age mill to the bottling and packaging processes. It’s interesting to see all the machines in action, but honestly, I don’t think the public should be able to be so close to the product with such little supervision (see picture above). That aside, if you like industry, rum (free tastings!), and/or really loud places, the Damoiseau distillery is definitely for you.
Found in Capesterre Belle-Eau, there are three Carbet waterfalls you can visit on
While winding through
Editor’s Note: I don’t mean to imply that
The “Pointe de Chateau” is found at the most southwest tip of Guadeloupe. It is generally not to long of a stop, as there is not much to do once you are there. But it is a nice place to visit if you like views, landscape photos and the like. After hiking to the large cross overlooking the point, you can see for miles, a distance that includes the nearby island of Desirade.
