Settling in

When arriving at a new place, you always need to leave yourself a day to settle in. This does not mean you can't also be heading out and exploring, but you need to give yourself time to explore the place you are staying, maybe the town, unpack your luggage and put everything away, do some groceries - effectively set yourself up for a comfortable rest of the week at your new location. Since we came in with no extra food last night (dinner was a bowl of granola), first order of business is to head into town for coffee and pastries. 

While we are at it, we might as well tour the local market, pick up some fresh fruits for breakfasts, and a couple of baguettes for lunches. We can't buy everything at the market, so it's off to a grocery store for the rest of the foodstuffs we'll need to at least start the week - anything else can be bought when we need it. 

With everything dropped off at the Airbnb, our cabin in the jungle, the next stop has to be at our favorite rhum distillery to stock up on our allowances to bring back home. The rain starts to fall as we are leaving.

Next stop is at the Moulin de Bézard, a windmill that has always been in a serious state of disrepair, but recently got an influx in funding for a new restoration project, and so some work has been done on the area. It looks promising - we just hope that the work gets done before the money runs out, which is often the case in Guadeloupe. The place is full of unfinished projects.

Onwards we go to the plage de Trois Ilets, our favorite beach in all of Guadeloupe, I think. It has the softest sand, plenty of shade, rarely anyone else, and the views, especially at sunset, are spectacular across the smooth, glass-like water. We spend the rest of the afternoon lounging. Yesterday was long, so I think Mario and I both deserve a break today.

An afternoon shower, a little Planteur on our patio with our new-found cat friend, and then back out we go to Kreyol Fish, a resto/take-out counter/fish product manufacturer. They smoke their own fish, make their own tartare and rillettes, which is then shipped all over Guadeloupe, but the best burgers are served at their take-out counter. Last time we visited, Kreyol Fish had opened up a restaurant right in front of the Ferry port, but they grew their business too big too fast. They couldn't keep up with the new clientele, and still keep up with the quality of the product they were used to serving. They've returned to their take-away counter roots now, with a handful of tables available to eat in, and the burgers are back to their delicious high standards. I get a tasting platter, where everything is delicious and filling, and Mario goes for a classic fish burger. No regrets - the food is perfect.

The night ends with coffee back at the Airbnb with cat friend, who we've affectionately named Blep, given his inability to keep his tongue inside his mouth. He follows us to and from our room, and loves sitting on our laps for pets almost as much as he loves cleaning out the milk pot from my coffee. And no, we are not keeping him, he has a very comfortable home and existence here, he's just a sucker for free scritches.