Martinique Island – Caribbean (Martinique)

(Last Update: 02.06.2025) "I will never forget this birthday of mineI should have written " Although it was an unforgettable birthday, one can miss the details as the years go by; whereas 2015 RangeI had a birthday surprise in which I should never forget any detail. It was a dream for years, let me tell you:

I don't know what those of you who were born in the winter months think, but for years I have been complaining about celebrating my birthdays on cold winter nights, saying, "I wish we could gather together and celebrate my birthday in swimsuits and shorts, on the beach of a warm country, and wear swimsuits and shorts." If my cake melts from the heat on my birthday” I used to dream (See Ekşi Sözlük)

Although it was fascinating to spend my recent birthdays in another country, I had to celebrate in winter again since the countries I usually go to are Europe and North America. Of course London'in, Amsterdam'in, 'Toronto'Even though it was ironic to complain about "I didn't have the chance to celebrate my birthday in a hot country" as I was entering my new age, despite all its humor, this complaint had a grain of seriousness. I don't know, I was born in the summer Mykonos I wish I celebrated it in a place like, if it's winter Rio de Janeiro I would go down to warm seas like...

Then, years later, something happened: On the morning of Saturday, December 5, 2015, I found myself Orly AirportI found it in . All I was told was This birthday my cake will meltwas. I loved this surprise so much that I didn't make any effort to find out where to go. On the contrary, I had to try very hard not to find out.

I had no idea where I was going, neither at check-in, nor at passport control, nor when boarding the plane. Each time, I either bent the brim of my straw hat down or covered my ears during the announcements. For the first time in my life, I was on a plane that I didn't know where it was going..

The plane doors closed and we fastened our seat belts. Even if it was a place I would never want to go to, I had to go :) I heard the words from the stewardess while making the departure announcement.caribbeanAfter saying " my eyes popped out of their sockets! I never expected this. Because I was vaccinated before going on vacation "because we were going somewhere". I thought we were going to some exotic place around Africa :)

Once my initial confusion wore off, I tried to figure out where in the Caribbean I would go. The answer I got surprised me even more: Fort-de-France… Because I didn't have the slightest idea where this place was... Then I read the book that was prepared beforehand and put in a white envelope. holiday guide book RoutardWhen I opened , I realized that the destination was: Martinique!

Martinique (Martinik) of France Caribbean SeaOne of the former colonial islands in . Although it is considered one of the departments of France today, it has a special semi-autonomous position. Of course, our teacher explained this information in the course when I first learned French, but until that moment I had never remembered where in the world Martinique was; Now I was flying there 🙂 Later I learned that A separate visa is required for Turkish citizens, but Turkish citizens with an EU residence permit can go here with their residence cards....

After a journey of approximately eight hours crossing continents VenezuelanWe landed on Martinique Island, in the north-east of . It was 10 degrees in Paris, and 30 degrees welcomed us in Martinique! A dream had already come true for me… While renting a car, the lady in charge told me that a security deposit of €600 would be deducted from my card; When I held out my driver's license and looked at it, she said, "Oh, you are over 25, we get a 25 € guarantee for those over 300." This was the second best gift of this beautiful welcome to me...

When we took our car and landed in Martinique in the evening, we set off towards our hotel through somewhat untouched, somewhat backward, but absolutely lush roads. I didn't have the slightest idea where we would stay. We started heading south from the airport near the capital Fort de France. Where we will stay Saint Lucein Pierre and Vacances That's when I learned that it was a holiday village.

Those who know me know that I have never been a resort person. As someone who is used to always taking the smallest backpack possible on my holidays, I like to travel like crazy and explore the places I visit. But Since accommodation options are limited in Martinique and we didn't have to spend all day out exploring, it would have been wise to stay at the resort this time.

Moreover, the facility we stayed in was not a luxurious place at all, it was just a safe, clean and very modest holiday village that provided ideal comfort; It wasn't a very big place anyway. Still, it was an ideal size, the rooms were extremely comfortable, and above all, the view was magnificent.

We arrived at our hotel and went to our room. It was already evening. When I looked from the terrace of the room, as far as I could see from the darkness, there were five palm trees standing in front of us. I immediately made these my wish trees and named each one "Health, Happiness, Love, Peace and Money". The darkness of the sea was visible behind the palm trees and the sound of the waves mixed with the sounds of birds I did not recognize.

At six in the morning, I stood up with excitement and this time a deep blue sky, a lush garden and a deep blue sea greeted me. There was no one happier than me anymore. I immediately ran and threw myself into the sea at half past six in the morning. In December, Atlantic OceanI was swimming on a paradise beach of an island in the Caribbean Sea on the west coast of . What more…

Since we did not stay on full board, we had breakfast in our room. I had no hope, but we managed to set delicious tables on our terrace every morning. I didn't think giant cucumbers could taste so good, the tomato is a "garden tomato", it smells delicious, the cheese and cheddar cheese are wonderful, and the olives are just fine with their pulp inside. Especially those green lemons (limes) that flow like a fountain, we often consumed them when we returned to Paris. I always look for them in Turkey, and when I find them, I drink them with lime before my breakfast and remember my days in Martinique.

Well, once you add eggs and sauce it with Martinique's unique juicy green lemons, there is no one happier than you. And as someone who is only allowed to eat Nutella on holidays, I love the Nutella that comes fresh every morning to the market downstairs. briocheOf course, with the Nutella I applied to the 's, I had all the fuel I needed to fly seven floors above the sky. (Although I don't put Nutella in my mouth anymore, mix half and half of carob molasses and tahini and eat it, you won't feel the need to eat unhealthy things like Nutella again).

For some reason, someone like me who can't stand still spent his first day in Martinique with a sea-pool-sunbed tour. Just as I need rest, sun, blue sky. I couldn't get enough of swimming, sleeping, lying down and sunbathing. I lay down sweetly, taking in the sun's rays on my skin.

From the second day, we started exploring the island. Sainte Anne go down to that famous side Grande Anse des SalinesWe saw . Even though the landscape was as in my dreams, the wavy sea did not fully meet my turquoise dreams. I also regret not being able to take a photo on the palm tree stretching towards the sea :) I don't like sand anyway, but Mykonos If there is a sea that is both sandy and not very cloudy in the waves, then it is different.

Sainte Anne It is small but I think it is the cutest town on the island. Having lunch at seaside restaurants is very enjoyable. I felt like I was on the beaches of Göcek, but this time, since it was December, I felt the difference much better.

Fort de France It was a large, chaotic and neglected capital. Even the metrobus route was being built, but it was not for us. Trois Îlets and especially Pointe du Bout The other side was enjoyable. The Vauclin side did not appeal to us. North The Red Morne Although the tropical atmosphere on the side and the Sacré Coeur Church on the road are interesting, the western side Saint Pierre ve Fort de France The in between was not for us either. In my opinion, the most enjoyable part of the island was the southern side.

There was a great sense of complacency on the island, no one was in a hurry and no one seemed to be working. There was an atmosphere in Martinique as if everyone was exhausted from the heat, no one had a care in the world anyway, and they didn't care about the world either. I adapted to this atmosphere immediately.

The hurtful news I came across on social media for the first time during my holiday did not sink in, it just passed me by. In this respect alone, this birthday gift was very good for me in terms of purifying my mind.

And December 10th, my birthday morning… I stood up again at six o'clock in the morning. It was raining heavily all night long, and it continued to rain in the morning, but the atmosphere was warm due to the tropical weather. The rain couldn't stop me, it was my birthday this morning.

This time, we went out despite the rain, wearing only our swimsuits and towels in our hands. We didn't even have slippers on our feet, that much. In the pouring rain, in that warm air "running to avoid getting wet” we went to the sea :)

I threw myself into the sea at half past six in the morning. There was no one else in the bay except us. The rain stopped for a moment and the most special moment of the day happened: A huge rainbow appeared on the side of the giant rocky island called Diamant! But it's not like that, it's huge...

We were in the middle of the sea, it was December, it was my birthday morning and there was a giant rainbow rising from the sea.… I was just thankful at that moment, nothing else came to my mind. I was thankful for everything that allowed me to be here right now, and those words came out of my mouth again: You Should Be Happiness...

I didn't think about whether I should run to the room, grab the phone and take a photo of this moment, but maybe that rainbow would disappear until I left and then I wouldn't be able to enjoy the moment I was in. Although a second rainbow soon appeared, but okay :) Instagram ve X I kept sharing photos on my accounts; I said for once, let this special moment stay only with us. Then, I recorded the picture of that moment in my mind; to the deepest depths...

Then, over a wonderful breakfast, responses to birthday congratulatory messages, conversations with friends who called; My birthday went well. We set out for lunch and went straight to the restaurant where we are regulars. Anse d'Arlet We went to the bay. This had become our favorite place. We visited almost every part of the island, and there was no other place that pleased us so much.

On our first visit, overwhelmed by the heat, we settled at the table we found under the shade of a tree by the sea and after ordering, "but we were going to swim in the sea?" When I said this to the waitress, the girl said, "You swim, I'll call you when the food is ready." I don't remember when we undressed or when we threw ourselves into the sea... When we swam for about ten minutes and returned to our table wet, our table was ready.

That's why we loved this place so much and ate here at least four more times. While we were eating, we had the chance to sit on the sun loungers and swim in the sea. I remind myself of the situation: We are in December! My birthday! We are in the Caribbean…

As a Sagittarius, I don't believe in horoscopes, but there is a Jupiter :) I know I'm a pretty lucky person. As someone who appreciates my luck, I can enjoy it immensely. Don't pay attention to what I'm telling you; This life is already difficult and tiring, so making it beautiful and easier is my life motto. When that happens, it flows like oil.

Years ago, in a dream, I was wandering underground in caves. Since that dream, when I looked through a gap and saw a giant sax blue turtle, the size of an apartment building, turning its face towards me and smiling, I have been at peace inside me ever since. It is also true that in the past months, after the dream in which I sat next to a huge chestnut-coloured horse in the middle of the living room of my father's house, hugged it and petted it, took it down the stairs and took it to drink water, I had the feeling that "there is no death on land for me anymore". Of course, there is death on land, but at least I have no fear of it left and not the slightest anxiety about the future; My soul has expanded so much.

I share my views on life and my evaluations of my past years on my personal blog. Once in Forty Years I tried to explain it in my article on my fortieth birthday... Now I don't want to repeat what I wrote, but ultimately I came to this age as a result of various experiences. I don't know how much longer life will give us a chance to breathe, but I will do my best to use the right given to me in the best way.

It's not like the beauties of this world will end with sightseeing, but we will try to throw ourselves somewhere at every breathing stop as much as we can. People who see new places are not the same as people who have never seen those places. Just as a person who has not interacted with a beautiful work of art cannot be the same as a person who has embarked on an inner journey with that work. Some of these thoughts A Week in Paris I also explained it in my book.

As I always say; Just because I have a very beautiful and happy life does not mean that the world is a beautiful and livable place. I feel all the pain of the world deep in my heart, but it seems that I have developed such a defense mechanism to protect myself as much as I can and to stand firm against the difficulties of life. I live in my own dream, in my own way. My intention is not to guide anyone; Let whoever comes after me have his own way.

The first thing that came to my mind as soon as I woke up on the morning of my birthday was “If I were very rich, I would want to live in Paris and celebrate my birthday in the Caribbean” was the sentence and I was not very rich, but I had the happiness of realizing these dreams. From now on, all I can do is protect what I have and always appreciate it. I'm no longer looking for new adventures for my birthdays. What matters is not where we are, but who we are with.

Still, my wildest dream for the coming years would probably be to celebrate my birthday together on a beach in swimsuits and shorts, on one of my birthdays a few years later, on December 10th, again, on a plane with friends and family, in Rio, for example. This dream of mine partially came true in 2016. Only the “being with all my loved ones” part was not possible, but my birthday in 2016 'Rio de Janeiro'Also, my birthday in 2017 HavanaMy birthday in 2018 is in GuadeloupeI had the pleasure of celebrating in…

Let's see what else life will show us.

With love

Not a poem, but a note to history:

These waters, oh this blueness
The Caribbean I call blueness
mid ocean
far from Istanbul
And from Paris
far from winter
from my house

An unforgettable birthday memory
Suddenly I found myself here
10th of December
I always wish my cake would melt in the summer heat
dream of years

What did I dream of but it didn't happen...

10.12.2015 Martinique – Caribbean