Dominique and Chantal are friends. Young, beautiful, cheerful. Dominique is
white, Chantal is Creole. Both are daughters of wealthy growers of sugar living
carefree and happy until the hurricane of the Revolution arrives from France.
Social tensions explode and as in all the overseas territories, they hit the
inhabitants of quiet Guadeloupe. The friendship between the two young women
remains intact but the civil riots weaken the island. The British take advantage
of this and an admiral with a tiny fleet replaces the lilies of France with the
Union Jack. As he takes power he takes as prisoner the combative mother of
beautiful Chantal and through Dominique delivers her an indecent proposal. That
would be the only way Chantal can save the life of her revolutionary mother.
Dominique blushes while informing her friend of the proposition but her cheerful
Creole friend burst into laughter upon receiving the message. She tells her
friend: "Honey, do you know the four rules that Creole girls have learned since
the 1600s?
- First, attract a white man.
- Second, make him so happy that he marries you
- Third, if you have a daughter from him, make her marry a white man. To which
Dominique answers: "But the English admiral won't ever marry you." "There comes
the fourth rule - adds Chantal - take every penny away from the poor fool."An
ancient but still relevant rule ...
Form of
government:: French
overseas department
(DOM)
Capital: Basse Terre
Area: 1.438
kmq.
Population: 440.000
Languages: French
Currency:
Euro
Time
Zone: - 5 GMT - UTC
Documents:
Passport or identity card valid
for foreign travel
International Area
Code: +590
- 0690 local mobile
Health:
The health situation and health facilities are
good
Electricity:
220 volts. Plugs type C, D, E
(see picture)
TERRITORY
Guadalupe appears like a butterfly whose wings are the
islands of the
Grande Terre and the Basse Terre, divided by the narrow channel
of Riviere Salee and attached by two bridges.
Grande Terre (590 kmq) is flat and covered by sugar cane and other
various plantations.
Basse Terre (848 kmq) is the wildest spot, green full of forests and
sources, hills and mountains.
Here stands the volcano "La soufriere"
the highest peak of the French Antilles. Other small islands are under the Guadeloupe
administration:
Marie-Galante, La Desirade, the two Iles des Saintes, Saint Barthelemy.
The capital is Basse Terre.
CLIMATE
The weather is tropical. The dry season, fom half
november to half
may. In this period thunberstorms are not frequent.
Temperatures are very nice and are around 28°/29° C.
The hottest and more humid season run from half may to half november,
the trade winds fall of intensity and
rain falls harder and more frequently.
