The next decade....what's in store?

Guadeloupe again

The first two days I wasn't in love with the island. As I told you on Friday, we were going to Basse Terre. Then is when I fell in love.

Lush, green, quiet, mountainous. All the things I require in an island.

We went to a place called La Maison du Bois, where they highlight the different trees found on the island and what they are used for. There is a little museum of sorts, and we had a tour there with Richard, whose English is boss. When mixed with that French accent......oooh la la!

Had lunch, then went to a large shopping mall called Destrelland. Was expecting to find some hot Parisienne clothes, but no luck. Bought two little tops. That was it. My credit card was happy.

When we were leaving, that was another story...

If oonu tink Liat is bad, check Air Caraibes!

The flight was 6:45am. We got to the airport at 5:30, only to find a line with bags only. Their owners were sitting on chairs nearby. No staff nuh reach yet! They finally came close to 6am! Then la femme proceeded to re-arrange the stantions and therefore our bags were now no longer in one line. Not sure why she did that. My two colleagues joined one line, and I joined another.

Mine appeared not to be moving so I went over to their line. One was at the check in counter, and the other was at the head of the line so I went to stand beside her. A Guadeloupe man was behind her and said (en francais) that I must go to the back of the line. So I tell him (en francais) that we are together. He asked which line I was in and wasnt I over there, so how could we be together. He was very hostile and was discussing me with the lady who was behind him. She spoke English as well as French so I explained the situation to her blah blah blah. Then I asked her if she would kindly allow me to go after the (rude) man. I asked him if he was from Guadeloupe. Yes. I asked him if that was how they treat visitors. No answer. Maybe it was because I asked it in English.

Anyway, that over, I go to security. They pull me aside to search my knapsack. The man takes out my two tins of Sardines in Spring Water and says I can't carry them (en francais). I asked why. He showed me a sign (en Francais) and pointed to 'huile' as an item that was 'interdit'. Now I thought it was because of the liquid rule, so I showed him that one tin was 3.75 ozs, but that was not all liquid. Non, vous ne pouvez pas les porter.

So had to go back to the counter, and ask the check in agent for my valise. It already gone. I just plopped the two tins on the counter and ask him if him want some sardines and walked off. I was pissed.

When I went back to security, I told him (en francais) to tell his boss that them must tell people these things before them travel! Then he points to his boss (en francais.....hah hah hah) and I repeat this to him. He tried a little English but I persisted in French. When I finally met up with my colleagues and told them what happened, it dawned on me that the sardines were in 'eau' and not 'huile' and if I weren't so bloody tired, I would have realized it in Security and argued my way (en francais) into being able to take my EC$2.08 x 2 sardines with me!

In St Maarten, had another issue with the line. The Caribbean Airlines flight was very full and the line was moving tres lentement and I was tres faim, so I asked the lady in front of me if she would keep my space, as I was up since 3:30 ce matin and was not feeling well and was going to get something to eat. I excused myself and muttered, I guess to no one in particular, that I was going to drop down. It was around 9:30am. An American couple, Mr L Schlatter and his wife from Indiana, were behind me and I said it loud enough so they could hear.

After I eat my tuna sandwich and come back into the line in my spot, I hear the man comment to the woman 'I don't understand how you can just walk out of the line and come back in like that.' So I told him that I had asked the lady in front of me to hold my space as I was not feeling well and had to get something to eat. Said lady had not seen me return so when I said that, she turned around and validated my story. You skunt. (that's a Guyanese uncomplimentary word). I was going to say to them that not every Jamaican is bad. Damn it.

Posted by yamfoot at July 2, 2007 01:34 AM