Kostyantyn, VE3LA will be active as TO2M from Martinique Island, IOTA NA - 107, in CQ WW DX SSB Contest, 25 - 26 October 2025.
He will operatein SOAB HP Category.
Recent DX Spots FM/VE8DX
Recent DX Spots TO2M
Before and after contest he will be active as FM/VE8DX.
QSL via LY5W.
Ads for direct QSL:
Saulius Zalnerauskas, LY5W, Box 1081, Kaunas LT-49006, Lithuania.
Martinique
The Caribbean island of Martinique has the status of an overseas department of France, and therefore, since 2002, financial transactions here have been conducted in euros. Christopher Columbus discovered this land for Europeans in 1502, but did not settle there because no gold deposits were found. Josephine de Beauharnais, wife of Napoleon I, was born in Martinique, as were several other ladies who later became queens of Turkey and Holland. Today, Martinique attracts many foreign tourists who want to get away from civilization for a while and admire the scenery worthy of “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
There are pineapples, sunscreen
The island has an area of 1,128 square kilometers, and its capital is Fort-de-France. Martinique has a permanent population of about 400,000, 90% of whom are mulattoes or descendants of African immigrants. The white population, Arabs, and Chinese are in the minority. Indians make up about 5% of the population. In addition to the official French language, the locals communicate in the colloquial language of Patois (not to be confused with Papuan!). It arose as a result of the mixing of French with several African languages, and also contains borrowings from Portuguese, Spanish, and English.
The answer to the question of where so many Africans came from is simple and sad. The Carib Indians, who lived in Martinique before Columbus, had no immunity to European diseases and simply died out after the arrival of the colonizers.
The bulk of the local budget comes from agriculture and tourism. Pineapples, sugar cane, and bananas are grown here. There are practically no minerals, and the flora and fauna are rather poor. However, the sea is rich in fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. Based on this information, one can get an idea of the local cuisine.
Martinique is only 1,500 kilometers from the equator, so the sun is scorching here. Throughout the year, the average air temperature is +25 °C, but there is a risk of getting very serious sunburn. Sunscreen lotions on the island are much more expensive than in Europe, so it is better to bring them with you.
It rains from June to December, and the period from December to May is considered the best tourist season. However, to save money, you can fly here in the first week of summer: the rains have not yet started, and tickets are already cheaper.
Rum, iguanas, and Napoleon's wife
The island produces world-famous rum. Tourists can not only take a couple of bottles home with them, but also visit the plantation and see how the drink is produced.
Children will find the banana plantation more interesting, especially since this excursion is taken on a small train.
In the Balata Botanical Garden, 10 km from the capital, you can admire thousands of species of tropical plants and flowers. The garden was founded in 1982. It is home to species of flora that were not previously found in Martinique and were brought here from abroad.
The island is home to agile and fairly large iguanas. In the village of Les Anses d'Arlet, you can take a kayak and sail to a cave inhabited by bats.
The Route de la Tras tourist trail runs through the tropical forest. It is strongly recommended not to walk along it at night because the terrain around it is very difficult. On both sides, there are trees entwined with vines, streams flowing, birds singing, and flowers blooming. The trail winds for a total of 29 km.
To see a panoramic view of the island, climb Gomier Hill.
For over 30 years, Martinique has hosted the Tour de Yole regatta for sailing and rowing boats. It begins at the end of July and consists of seven stages. Tourists flock to admire the fast and elegant vessels.
As demand for ecotourism grows, more and more visitors to the island are taking catamaran trips to Treasure Bay. Their route runs along the coastline of the Caravelle Peninsula. They learn about the measures being taken to protect the region's unique nature.
Point Borne Beach is recommended for divers. The underwater life there is very picturesque, and the descent into the sea is gentle and easy even for novice divers.
Another attraction that divers should not miss is the 180-meter-high Le Diamant, or “Diamond” rock. The bay of the same name descends into the water in terraces and is considered the most picturesque underwater area in Martinique.
Art lovers should visit the Gauguin Museum. The artist lived on the island for some time, but unfortunately, none of his original works are on display.
There is also the Joséphine de Beauharnais Museum. This is the house where she spent her childhood and where she lived between her two marriages (Napoleon was not the beauty's first husband). The most interesting exhibit in the collection is Joséphine's marriage contract with the future emperor. However, it is no longer possible to take a photo in front of the monument to this lady, as it was toppled in 2020. This happened against the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter movement. Josephine fell out of favor because she personified the cruel power of European colonizers.
Relentless lava and the role of sawdust at the dawn of cinema
Until 1902, the largest settlement on the island was Saint Pierre. However, it was destroyed by the eruption of the Mont Pelée volcano. At least 400,000 years old, it rises in the north of Martinique and is still active today. In 1902, a lava flow destroyed not only the entire city, but also 17 steamships in the port. Legend has it that only two people escaped being burned alive that time: a poor shoemaker from the outskirts of Saint-Pierre and a prisoner whom the prison guards had placed in a solitary underground cell.
This event inspired the documentary films “Catastrophe in Martinique” and “Volcanic Eruption in Martinique.” In 1902, the creative possibilities of film crews were extremely limited, but they were enthusiastic about developing this young art form.
The filming of “Catastrophe in Martinique” took place as follows: a container of water was placed in front of the camera to represent the sea, and a canvas backdrop with the appropriate landscape was stretched in the background. Behind the canvas, directly behind the image of the volcano, stood a man burning sulfur. To ensure that the smoke went in the right direction, another assistant directed the clouds with a large shield. Another person created waves and a powerful tide on the sea by rocking the container of water. A fourth assistant scattered wood shavings to represent ash.
“The Eruption of the Volcano on Martinique” was filmed using a different technique. The director ordered a model of the volcano to be made and toy houses to be purchased. Despite the obvious unnaturalness of the scenery, the film turned out to be surprisingly vivid and emotional.
Bites and hurricanes
Local residents do not like dogs. This is because slavery flourished in Martinique until 1848. Slave owners set dogs on those unfortunate souls who tried to escape from the backbreaking labor on the plantations. The prejudice against these animals has remained in the popular memory to this day. It is also said that slave owners deliberately brought poisonous snakes to the island, which were not originally found there. If it weren't for these reptiles, the slaves would have fled to the forest and lived there in peace. Incidentally, today there are almost no tropical forests left on the island, although they were once very dense. However, snakes are very strongly associated with Martinique: its blue flag features four white botrops, which belong to the viper family.
The local residents also inherited sluggishness from the slave-owning era. They are convinced that their ancestors have already suffered enough, so they themselves should not strain themselves. They are late for meetings without remorse and rarely look at their watches.
Tourists wishing to honor the memory of the innocent slaves who suffered go to the Cap 110 memorial. It is located opposite the spot where a ship carrying slaves who were trying to flee from Africa to Martinique sank, just a short distance from their destination.
Despite its grim past, the atmosphere on the island today is quite positive and relaxed. The level of service here cannot be called high, but the unique local flavor can be felt to the fullest. The main thing during your stay here is to keep an eye on hurricane warnings. Natural disasters strike Martinique quite often, and it is better to take shelter in advance.
