Today we are going to take the ferry into Fort-de-France, the largest city in some geography, I am too lazy to look up where.
The ferry system and schedule are almost impossible to decipher and it appears you need the MT app to get a ticket and board. Hopefully the app will show the schedule better.
Nope.
We buy the tickets and go to the ferry dock a bit early since we are not entirely sure when it leaves. Looks like we have lots of time so we go for a little walk and check out the golf course. The term golf course is a bit of an embellishment, the online reviews say it’s scrap and it sure looks like it. Can’t tell the difference between the greens and the fairway except there are flags on the greens.
Back at the ferry dock we’re early, but it gives me time to have a long call with my Calgary customer who is technically challenged. I have spent hours on this customer who is worth $8 per month or $1.60 to me. Still …
On board the ticketing system is even more weird and it is clear the best approach is to buy a physical ticket from the machines at the dock. We didn’t notice them until this morning.
The ride across the bay is about half an hour, we joke that the only time we feel nauseous at sea is on a ferry.
The town is bustling but it is clear to me the area we are in is geared for the large cruise ship crowd, like the one here now. Nothing but cheap trinkets and crappy restaurants. We are looking for that quaint French cafe but by the time we find one, they have closed for 2 pm and won’t open again until 6 pm. Grrrr …
I’m getting hangry and Christy wants to walk around the shops. There is nothing worse for me than shopping for the sake of shopping, especially where this is nothing but crap and we don’t need anything. I know I am being unreasonable but it would be much better for both of us if I just went and sat somewhere and she can walk around to her heart’s content. We find a decent crepe place and have a bit of lunch – we’re both hungry by now. We’ve missed the main and meat market and the Carefour seems to be out of business. We eventually find a Caraibe Price near the main drag and get some groceries.
It’s time to start thinking about the ferries so we head back to the ferry dock. Good, I am done with Fort-de-France. There are some market shops down by the dock and Christy thinks we have another 30 minutes to wait so she browses there. While she is over there, the ferry comes and goes and I can’t flag her down. We have to wait another hour. Not her fault, the ferry schedule is a mystery.
An hour later we are on the ferry (last one of the day?) back to Trois Islet. Dinghy still there = good. We race the outgoing ferry back to Milu so we don’t have to deal with its wake. Back on Milu for dinner.