Chill on the Antilles

It did not take me long to get sick of the German grey and cloudy winter. But hey, at least I made it six weeks! So I boarded a plane again. Destination: Martinique- a wonderful paradise in the Caribbean. After a long day, 4 different airports and nine hours of toddler kicking my chair I finally arrived. The tropical climate immediately embraced me. With a nice breeze the humidity did not bother at all. Yet, I did not really enjoy it- I was nervous. My lovely roomie was going to pick me up. She was a stroke of luck for me: I was planning my next adventure with the ease of a Cameroonian. “No worries, no pressure”. I did not rush my planning, which is why I was late looking for accommodation. There was nothing left for me, at least nothing affordable. I had already buried this adventure but I gave it one last chance and called a number of a friend I found through facebook. This was a lady who rented out rooms in Martinique. Admitting this was not really my first choice because she lived far away from my work the immediately told me there was nothing left. Okay I thought. I won’t pressure anything- if it does not work out, it does not. C’est la vie. But a couple of minutes later she called me and gave me the number of a friend who had a room available as well. I called her. “Pas de soucis, pas de soucis” “No worries” she repeated. “Call me tomorrow for details”. I could not really believe my luck to be honest. I for myself did not really believe it was so easy. I called tomorrow for d

etails. We still did not get to anything really. “Call me tomorrow”. Finally, we made plans. This again was nothing like in Germany. I only had a phone number, no email, no address, to be honest I did not even catch her name! When anyone asked me, family, friends, I could not help but answer “I don’t know” to all their questions “it will be another adventure”.

I couple of hours before my flight this nervousness started. I already knew it, it was the same that always came when I flew away. I guess that is the difference between vacation and travelling, the second is the unknown, the spirit of adventure, the letting go of what you can’t control. Maybe also the knowledge that you cannot control your adventure. For all I knew my roommates could be terrible, they could have lied about everything. These are the thoughts I sometimes have when I go away. Still, I go.

So far I have been unbelievably lucky with the people I meet along the way. Most of them were of the loveliest kind, they were helpful and kind. But I am absolutely aware that this was not to be taken for granted.

So I had this nervousness when I descended the airplane. Was someone going to be there to pick me up? How will I get around without a car? But my worries vanished when this lady came towards me with a huge smile on her face. She always makes sure that I am safe and that I don’t have to worry.

How I get to meet so many lovely people on my travels I will never understand and be forever thankful for. People in the hospital, on the streets, anywhere.