Day 24 - Zoo of Martinique -

Today we are traveling from Le Diamant towards Fort de France via the N2. Many cyclists are also on this heavily traveled road on Saturdays and Sundays. From Fort de France, we’ll follow the coastal road until just before Saint Pierre to the zoo of Martinique - Plantage Larouche. During our very pleasant walk over two suspension bridges, we explore not only the ruins of a manor house but also the former distillery, tropical plants, and various animals such as monkeys, raccoons, different species of parrots, flamingos, ibises, turtles, and much more. We are especially excited about the coati with a young one on its back. The zoo is spaciously surrounded by pristine forest. Today, we are accompanied by some heavy rain showers. However, we always have the option to take shelter somewhere until it stops. The rain usually lasts only a few minutes before the sun shines again. In Saint Pierre, we manage to make a stop during a break in the rain. We continue northeast towards Sainte-Marie on the Atlantic coast. The offshore island Ilet Sainte-Marie can be reached on foot during the dry season from January to April due to the so-called Tombolo. Today, it's only possible to reach a short distance towards the island because the sea is very rough. Impressively, the sea meets from both sides of the island at the Tombolo. The Tombolo is a sandy dune strip that rises from the sea and connects the main island of Martinique with the small island of Sainte-Marie, allowing passage over the sand bridge to the bay. Back in Le Diamant, I enjoy the evening mood by the sea.