PRINCESS CRUISE SHIP SS ISLAND PRINCESS 1970s CARIBBEAN ARUBA MARTINIQUE ST. THOMAS 57004

[Music] he in chapter 1 of our trans Canal cruise we visited aapco the Panama Canal and cardenia [Applause] Colombia our ship the Island Princess is now slowly approaching the aisle of Aruba at the harbor of the city of orestad many fine bright sand beaches extend for 7 miles along the west Shoreline of the island [Music] [Applause] [Music] oron yed boasts only 2,000 inhabitants but it has some very stylish shops displaying Crystal China Linens jewelry cameras watches and high Fashions to Temp tourist who are looking for markets thank goodness the bus driver didn't stop to let Dorothy get involved in these never to be repeated [Music] opportunities as we move out of town through the residential district we learn that this 19m long by 6 M wide island has very little rainfall despite this fact some areas near the West Coast are quite heavily forested with scrubed trees and shrubberies but as we move across to the windward Caribbean side of the island the soil becomes a less fertile Coral composition where cacti and other desert plants do very [Music] well DVD trees always point to the Southwest away from the trade winds that continually sweep the island [Music] [Applause] [Music] small communities appear from time to time near the Caribbean side of the island the country seems virtually lifeless the continual northeasterly winds blowing from the sea to the land Whi the Caribbean into turbulent oncoming waves that constantly pound the shoreline [Applause] inent wave action has created this Natural Bridge [Music] [Applause] back on the highway as we pass other settlements the 617 ft High yamota Hill the highest point on the island dominates the skyline tourism is important to the economy of Aruba it together with a large oil refinery operation employing 10,000 workers provide the natives with the highest standard of living in the Caribbean area the population of the island is predominantly Roman Catholic in religious [Music] Faith modern buildings attest to a thriving economy [Music] prevailing northeasterly Trade Winds the mild yearround 75 to 85° temperatures and the excellent beaches make this island an ideal Recreation attraction [Music] we are now sailing toward the French island of martinque the rening sky signals the beginning of the second day at Sea the ship's navigation plan indicates that we will reach the harbor of Fort def France at 8:00 this morning martinque aisle of flowers is one of the largest islands in the Lesser Antilles it is 50 m long by 19 M wide since its beaches equal those of nce France it is known as the Riviera of the new world the water is clear and inviting temperatures are usually in the high 80s and rain showers are normally quite brief in duration 325,000 French citizens call this island home they are a friendly people a ship's officer is guiding our vessel toward Port while watching for the Harbor Patrol official who will clear us to visit the island martinque is one of the the most alerting spots in the West Indies sailing is a popular recreational [Music] Pastime another tourist Cruiser the Fise is also entering the harbor the island has commercial docks for the exchange of goods with the outside world its main export products are coconuts bananas and pineapples Fort to France is a city of 100,000 Souls it offers many luxury Imports at prices below those of Paris New York or St Thomas Island shops feature wide selections of madis cotton watches silver and Crystal [Music] in the distance is 4700 ft High Mount P which erupted in 192 annihilating all but one of the 42,000 residents of St [Applause] Pierre today St Pierre's population is 6,200 our University of Chicago graduate guide begins and ends every sentence with I tell you ladies and gentlemen during a short rest stop we have time to look around at the adjacent Shoreline Martinique is noted for its beautiful flowers and Luscious plants which grow in abundance everywhere much of the island is composed of rolling preed mountains having Peaks reaching to a maximum of 4250 ft above sea level [Music] the Basilica of the Sacred Heart built in 1928 is one of many Catholic churches on the island we return through more Lush Countryside to the city of Fort def France to reboard the Island Princess [Applause] part of the Old Fort that once protected the city still stands near the dock while our ship is preparing to leave the harbor we spend [Music] [Music] n [Music] [Music] n [Music] [Music] [Applause] oh [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] oh [Music] in the Caribbean other tourist cruise liners are already resting at anchor the United States government in 1917 paid 25 $5 million to the Dutch for 28 squ M St Thomas Island its 40,000 inhabitants were granted US citizenship 10 years later however they have no voting rights because of the Island's territorial rather than statehood status St Thomas is a favorite island for vacationers because of its powdery White sand beaches its clear Sparkling Waters and its gentle breezes Charlotte amale is the capital and the only city on the Island the island is subsidized by the government and its inhabitants pay no taxes which makes for a very healthy local economy special Customs Provisions here allow $800 per person duty-free purchases to be brought into the continental United States thus further helping the Island's economy there are great bargains here in Liquors China Crystal Swiss watches and wearing apparel a 1 and 1/2 ton flatbed Ford truck of somewhat antique vintage with open sides and back constitutes the principal means of mass transit around the island narrow poorly maintained roads coupled with 40 m hour speeds give a breezy bone shaking 10m ride through the tropical Countryside to the Red Hook [Music] dock we finally arrive at Red Hook where we will take a fourmile ferry ride to St John's Island [Music] St John's Island is 20 square mil [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] w [Music] [Music] oh a [Music] oh [Music] [Music] was raised on the island Stone Mills were used to produce sugar for export to Europe and America African slaves were the source of labor for the sugar barings however the slaves were freed in 1848 at the same time world sugar prices sagged due to overproduction as a result the sugar Mills on St John's Island were dismantled and the plantations abandoned in this tropical climate the plantations quickly reverted back to the Jungle from which they were carved in the first place apparently one of our tour group has heard enough [Music] rum is free at the Francis Bay [Music] Beach loose white sand warm sunshine and Clear Blue Waters entice people to do bathing suits and come to the beach either to swim to merely look at the water or to parade their sunbaked bodies before the rest of the world we have thoroughly enjoyed our visits to the islands of baruba martinque St Thomas and St John however it is now time to reboard the Island Princess for an overnight passage to Puerto Rico in Chapter 3 of our trans Canal cruise [Music]