Martinique Magnifique!

It’s hard to improve on paradise but the longest beach on Martinique, with white sand stretching for more than six miles, has a view that comes with a great story.

Diamond Beach, rated as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean by Frommer’s travel guides, faces a small offshore island with a unique claim—Diamond Rock was once officially registered as a sailing ship in the British navy, the man o’ war HMS Diamond Rock. Twenty armed sailors and five cannons were stationed on the island to control access to Fort-de-France and the southern tip of Martinique back in 1804, when the English and French were struggling for control of commerce throughout the Caribbean.

For more than a year, the English blockade of Martinique was so effective that Napoleon himself ordered the conquest of Diamond Rock. The French were successful, although the exact reasons for their victory are clouded by history—

Some accounts say the English were driven away after they lost their supply of fresh water on the tiny island. A more colorful version claims the French sent a raft loaded with barrels of rum floating toward Diamond Rock, then overwhelmed the thirsty and drunk defenders.

Whatever really happened, today you can kick back and enjoy the sun and the breeze on one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches, and you won’t have to wait for a raft to bring you a refreshing rum drink.

No one lives on Diamond Rock anymore, but if you feel like getting up out of your hammock, short excursions and scuba diving tours to this historic spot are easily arranged.

For details go on tours and packages

Yole boat race, unique to Martinique.

The competition for the America’s Cup isn’t the only exciting regatta this summer. Coming up from July 29 through August 5, the racing in the 2007 Tour de Martinique des Yoles Rondes will be fought just as hard by the sailing teams—and the event promises to be just as much fun for spectators.

While getting into the competition for the America’s Cup may cost millions and millions of dollars—and the price to watch doesn’t come cheaply either—the annual yoles rondes race around Martinique is grass roots sailing at its best.

The boats are traditional Martinique fishing vessels and the teams are sailing hard to win bragging rights that will let them claim they are very best among all their friends and rivals on the island.

Even better, spectators can watch from the shore for free. And getting onto the water for an even closer view of all the excitement is affordable too.

The whole Tour is a week-long traveling party with barbecues, banquets of delicious French/Creole foods, music and world class Martinique rum to punch up the festivities during one of the Caribbean’s top, must-see summer events.

For more details, contact the Martinique Promotion Bureau/CMT USA at info@martinique.org
Check also www.martinique.org

Summertime is not far away!

Keep on dreaming and make sure to include these deals!

Liberty Travel Vacation Packages
June 1st to July 12th, 2007

6 DAYS – 5 NIGHTS at Karibea Amyris Hotel***

New York $759
Boston $799
Miami $769

Prices are per person, based on double occupancy accommodations and round-trip midweek air.

Find out more Deals at Martinique Vacation Packages.

DELTA AIR LINES ANNOUNCES NON-STOP SERVICE FROM ATLANTA TO FORT-DE-FRANCE

Beginning December 16, 2006, Delta’s flight 409 will depart Atlanta every Saturday at 9:45 a.m. and arrive in Fort de France, Martinique at 3:15 p.m.

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft will depart from Fort de France, Martinique every Saturday at 4:05 p.m. and arrive in Atlanta at 7:40 p.m. on Delta’s flight 410.

For more information on rates and reservations, please visit Delta Air Lines’ Web site at www.delta.com.

Congratulations to the Yole team Geant UFR.
You made it!

They won the 2006 Yole race around Martinique.

Bravo!!!

22nd Yawl boat race in Martinique.

See it live on line
Committee of Martinique of Tourism (C.M.T.) Website

July 30 – August 06, 2006

Suggested drink:
Ti’Punch
In a small glass,
1/4 sugar syrup
3/4 white rum
small piece of lime squeezed

Drink with moderation

Come and enjoy the Yawl boat race in Martinique.

July 30 – August 06, 2006

Click on the picture or www.yoles-rondes.org for detail information.
Contact information: yolesrondes@wanadoo.fr
Tel: (596) 596 61 48 50
Fax: (596) 596 72 02 53

The Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie states:
“celebrating Senghor means honoring Césaire!”

Année Senghor 2006

Click on the picture or here to download
a powerpoint presentation

The celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Léopold Sédar Senghor took place June 2006 in Fort-de France
under the high patronage of President Abdou Diouf
and Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie
around the topic:
“Bridge across the Atlantic, a friendship:
Senghor-Césaire, innovators in words and in action.”

Dear all,

Please come and celebrate one of the greatest voices of Martinique!

World renowned martinican writer Edouard Glissant
who has recently been appointed by French President Jacques Chirac, Chairman of the French National Center Dedicated to Slavery, will participate into a reading and discussion of world poetry and postcolonial literature April 27th at 7:00pm.

The discussion will also feature Professor Michael Dash and poet Jayne Cortez.

Location: Poets House 72 Spring Street, 2nd floor, New York NY 10012.

On April 28th you are invited to Visiting Edouard Glissant,
featuring French jazz composer Bernard Lubat and Jayne Cortez, renowned poet and Jazz performer.

Location: Graduate Center of CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue (34th street & Fifth avenue), 7:00pm Elebash Recital Hall.

Admission to both events is free.
Come, tell your friends and do not miss this magnificent archipelago of poetry!

Thursday April 27, 7pm
Archipelagos of Poetry and Politics:
A Reading and Conversation
With Édouard Glissant and J. Michael Dash
Introduction by Jayne Cortez
Readings by Brent Edwards.

Admission Free.
A reading and discussion of world poetry, postcolonial literature, and translation.

Born in Martinique in 1928, Édouard Glissant has emerged as one of the most influential postcolonial theorists, novelists, playwrights, and poets in the Caribbean and French letters.

J. Michael Dash is Professor of French at NYU.

Jayne Cortez is the author of many books and recordings of poetry performed with jazz.

Brent Edwards teaches at Rutgers University.

Presented in conjunction with PEN World Voices: The New York Festival of International Literature

Friday April 28, 7 PM
Elebash Recital Hall
The Graduate Center of CUNY

With the generous support of the AFAA, the Henri Peyre French Institute, the Services Culturels of the French Embassy in New York, and the Department of Romance Languages, Hunter College of CUNY
The event is free and open to the public. Please note that seating fills up quickly and event begins on time.

The Graduate Center is located at 34th Street and 5th avenue,
365 5th avenue, NY. 10016.
For information, call: 212-817-8365
or contact the French Ph.D. Program at French@gc.cuny.edu

MARTINIQUE CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF CARNIVAL in 2006
(1906 – 2006)

Unlike Elsewhere, Revelry Will Continue

Right Through Ash Wednesday, March 1

Carnival celebrations in such Mardi Gras capitals as Rio, New Orleans and Trinidad are sizzling hot right through Shrove Tuesday, but then fizzle out with the arrival of Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Not so in Martinique! While revelers elsewhere in the world are nursing hangovers and having their aching foreheads dabbed with ashes, the people of Martinique are just beginning the final, most exciting day of their celebration. Here Carnival runs at full tilt an extra 24 hours and, with more than 40 marching bands joining the festivities in 2006, Martinique is planning a party of a lifetime!

Mardi Gras connoisseurs from many lands, including the late Truman Capote, himself a native of New Orleans, have praised the uniqueness of the Martinique.
It’s “as spontaneous and vivid as an explosion in a fireworks factory” event, wrote Truman Capote in “Music for Chameleons,” describing his visit to Carnival in Martinique.