Bad timing

Stories from a seasoned traveller : 

Sometimes you get the timing wrong, and sometimes everything works against you so that you get the timing wrong, no matter what. It was going to be a travel day today, as we make our way from Port-Louis in Guadeloupe, across the water to the little island of Marie-Galante. We check out at 11, get the car back to the rental company at 12, and spend the day exploring Pointe-à-Pitre, somewhere we've not returned since 2017, then catch the ferry crossing at 5:15. At least, that was the plan. But it's January 1st, and so everything is closed that we might have visited, like the market, or the slavery museum. So it looks like we'll be spending all afternoon at the Ferry Terminal instead. We luck out that someone just happens to be passing by the rental office that can check us in, otherwise we would have been stuck with the car until 3:30. But now the bag check is not open, so we are stuck with all our luggage in tow, which is not great for exploring. The lounge at the Ferry terminal is closed, because it's too early to check in for a 5:15 crossing. So we sit in the shade of a palm tree and watch a crowd of people trying to embark on their own journey to Dominica.

Eventually, the lounge opens. Mario finds coffee at the snack bar. 

I listen to music and stare at random stickers on the walls. 

There are iguanas basking in the sun in the parking lot.

Thankfully, we made sandwiches with what was left in the fridge so we have food to eat, because there are no restaurants open either. Another hour passes, and slowly, people are showing up. The line starts to form, and we joint the queue. Eventually, we make it through check-in, then onto the boat, and then over to Marie-Galante. But it was a lot of waiting today. Next time, we'll keep the car, and waste a few hours at a beach somewhere. Next time, I'll do better.