Antilles : discover > lifestyle : iles Guadeloupe, Sint Maarten, Martinique ...

Antillean life swings with the rhythms of yesterday, habits are deeply rooted and continentals must be prepared to observe local customs, which is just as natural as it should be when in another place. Guadeloupe is like Social Security: if anybody attempts to clean things up and start controlling or improving the service, he will automatically find himself in the greatest confrontation with the island’s identity. Traditional ways are not to be altered, whether they are good or bad, and those who undertake such ideals soon find[...]

Despite its obvious ties with the French West Indies, Saint Martin’s socio-cultural characteristics are quite unlike those of Martinique or Guadeloupe. The economic phase following the Second World War oriented the island towards a wholly different horizon than the rest of the Antillean region, and its multi-ethnic population and partitioned political status all contributed to the fact that Saint Martin is really one of a kind, comparable maybe only to itself. “Aboriginal” Saint Martiners account for not more than 20% of the total[...]

Antillean life swings with the rhythms of yesterday, habits are deeply rooted and continentals must be prepared to observe local customs, which is just as natural as it should be when in another place. If anybody here attempts to clean things up and start controlling or improving the service, he will automatically find himself in the greatest confrontation with the island’s identity. Traditional ways are not to be altered, whether they are good or bad, and those who undertake such ideals soon find themselves in the state of utmost[...]

Marie Galante is not too far from Guadeloupe, still the way of life of its inhabitants has little to do with their busy neighbours. Time has stopped on this island, locals are spontaneous and warm with their guests, and relations are always friendly. They pride in living a quiet and relaxed life, and are perfectly prepared to share this with tourists and passers-by.

“What you have only dreamt of, Saint Barth has actually done”, could be an adequate motto for this tiny strip of land nested in the heart of the Caribbean. On arrival to its airport, you will quickly realize that you have left civilisation and become a part of the dream itself. Calm, luxury, serenity, and as many positive characteristics as you can think of describe Saint Barth, where even the most acute critic would probably not find a bad word to say…. Here all is perfect, or at least as can be. Saint Barth is a must for the more well-off,[...]

Communities

The population's origins stem from two ethnic groups: The first to have colonised the island were the Arawaks who were then exterminated by the Caribbean Indians. They went down along the coast of Venezuela, to Hispaniola and so they are the last descendents of the great pre-Columbian people! Dominica is the only place in the world that has a population of 3000 Caribbean Indians. They have survived thanks to the very nature of the island, which protected them from enemy aggression. Today, they live on a territory[...]

A unique identity, bearing the century old influence of generations and generations of Bretons, Rochelais, Poitevins, who have all contributed to forging a strong sense of unity and solidarity in the minds of local people. Inhabitants of the Saints are proud of their island, and do their best to preserve its natural beauty. Day after day, cruise ships and boats bring over thousands of curious visitors, the majority of whom duly leave the island in the evening, giving the inhabitants the possibility to live their lives at their[...]