Best lunch

Rainy start gave way to overcast.  Breakfast was downgraded for the few weekly guests and gave V mild food poisoning (he has a v sensitive stomach)  so he retreated to bed whilst I swam and read in muggy warmth.  We decided to take Rory’s suggestion to walk to the next beach for lunch, Plage de la Perle where they film ‘the Shack’ in Death in Paradise and which has several beach restaurants.   V researched them carefully (TripAdvisor) and we set off.  The ‘sentier’ was actually a bit of a scramble through woods with slippery stones and tree roots but feeling intrepid we made it over  and deliberated the various restaurants.  We definitely chose very well with this one, La Perle D’Or as the food was traditional and beautifully cooked.  We had Acra (salt cod fritters) and then I had Colombo chicken, an island staple, a sort of curried chicken stew and V had grilled fish with rice and chips and salad.  Pudding was bananas flambéed in rum with vanilla ice cream and a kind of candied lime sorbet, (citron here invariably means lime) and 50cl of Gwada beer. That cured V’s food poisoning!  I was ticked off by the owner for not clearing my plate but there was a mountain of food.  We watched mesmerized as the man at the next table had two Ti-punch.   Sugar and lime juice muddled with a sugar cane stick and topped up with white rum.  Rory has promised to make them for Christmas.  

On the walk back we saw the local black civet, actually a small island raccoon and a lot of large black butterflies. Loads of variegated sea hibiscus (thanks PlantSnap) lined the beach. See extra, the flowers were exquisite.  

We were out of our room by 4pm and Rory borrowed the camera pick up to take us to the airport so we travelled in style.  The plane took off at 9pm and we braced for a night in Economy!