It's not all cocktails and beautiful beaches.

Stories from a seasoned traveller: 

It's not all cocktails and beautiful beaches. When you are staying in the same location for a while, say a week, there are some housekeeping chores to take care of. This morning's task was a drive out to the large local grocery store to stock up on food for the next few days. Since we are staying in a fully kitted Airbnb, I can cook meals, but I also don't want to be spending all my time in the kitchen, so we favour things like frozen quiche, to which I add a side salad. We also pick up a few essentials that did not make it into our luggage due to liquid restrictions, like shampoo. I keep a running list in my journal. 

Beautiful beaches : 

We've learned in the past that attempting a big hike right after arriving in Guadeloupe is not a good idea. We need to "warm up" before attempting something super strenuous (see our hike of Chutes de Carbet on day 3 of our trip in 2023-4), and so we decide today is going to be nothing but a relaxing day. That means going to the beach and doing nothing but swimming, and tanning, and repeat, and repeat, and repeat. We take care with the sunscreen, and spend more time than necessary in the shade - this is our first exposure to the sun, and we want to build up layers, not scorch on the first day. Spending the rest of the week hiding under long sleeves and a wide-brimmed hat is no fun.

Cocktails: 

We make our way back through town from the beach, picking up a sorbet coco, with its notes of cinnamon and lime zest, from the beachside seller that I am sure has been taking up that same spot on the beach since we first started visiting Port-Louis in 2017. The very illegal two-storied Kabana Beach club has finally be razed to the ground, to the delight of our Airbnb host, and I have to say, it was an eyesore on the beach. We walk to the accras(fried codfish dumplings) vendor, who closes at 6, and so we've never had a chance to try her offering. They could be the best in Guadeloupe, and we've been missing out all these years  - but I have to check something first. I'll get back to you when I return to Pointe-des-Chateaux and try those ones again! We take them to go, and walk up the hill to the Airbnb, where we enjoy them with our quintessential rhum punch, a mix of 59% rhum agricole, guava juice, lime juice and cane sugar.  The accras are delicious, the punch strong, and the sunset as beautiful as any I've seen in Port-Louis.

So I guess I lied. It really IS all about cocktails and beautiful beaches!