What's New?
Martinique's Iconic Fort-de-France Bay Inducted Among the latest members
of The Club Of The Most Beautiful Bays In The World.
The Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World, an international association founded in 1997 to promote the preservation and sustainable management of coastal areas, has inducted Martinique’s Fort-de-France among its latest members. The announcement was made earlier this month at World Travel Market (WTM), the leading global event for the travel industry held annually in London.
Other bays also admitted to The Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World at WTM 2011 include Horta Bay (Portugal), Roses Bay (Spain), and La Baule Bay (France).
The Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World is currently comprised of some 35 bays spread across more than 30 different countries and territories across the globe. Created in 1997, with its headquarters in France, The Club pursues objectives of preservation, enhancement and promotion of the natural, cultural and economic importance of bays.
For more information on The Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World, visit www.world-bays.com
Vive la renaissance of fort-de-France
Re-Development of iconic la savane park & le malecon completed ahead of winter 2011-2012 peak travel season
Long noted as one of the crown jewels of Caribbean cities, Fort-de-France in Martinique is now better than ever thanks to a recently completed capital improvement program encompassing two of the city’s prime attractions –
La Savane Park and Le Malecon.
Fort-de-France’s waterfront promenade, Le Malecon has been enhanced to better appeal to leisure and active travelers. New basketball, volleyball and pétanque courts provide tourists and locals alike the opportunity to mix and mingle over healthy competition. For the kids, Le Malecon offers brand new playground equipment, swings and trampolines. There’s even a pristine white sand beach in the Malecon, as well as a wide half-mile boardwalk ideal for an afternoon stroll.
Adjacent to Le Malecon lies the famed 12-acre La Savane Park. The veritable heart of downtown Fort-de-France, La Savane was originally known as Le Jardin du Roi (garden of the king). Its initial purpose was to harbor scientific experiments on plant species that were new to the island, many of which are still present in the park today.
An inviting oasis of nature and serenity amid the hustle and bustle of Fort-de-France, the newly redeveloped La Savane is a prime spot for walks, picnics and meeting with friends. Kiosks located throughout the park provide various tourist information services, shopping, food and refreshments. Freshly squeezed icy juices, cocktails, sandwiches, pizzas, Panini, pasta, cassavas cakes, deliciously flavored homemade ice-creams, Creole, Indonesian, Sushi and vegetarian food, Creole soup, crepes, local candies; all are available here.
Recent enhancements throughout Fort-de-France also extend to Hotel L’Impératrice, one of the city’s legendary properties. Named in honor of Martinique-native Empress Josephine, Napoleon’s wife, Hotel L’Impératrice originally opened in the 1950’s, quickly becoming ‘the place to be seen’ for jet-setting travelers visiting Martinique. Now, thanks to a modern-day revival that blends authentic old world charm and contemporary flair, the hotel is making a new name for itself among a burgeoning generation of culture- and style-seeking travelers.
Location is one of Hotel L’Impératrice’s most distinguished and favorable assets. Situated along La Savane, just off the waterfront, the hotel lies in close proximity to many of Fort-de-France’s finest restaurants, museums, nightclubs, galleries, and historical and cultural sites. Putting its guests in the center of all the action, Hotel L’Impératrice’s ‘preferred address’ affords a front row seat to Martinique Carnival’s thrilling pageantry, exciting races on the bay, and colorful fireworks displays. L’Impératrice also features a restaurant, le Josephine, offering the finest créole dishes in a magnificent setting of antique furnitures and modern painting. Outdoor-eating lovers can also enjoy the newly opened extension of the restaurant, le kiosque créole, located just across the street in the park.
Hotel L’Impératrice has 24 tastefully decorated rooms in three categories – classic, luxury savannah (prestige and superior), and inner courtyard rooms – each outfitted with antique furnishings and artifacts exuding genuine Creole character and blissful island panache. Accommodations feature flat screen TVs, satellite channels, air conditioning, telephones and free Wi-Fi. Many rooms boast balconies with views of the glistening bay or nearby park.
Rates start at 117 Euros per room, per night, based on double occupancy, now through December 14, 2011, and include daily buffet breakfast.
Christmas in martinique
"Le chanté noël"
Dating from the Middle Ages, the “Chanté Noël” is a Martinique tradition where friends, family & neighbors gather at home to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by Singing Cards full of hope and love in both French and Creole until Christmas Day. Starting from the 1st Sunday of Advent until Christmas Day, these joyful gatherings are one of Martinique’s most treasured traditions and a perfect showcase of the warmth and spirit of the Martinican people.
Martinique Promotion Bureau/CMT USA wins silver magellan award
La route des rhums earns accolades for ties to local culture
The Martinique Promotion Bureau/CMT USA was recently named among the winners of Travel Weekly’s Magellan Awards. Among the travel industry’s top honors, Magellan Awards recognize the very best in marketing and design services. Martinique received a Silver Magellan Award for its communications campaign in support of La Route des Rhums, a self-guided rum-themed tour of the island modeled after France’s famed Route des Vins.
La Route des Rhums features 11 distilleries located throughout Martinique, each welcoming travelers with insightful tours and free tastings. Visitors are treated to an in-depth introduction to the island’s proud and celebrated distilling tradition at the sources where each legendary blend was born, while also showcasing the full range of Martinique’s charms, from the natural wonder of the mountainous northern region, to the metropolitan mid-section of the island, and the flatter, arid southern shores.
Martinique rums are distinguished by a unique rhum agricole production technique employed by the island’s distillers for centuries to yield a collection of truly incomparable blends. Whereas rums produced elsewhere are primarily made from the molasses by-product of sugar production, the rhum agricole method used in Martinique begins with freshly squeezed sugar cane juice taken directly from cane stalks. This unique process yields rums that are more comparable with fine cognacs, offering greater complexity and a more varied array of natural flavors.
Owing in large part to the rhum agricole production technique, Martinique rums are the only rums in the world that have been granted the prestigious Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) designation. Awarded by the French government agency "Institut National des Appellations d'Origine" (INAO) in recognition of the finest agricultural products (wines, cheeses, butters, etc), the AOC designation is an incomparable stamp of excellence in the culinary and spirits world. All rums produced in Martinique bear the AOC marker, making them a favorite of the world’s most discerning rum connoisseurs.
For more information on travel to Martinique, visit www.martinique.org
Upcoming Events
February
Carnival 2012, February 19th to 22nd
For more information on travel to Martinique, visit www.martinique.org
Gourmet Corner
Avocado "Féroce"
- Ingredients
- • 2 Avocados
- • 100g cassava flour
- • 200g salt codfish (de-salt if available)
- • onion, chives, garlic, hot peppes, olive oil, vinegar
Directions
De-salt the codfish if necessary, cook over a charcoal grill, then shred into small piece.
Mix with the flour and mashed avocado.
Stir in chopped onion, garlic, chives and hot peppers, sprinkling the mixture with oil and vinegar.
Season to taste.
Form into small balls and serve.
Make 4 servings.
Note: It is not essential that the codfish be cooked on a grill. It may be boiled or broiled.
Did You Know?
Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry, the famous New York Red Bulls soccer player is originated from Martinique.
He is among the best forward of his generation and began his professional soccer player career in Monaco where he played from 1994 to 1999. In 1999 he moved to Italy and played for the Juventus then moved again for England to play for Arsenal with coach Arsene Wenger from 2000 to 2007. He was then transfers to FC Barcelona and played for three seasons 2007 to 2010. In 2010 Henry joined the New York Red bulls. With the French national team Henry played four World cups (1998-2002-2006-2010) he won the competition in 1998 as well as the 2000 European championship. In 2007 he broke soccer legend Platini’s scored goals record with the French national team and has been undefeated ever since.
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