The contests are not confined to the kitchen.  Besides the competitions for main dish cooking, desserts and baking excellence, there are prizes for decorating banquet tables beautifully and the fine art of formal napkin folding.  Expert bartenders vie for the coveted Golden Shaker award, so you can be sure that flavorful rum punches and cocktails prepared by talented “mixologists” will be flowing.

Since its beginning more than a decade ago, one of the goals of Semaine Gastronomique has been to raise awareness of Martinique’s unique tradition of Creole and French cuisine as a core asset for the island’s tourist industry—so visitors are welcome and there are always plenty of opportunities for guests from abroad to sample the delicious tastes and sensations that abound throughout the week.

In 2010, the event is scheduled for Monday, May 10, through Saturday, May 16.  The food is good in Martinique any time of year, but you will never find a better way to discover the pleasures of the table as they are celebrated on the Island of Flowers than Semaine Gastronomique in Sainte-Marie.

If you would like more information about travel, accommodations and other tourist attractions near Sainte-Marie or any region of Martinique, please contact the Martinique Promotion Bureau/CMT USA at info@martinique.org

Bon appetit!

Club Med Buccaneer's Creek

This year the calendar offers a rare opportunity—the perfect chance to mix an evening of romance with endless days and nights of revelry at Carnival!

In 2010, Valentine’s Day arrives during the peak of Carnival season.   On Martinique, Cupid and King Carnival will share the island on February 14 as the intimate pleasures of an evening devoted to lovers combine with Dimanche Gras or Big Sunday, the official start of nonstop Carnival festivities that reach their joyous climax on Ash Wednesday, which falls on February 17 in 2010.

Big Sunday marks the beginning of daytime street parades with thousands of marchers in colorful costumes and the first public appearance of a giant effigy of King Carnival, known as Vaval.  Music and merriment will carry on deep into the night of course, but couples who are seeking a quiet spot where they might share Valentine sentiments will have no problem finding a secluded place for romance–

You can be sure that nowhere else on earth will be more prepared for this fortunate blend in the 2010 calendar than Martinique, where French passion meets the Caribbean party spirit.

"Lundi Gras"

The morning after Valentine’s Day, February 15, may be the perfect, hilarious sequel to a night of promises and sweet kisses.  By long tradition, the theme of Lundi Gras or Big Monday is comical, mock weddings.  Men dress as caricatures of women, while women get even by wearing costumes that poke fun at men.  Wherever you look, it may seem like Cupid and Vaval have teamed up to play a joke about marriage that has everyone on the island laughing.

"Mardi Gras"

But the fun is far from over because Tuesday, February 16, is Mardi Gras.  On Martinique, this is Red Devils Day with children putting on bright red costumes, often decorated with beads and shiny mirrors, to look like sparkling, mischievous demons.  You really may believe that Vaval, and the wild spirit of Carnival, have transformed the cute little cherub Cupid into a fun-loving prankster.

Ash Wednesday

With most Carnivals around the world, midnight on Shrove Tuesday will bring the long party to an end as Lent begins.  But Martinique always adds an extra day.  The slogan on Ash Wednesday is “Rejoice Today, Repent Tomorrow!”   While Carnival in New Orleans or Rio de Janeiro are over, the celebration in Martinique does not reach its peak until Ash Wednesday as the effigy of Vaval and his alter ego Bwa-Bwa are set aflame in a huge funeral pyre.  The blazing fire lights up the Ash Wednesday night as the crowd chants “Vaval, pas quitté nous,” which means “Carnival, don’t leave us” in English.

Check out our
MARTINIQUE CARNIVAL SPECIAL PACKAGE

We urge everyone to provide assistance that may begin to relieve the awful suffering in Haiti.  In this hour of great need, money is the most important donation.  With your financial support, emergency responders in Haiti will be able to acquire medical supplies, food, clothing, sanitation services and shelter when and where they are most necessary.

Both UNICEF and the Red Cross have already established emergency relief funds.  In the United States, these funds are easily accessible 24 hours a day on the internet to accept donations—as well as provide information and updates about the situation in Haiti–at the following links:

www.RedCross.org
www.unicefusa.org

For Canada, please make donations and view more information at:

www.RedCross.ca
www.unicef.ca

Although financial donations are most critical, any and all support that you can give is welcomed and encouraged.  Please keep the people of Haiti in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you.

Saint-Pierre Beach

The upgraded site will provide you with the latest hotel and vacation packages.  The updated website lists new accommodation options, including a full array of hotel choices from world class luxury beachfront resorts to charming inland hotels that will give adventurous travelers fresh insights into the islands way of life, its extraordinary history, its special rhythms—as well as unique backcountry excursions for explorers and eco-tourists.

Listings on the updated www.martinique.org site include new hotels, restaurants, along with services that offer the most popular tourist activities from sailing, scuba diving, horseback riding, hiking, canyoning, fishing—and shopping!

We sincerely hope that you will visit our updated website.  And even more, we hope that you will visit us on Martinique in the very near future so we can extend to you our warmest welcome.

We wish you and your loved ones the most joyous holiday season—and a prosperous, rewarding 2010.

Happy New Year!  Bonne Année!  Bon Lanné!

As always, if you would like to receive additional information and details about traveling to Martinique, please contact the Martinique Promotion Bureau/CMT USA at info@martinique.org

Yoles Race 2008 - Yole Mirsa winner 2008

One of the most exciting and festive events of the year is almost here.

The 25th Annual Tour de Martinique des Yoles Rondes–along with all the parties, food and fun that go hand in hand with the boat racing–will be happening from July 26 through August 2.  The 2009 regatta is the silver anniversary of this week-long competition that celebrates the  distinctive type of yawls known as yoles-rondes that have been developed and perfected for sailing the waters around Martinique over hundreds of years.  These sleek, wind-driven vessels are powered by brightly colored sails and manned by crews who display strength, skill, acrobatic dexterity  and incredible teamwork to keep them going at maximum speed.  Every summer, for the past quarter century, the Tour de Martinique has marked the peak of the boating season with a prologue and seven stages of racing that circles the entire island.  This year’s tour will begin and end with events near  the southern township of Vauclin.

Besides the racing on the water, every stop along the way plays host to dockside parties that welcome sailors and spectators alike with music, dancing, food and lots of the local rum that has earned its own coveted AOC designation from the French Institut National des Appellations d’Origine. A trip to the Tour de Martinique des Yoles Rondes offers visitors a chance to see a unique, daring style of boat racing–while enjoying the delicious Creole/French/Caribbean cuisine and unrivaled rum of Martinique in an unforgettable week of music and merriment.

The crews of each yawl represent their home regions and strive hard to prove that they are they best by beating their neighbors, as well as longtime opponents from opposite sides of the island.  In the same friendly spirit of competition, every town along the regatta course goes all out to show off its own brand of hospitality by throwing the best party.  At the Tour of Martinique, the competition is always fierce–out on the water, on the dance floor, in the kitchen, and at the parties where everyone is a winner.

Tourists and locals alike can watch the racing from on shore or join the flotillas that sail out for a closer look.  Last year’s General Classification was won by Mirsa-Dr. Roots, which finished the entire week of racing with a total time that was less than four minutes ahead of the second place team, UFR-SIAPOC, who were back to back champions in 2006 and 2007.  UFR-SAIPOC could be the crew to beat again this year, the team has won the most recent two events after a slow start when five different teams won the first five regattas of the 2009 season.

To learn more about the 25th Tour de Martinique des Yoles Rondes, go to www.yoles-rondes.org.  For information about tourism and more attractions in Martinique, please contact the Martinique Promotion Bureau/CMT at info@martinique.org.

Anse Michel

Beginning on May 1, 2009, American Eagle Airlines will expand service to Martinique with daily flights between its Caribbean hub at San Juan, Puerto Rico and Martinique Aime Cesaire International Airport near Fort de France.

The new daily service will increase the current American Eagle schedule from just four flights per week .

The new daily schedule will be:
Flight #5020
Depart San Juan - 7:15pm
Arrive Fort de France  - 9:06PM
Flight #5021
Depart Fort de France – 7:24AM
Arrive San Juan – 9:25AM

To mark the new air service, Muriel Wiltord, Director of the Americas for the Martinique Promotion Bureau/CMT USA, said, “This is a wonderful boost for tourism in Martinique following the just concluded general strike among our local unions. The strike may have had a minimal impact on tourism, but we intend to put forth a maximum effort to ensure a successful year for our travel industry partners and visitors to the island. This is a great start for that maximum effort, and I hope to have more good news to share soon.”

The general strike by a number of labor unions on Martinique earlier this year lasted 38 days, beginning on February 5 and ending March 14 with a settlement that earned a substantial monthly pay increase for approximately 47,000 low-wage workers, while businesses also agreed to 20% price reductions on several hundred basic necessity goods and products.

For reservations, fares and details about the daily American Eagle flights to Fort de France, go to www.aa.com. Or, for additional information about traveling to Martinique, contact the Martinique Promotion Bureau/CMT USA at info@martinique.org or visit www.martinique.org

Sofitel Bakoua ****DeLuxe

A long winter and the troubled economy may put the weight of the world on your shoulders—and cause you to overlook the simple, important pleasures that life always has to offer, even during the most difficult times.

There’s no better way to put the balance back into your life and restore your peace of mind than a few days of rest and relaxation.  A Caribbean vacation is the perfect remedy for stress and Martinique is a wonderful destination for resort getaways or family vacations.

The new iFrame to plan your Martinique getaway makes a trip to the Isle of Flowers as close as your computer and as convenient as just a few clicks on your mouse or keyboard.

The choice of accommodations on this website is comprehensive–from luxury villas with private pools to four star and three star hotels offering special discounts and travel packages.  To get started, just pick your travel dates and begin planning a perfect vacation with insider access to preferred rates and bargains that tourism professionals often reserve for themselves.

Martinique is an ideal place to take a break and reconnect with your senses.  The tastes of the food.  The fragrances of the flowers and lush vegetation.  The vibrant sounds of the music.  And the colors of the island’s unique culture.  All of these elements come together on Martinique in a remarkable combination that will help you to clear your mind and reset your priorities.

Restore yourself on Martinique.

Click the link below to plan your Martinique getaway
http://vel.winresa.net/VELmartinique/winresa/index.php?lg=uk

Or, for more general information and details about traveling to Martinique, contact the Martinique Promotion Bureau/CMT USA at info@martinique.org

Best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2008!

If your resolutions for the year ahead include adding more romance to your life, you should definitely consider putting a Caribbean getaway on your calendar–and making Martinique your destination.

The relaxed, laid-back island lifestyle on Martinique combines with the French way of looking at the world–and what should be important for happiness–to rank pleasure and romance high on the list of priorities everywhere in this tropical paradise.

The delicious tastes in food that mix Creole and French flavors together with freshness and perfection. The warm breezes and blue water. Endless beaches and soft music. Thousands of varieties of blossoms and plants that give Martinique the nickname “Isle of Flowers”—

And most of all, the warmth and welcome of the people.

When you come to Martinique, you will be well on your way to making good on that resolution by leaving stress behind and surrounding yourself in a world of romance where rewarding the senses is a way of life.

To turn your resolution into reality, here are some of the most desirable Martinique travel packages available in the coming months:

You will find even more information and additional listings for Martinique vacation packages in a wide-variety of attractive price ranges at hotels and resorts around the island at www.martinique.org/services/packages.htm

Hurricane Dean passed just south of the island in the channel between Martinique and St. Lucia in the early morning hours of Friday, August 17. The huge storm was a Category 2 hurricane at this time so Martinique was spared its full fury. The international airport briefly closed, but reopened by noon the following day. All 160 hotels and resorts remained open despite some cosmetic damage, mostly to landscaping.

Agriculture was less fortunate—virtually 100% of the year’s banana crop was lost. Sadly, two people on Martinique lost their lives due to storm. But Martinique’s damages and casualties were small compared to the devastation brought by Hurricane Dean as it grew to a massive Cat 5 storm a few days later, killing dozens of victims and causing billions of dollars in losses as it barreled across the Caribbean and into the Gulf of Mexico before making two separate landfalls along the coast of Mexico.

In the final days of November, as the end of hurricane season approached, a different natural phenomenon rocked Martinique—a rare, gigantic earthquake shook the entire island at approximately 3PM on November 29. Luckily, the epicenter was 90 miles beneath the surface of the Caribbean and the epicenter was about 13 miles northwest of the closest point to Martinique (25 miles NW of Fort de France.)

The temblor registered 7.3 or 7.4 on most seismic scales—powerful enough to be a major catastrophe if it had struck on land. Several small buildings collapsed and about one-third of the power on the island was knocked out. But only one death—due to a heart attack–was recorded. Around 100 people required medical assistance. Most fortunately of all, there was no tsunami. The experience was terrifying, but the aftershocks soon passed.

So the people of Martinique can look back on 2007 and count their blessings. Martinicans look forward to sharing their good fortune and the beauty of their island with visitors in the year ahead. If you would like more information regarding tourism and attractive travel packages, please contact the Martinique Promotion Bureau/Martinique Tourism Authority USA at info@martinique.org or visit www.martinique.org

In the north is the Musee de la Banane. That’s right—the Banana Museum.
This one-of-a-kind attraction in the hills above the town of Sainte-Marie is a working plantation known as Habitation Limbe. The word “limbe” translates as broken heart, a name given to the plantation in the 1880s.

This land was once a large sugar cane plantation and rum distillery dating back to the 1700s. But the market for sugar cane collapsed in the 19th Century, causing heartbreak and hardship. The plantation survived by changing the crop from sugar cane to bananas, which are still grown here.

The old Creole shanties that once housed workers have been transformed into shops selling all sorts of banana products—cakes and liquors of course, but also soap and perfume. Other buildings display the history and botany of bananas, as well as how they have been processed and packed over the years. Plus, there is a delightful park with more than 40 species of banana trees and many beautiful tropical flowers where guests can relax with a tasty snack and delicious banana-flavored cocktails.

Another fascinating stop is the Paul Gauguin Museum at Turin Cove, between La Carbet and St. Pierre. The post-impressionist artist may be most famous for the paintings inspired by his time in Tahiti but Gauguin spent five months in Martinique in 1887, several years before he traveled to the South Pacific.

The museum is located on the site where Gauguin lived. Art historians believe he painted between 10 and 20 canvasses on the island. Those paintings are now dispersed all over the world but the museum in Martinique has 12 reproductions on exhibit—they are definitely worth a view by Gauguin enthusiasts because many of the originals are in private collections and have never been seen by the general public.

The museum also has reproductions of several of Gauguin’s Tahitian works that are in private hands, as well as a selection of the artist’s writings, sketches and watercolor studies.

For more information about the Musee de la Banane and the Paul Gauguin Musuem, or any other inquiries about touring Martinique, please contact the Martinique Promotion Bureau/CMT USA at info@martinique.org