{"id":8176,"date":"2018-01-23T11:26:44","date_gmt":"2018-01-23T16:26:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=8176"},"modified":"2018-01-23T11:26:44","modified_gmt":"2018-01-23T16:26:44","slug":"where-the-french-and-english-duked-it-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=8176","title":{"rendered":"Where the French and English duked it out."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>We are here in Iles de Saintes, a small archipelago here just south of\u00a0 Guadeloupe.\u00a0 \u00a0It&#8217;s fascinating to visit some of these islands where countries battled it out years ago to control those islands that were valuable, mostly because of sugar production, and because they had good ports where ships could call home.<\/p>\n<p>Les Saintes are such a group of islands.\u00a0 \u00a0As they are low lying and dry, I expect that the appeal wasn&#8217;t agriculture but as a place to control shipping.\u00a0 \u00a0And, as is so often the case in these parts, this island saw much action as the English and French fought for control time and time again.<\/p>\n<p>As you&#8217;d expect wherever there is warfare, there are forts and this place has a number of them with the largest, now a terrific museum.\u00a0\u00a0<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8186\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8290.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8290.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8290-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>It would be tough to sneak up on a garrison with such a commanding view.\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8188\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8293.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8293.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8293-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>And, with such a large harbor, comes the need to control it and at least once a large battle with dozens of ships fought for control in what is known as the<br \/>\n&#8220;battle of the Saintes&#8221;.\u00a0 \u00a0This diorama showed all the ships that fought.\u00a0 This is only a detail shot but it&#8217;s sufficient to say that there were a lot of ships banging away at each other.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8183\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8285.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"1050\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8285.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8285-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8285-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8285-533x800.jpg 533w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>The museum has a number of very nice large scale models including this one of the 90 gun flagship, The Formidable, launched in England in 1777 after a ten year build.\u00a0 Interestingly, it wasn&#8217;t dismantled until the early 1800s.\u00a0 \u00a0That&#8217;s a long career for a wooden fighting ship.\u00a0\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8184\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8287.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8287.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8287-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>The model is nearly 5&#8242; long.\u00a0 \u00a0Impressive.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8182\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8282.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8282.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8282-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>Interestingly, there was also a model of the Santa Maria, Columbus&#8217;s ship.\u00a0 \u00a0Oops, the description of why it was in the museum was in French.\u00a0\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8185\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8289.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8289.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8289-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>And, speaking of nice views, which I was earlier in the post.\u00a0 Nice spot to have our picture taken.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8189\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8299.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8299.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8299-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>The fort is in amazing shape after all these years.\u00a0 \u00a0It&#8217;s remarkable to see how flawless the walls are.\u00a0 Not a wave or ripple.\u00a0 \u00a0Perfect construction.\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8181\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8277.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"1050\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8277.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8277-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8277-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8277-533x800.jpg 533w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>These large iguanas were in the nearby trees everywhere.\u00a0 They are very territorial and this big guy was standing his ground in spite of our invasion of his space.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8187\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8292.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8292.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8292-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>Another bit of local fauna, a kestrel, I think.\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8190\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8306.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"1050\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8306.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8306-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8306-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8306-533x800.jpg 533w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>And, of course, goats.\u00a0 Always lots of goats.\u00a0 In this case, baby goats, goatettes, or goatees.\u00a0 \u00a0Hmm&#8230;<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8192\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8314.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8314.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8314-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>Down in the main town there was a great little parade.\u00a0 \u00a0Drums and all sorts of percussion.\u00a0 All the marchers were probably nearly deaf after the event was over.\u00a0\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8180\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8274.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8274.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8274-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>Brenda and I loved this little household garden.\u00a0\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8179\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8270.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8270.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8270-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>I also enjoyed watching these guys &#8220;launch&#8221; a boat, freshly painted.\u00a0 They walked briskly along, stopping every 100&#8242; or so for a break.\u00a0 \u00a0&#8220;Stop, stop Francois, time for a cigarette break.\u00a0 We are French after all.&#8221;\u00a0 Looks heavy.\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8178\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8266.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8266.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8266-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>Along the way (we rented a golf cart for the day) we stopped at a &#8220;beach bar&#8221; for lunch.\u00a0 \u00a0How about tuna ceviche and wine at a lowly beach bar?\u00a0 Only in a French Island!\u00a0 Bon appetite!\u00a0 Indeed.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8191\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8311.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8311.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8311-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>So, there you have it.\u00a0 Another post of random thoughts from the Caribbean.<\/p>\n<p>Great food, lovely Caribbean breezes.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I have to say that I am glad that the French persevered here as somehow I don&#8217;t think that the food would be quite as good if the English had won.<\/p>\n<p>And, on top of that, clearing in would be ten times harder and cost more.<\/p>\n<p>Tomorrow, off to Dominica and on to\u00a0 Martinique.\u00a0 \u00a0Yes, more baguettes in Pandora&#8217;s future when we get to Martinique.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We are here in Iles de Saintes, a small archipelago here just south of\u00a0 Guadeloupe.\u00a0 \u00a0It&#8217;s fascinating to visit some of these islands where countries battled it out years ago to control those islands that were valuable, mostly because of sugar production, and because they had good ports where ships could call home. Les Saintes [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","_s2mail":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8176"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8193,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8176\/revisions\/8193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}