This traveler is on the veranda of a former plantation house on the island of Martinique. Martinique is the home of Fort de France, a cosmopolitan city with a pace that is fast for the tropics. (There is even a rush hour with traffic jams!) It rains every day on Martinique, and the vegetation is lush and gorgeous.  Martinique is also home to an active volcano, Montagne Pelée , which erupted early this century, killing everyone in the town of St-Pierre except a man in jail.

Martinique also has an agrarian economy, with sugar cane and bananas being the money crops. Although none of the beaches here are clothing optional, all are optionally topless.  As usual, the restaurants and lodging are world class.  For nightlife with a fast pace, this is the place to be. Again, not many Americans come here, and those that do usually are on day trips in Fort de France.  You'll have the island to yourself for exploring.  Martinique is the cosmopolitan island.

Whether you visit by air or on a cruise ship, this is one place, where you might want to make it an adults only trip.  We did see a lot of beautiful young ladies topless on the beaches as they were sunning themselves during the times of the day when it wasn't raining as it does everyday and often.