La Guadeloupe, le véritable trésor des Caraïbes – Les 100 lieux qu’il faut voir – MG

La Guadeloupe, le véritable trésor des Caraïbes – Les 100 lieux qu’il faut voir – MG

Do you like France? Do you like to explore it,
discover it, and meet it? Sometimes you even
feel like you know her well. We all have a small beach,
a small cove, a clearing, a hamlet or a path that belongs
only to us, far from the beaten track and that we only want to share with
those we love. This is the France we want
you to discover through 100 places that you absolutely must see in your lifetime. It is a journey to a wonderful island,
to which we invite you today. Located in the heart of the Antilles, Guadeloupe
is nicknamed the Butterfly Island. A land of character which offers
a rare diversity of landscapes in a single beat. It is at the pace of the case that we will
enter the dance. At the summit of Souffrières,
we will venture as close as possible to the bowels of the earth. In the rain forest,
we will follow the steps of a counter to the land of imagination. That was a long, long, long time ago. In the Caribbean Sea
there were still no islands. In Marie-Galante,
we will share the daily life of enthusiasts who bring treasures back to life…
Super pretty. And perpetuates ancestral traditions. Whether on land or at sea, let yourself be carried away by the thousand-year-old
faces of Guadeloupe. You fall in love, in love. And then, in fact, you leave her and then
you think about her, morning, noon, night. Our journey begins with the
butterfly’s eastern wing, Grande Terre. Its coastline offers
permanent dazzle. The color palette is sparkling. Blue comes in many shades. A dreamlike picture,
a true postcard setting where the tranquility of the Cotoy lagoons
rubs shoulders with the vigor of the ocean. Here, the cliffs plunge into the
warm water and bubbling life can emerge at any moment. With boundless enthusiasm and an infectious smile,
Jenny started dancing at a very young age. An early passion
that she made her profession. Through her art,
Jenny wants to promote the entire Guadeloupean culture. What makes me so attached
to Guadeloupe is because it is my island. I am a girl from Guadeloupe,
I was born here, but also because I feel that I am one with my island. It is important for me
to defend her body and soul. I love everything it is,
everything it represents in its diversity, in its plurality and also with
all its inhabitants, since they are my brothers and sisters. It’s beautiful. The reflections on the water, there. Oh yeah, that’s really great. Jenny got up at dawn to
show us the Pointe des Châteaux, a must-see place on Grande Terre. A place where the cliffs jut out
into the Atlantic, where sky, earth and sea unite
and display their omnipotence. Jenny is with Jeremy,
the site curator.
They have each admired the tip of the castles dozens of times, but the emotion
remains intact. The place is impressive
and at the same time, regenerating. Yes, the castles point has
a bit of a unique vibe. You feel it every time,
it’s very special. For a few years now, I’ve been trying to come
here at the beginning of the year, really to throw out my intentions,
really what I want, and leave behind what’s less good. I’ve always been told: You’re not
Guadeloupean until you’ve seen a sunrise on January 1st,
at Pointe des Châteaux, followed by a swim to recharge your batteries,
to cleanse yourself of the whole of last year. This is really important. And that bath, by the way, we
have to talk about it, it stings a little. Yeah, yeah. So here we are getting ready to climb to the
highest point of Pointe des Châteaux. Ah, yes. There are more than a hundred steps
to reach the full panorama that we love so much on this site.
I’m ready. Are you ready?
The origin of the name Pointe des Châteaux is enigmatic. Did these chiseled rocks with their
fantastic architecture name the place? One thing is certain. In 1683,
the religious community of the Capuchins established a parish there called
the Parish of the Castles. I see this glow. That’s it, we’re close. Finally. The what? Oh yeah. It’s beautiful. So there, we can clearly see our
castle points with the whole large land appearing a little behind. And so, what is interesting here
is that we will have the entire archipelago of Guadeloupe that we will be able to observe. So, you know the… The desire. The desire.
The famous desire. Yes, great. This 360-degree panorama attracts
thousands of visitors every year. It is the
most visited natural site in Guadeloupe. The Monumental Cross
also makes it a place of loving contemplation. Pointe des Châteaux is also
a site of major ecological interest. It is home to
remarkable flora and fauna. The Salines are the territory
of wading birds. So there, if you look, normally,
you should be able to observe. So, I won’t tell you where
the female is, but there is a female, Gravelo de Wilson. I see her.
You see her. So there you see his plumage,
he is really in discreet mode. Because it is a bird that lays eggs
like that in open environments. He needs to be quite discreet. They blend in a little with the landscape. In the landscape, yes. This is awesome. The Salines are a very peaceful place,
ideal for bird breeding. In the past, they were
exploited by hand. Salt pickers came to
collect something to delight their taste buds. What’s the foam there? So, yeah, exactly,
in your opinion, what is it? A foam party gone wrong. Is it all the salt that creates this effect? Yeah, there is a role for salt,
actually, in saline. You have bacteria that are
at the bottom of the saltworks. We call them cyanobacteria. It was these same bacteria
that made oxygen at the beginning of life on Earth.
Wow. So, since they
have lots of little ones… I realize. It’s true that it’s quite fascinating
to find these same species here. And in fact, as they make lots
of little air bubbles from time to time, when it comes back to the surface,
as the water is very salty, it will keep the little bubble. And then, with the waves, the wind,
it brings everything back to one place. And in fact, what is interesting
is that it is also a way of self-washing the saline,
since the particles, a little, the small dirt,
they will cling to the bubbles. It’s something that’s done.
And suddenly, it brings everything back here. Oh, great.
Nature is… Everything is perfect.
Everything is well done. Exactly.
Well, I’m learning things. Oh yeah, right?
Yeah. So happy. A delight for the taste buds,
this salt is an anecdotal resource.
Part of the archipelago’s economy is based on another flavor: sugar cane. Green stems shape
the landscapes of Grande Terre. In the 1960s, workers came to
work in the fields on mopeds. Not just any one.
The Grena. A popular emblem of Guadeloupe. We saw her on every road. Today, it is a collector’s item that
enthusiasts are bringing back to life. It is in Pointe à Pitre that Jenny has a
meeting for her first outing. In a small alleyway in the city center,
at the premises of the Passion Grena association, it’s time to polish. The bikes must be sparkling. Every detail. So.
Every detail counts. Even the little points count. We polish as much as possible,
so it shines. Full of fire. Because the aim of the association
is to bring the pomegranate back into the spotlight. Because many young people do
n’t really know this machine. So that’s why we
wanted to bring it up to date. So there, it’s a little
bit like your babies. You can’t even qualify it. We pamper her and then
we admire her. So this is something that has
a lot of value for you, then. Lots of value. It’s more There are no
words to describe it. That’s why we
treat it, we treat it. It’s true that sometimes
it can cause a little jealousy between either husband or wife. But there are times… It’s a kind of value
that the family, the children. I’d rather not say anything because otherwise
I’ll go for Blaine. I understand, I understand. The precious one takes its name from its
coppery color which recalls that of the fruit of the pomegranate tree: the pomegranate. We have to go there, we
have to go there. Is it time?
It’s time, it’s time. Come on, let’s go. Okay. It’s a roaring procession that sets off
through the streets of Point-à-Pitre. Heading towards the cliffs
of North Grande Terre. A glittering parade that
takes us back to another time. The Guadeloupe road network has
developed mainly since the 1960s. The Grena has therefore arrived at just the right time. Particularly suited to the
very flat topography of Grande Terre, it was immediately a great success
with families who could not afford to buy a car. Very quickly, the robust and reliable machine
became the means of transport for a large part of the population. You know, when I knew that,
my uncle had time to take me to school in Gwena. Yes, indeed. So, we have to recognize it anyway. The moped practically
built Guadeloupe. It was on a saddle of a garnet
that the pairs of families proudly transported: bags of cement, concrete blocks
and sheets of metal to build their hut. I’m having a great time and it’s
true that they are beautiful bikes. We often talk about two-wheelers that are a bit
more powerful, but with these, in any case, we can see that people are happy
to discover the countryside with them. We try to make a little effort,
to pamper them, to keep them as long as possible.
Yeah, that’s it. We can see on their faces the pride
and pleasure of parading, of riding the roads on a legendary bike. Around a bend, the place
called Porte d’Enfer is revealed. A stop is essential to admire
this unmissable site. A memorable day for Jenny,
who will repeat the experience. Yes, it’s the new one. Did you enjoy it? Yes. See you at the next one? Yeah. Great. There is a part of Guadeloupe that
cannot be discovered by road: the mangrove. This mangrove forest, a
link between land and sea, is found on tropical coastlines,
most often at river mouths. The Grand Cutzac-Marin mangrove is
the largest and one of the best preserved in the Lesser Antilles. To get closer to it, Jenny and Eric,
coastal guards, go up the Canal des Retours,
dedicated in the 19th century to the transport of goods. At that time, the canal was
even wider than it is now, since both banks were colonized
by the palaces of Touvier-Rouge. Okay, who, as and when… There, who dragged here,
without declining the space. So. The universe that is drawn
along the water is fascinating. Enigmatic shapes,
tangled branches. Between the inextricable webs,
the aerial roots form an astonishing natural landscape. When you delve into this vegetation,
you enter a world apart, with a unique atmosphere. Around us, we have the mangrove,
what we call the red mangrove, the red tracking pucks. The red tracking pucks are the ones we
‘ll see closest to the water. This is what we call
the seaside mangrove. We know this very well
from the roots. These are hunting roots that will anchor
themselves directly in the mud. It is a plant that requires
to move further and further into the water. Can you tell me
more about the role of the mangrove? One of the important roles
of the mangrove is a physical role. But this mangrove
will protect the coasts against cyclones, against strong waves. Where you have mangroves,
well there will be less damage. It will actually absorb
a large part of the wave energy. Before a cyclone,
fishermen come to shelter their boats in the mangroves. A buffer zone between land and sea,
the mangrove is also a valuable ally in the fight against
global warming. It is the ecosystem that stores the most
carbon, up to five times more than other forests in the world. It is a territory to be conserved,
preserved and enhanced, especially. It is a bit like cassava. On Earth,
agricultural crops stretch as far as the eye can see. A flagship product of Caribbean heritage,
cassava is harvested all year round. This tuber, this root,
is to South America and the Caribbean what rice is to Asia,
a staple food. In Guadeloupe of yesteryear, every family
had cassava which was harvested all year round. This tuber, this root,
is to South America and the Caribbean what rice is to Asia,
a staple food. In Guadeloupe of yesteryear, every
family had cassava, Éléonore. Today, it is cultivated on a larger
scale by farmers who work with cassava factories,
these family cassava processing structures. Guadeloupe has around ten of them,
like this one, in the deep waters of Sainte de la Farin. Wyddi is a former
high-level athlete. He shone in the
biggest trails on the planet. And it takes endurance
to turn cassava into flour. Today he has an apprentice, Jenny. He will share his know-how with her
and introduce her to the handling of tools. You spread it on the plate. Ideally, Jenny, you take the carrot.
It’s called a carrot. It’s made with…
It’s brown. And you stir the flour, you make it pass.
Put yourself on. No, wait, I’ll give you
a little more movement. You sweep it like that underneath. For example, the flour that was at the bottom will
go to the top, so that it never stays put on the plate. So.
And there you do it with a little energy,
like dancing, it’s ingenious. That’s how it is, don’t worry. That’s
it. You said the magic word,
that’s it, I’m giving it my all. So. It’s okay, you already have
the hang of it. But I have a good teacher. Yes, but it’s in us, it’s
in our blood, the work of cassava. All Guadeloupeans, in all
our families, they worked on this. It’s super good too. Exactly, what made you
want to work? You tell me what drove me? I tell you: I grew up in it. When I opened my eyes,
I was in it. You were already in it. My grandmother used to do that. And all my grandmother’s children
worked with cassava. That is to say, my family
worked with cassava. You’re not lying when you
say you were born into it. I was born into it. So.
Hey, but Jenny, perfect, perfect. You could say it’s good, right? You reach the point of your flour,
you hold it like this and you take it. And that seems to me.
And that makes… Because if it wasn’t cooked,
when you do that, it stays in a block. But as soon as you open your hand,
you see how it goes, it goes down. This means there is no more humidity.
We’re already, OK. Okay.
Oh well… Well, we’re proud of ourselves. What can we say to each other? In his cassava factory,
Widi also makes delicious cassava, a
traditional West Indian flatbread. You know Jennifer, a break-in
is really hard. It’s not easy. You have the starch, you take your starch. Cassava starch is
called moussache. So. It must be sieved to obtain a sort
of semolina which will serve as the base for the cake. Okay. You see, it’s starch,
but reduced to flour form. You see? And like that, you can spread it out
to make your cassava. You can spread it on the plate like this. So, for aesthetics,
I always use a circle. Like this, you have your cassava,
which will be nice and round. With a beautiful format. With a nice format and it’s
easy even for beginners. Cassava, for dummies. There you go, roll out your dough well. So. When in contact with heat,
the dough changes texture and solidifies. The cassava is ready to be garnished. You take your coconut jam and
make a small rectangle in the middle. All right. Right in the middle,
so you can use the edge to close your cassava. You can be generous
with the coconut jam. So. Cassava can also be enjoyed
salted with cod, for example. You close this edge and do the other one. Should I take the step? So. Don’t hesitate to put
some good pressure on it. And great. I changed the shape, but it’s really
the original cassava, in fact. It’s still the starch, it’s the starch
and the coconut jam inside. Great.
Great. Like young people do, check. You did it. It is in the middle of generous nature,
in its Creole garden, that Widi invites its visitors to taste. This looks so good. I love the shape too much. It’s light. Well done, indeed. For me, cassa La cacahve is
an emblematic product of Guadeloupe. And personally,
I situate cacahve in terms of the country’s cultural products,
in the same way as Creole. For me, the cacahve is part
of the real heritage of Guadeloupe. And today,
everyone knows this word. Because with this word, at one point,
there was a break. We were no longer in language. And there, everyone knows
what a cacahve is. And that is a great step forward. It must also be said that when the
Cassava group had success, it raised questions. From the popularization of the theme.
There you go, there you go. Especially the cassava theme. And this one is the cassava to eat. The other is the dancing cassava. And that’s eating cassava. Cassava dishes
are very nutritious. An energy that has always allowed us to
face the hard work of working in the fields. A bit like music in the past. The case, this big drum beats the cadence. Here, it brings life to the beach in the village
of Sainte-Anne, one of the most beautiful on the island. This percussion is inseparable
from dance and song. The alchemy of these three elements forms what is
called guoca, the traditional musical genre
of Guadeloupe. It brings together and unites
the entire population, regardless of their age. Jenny meets a friend, Loïc,
the founder of the group. Hey, Gennie, then.
Here, us. At the top.
Abelibour. So it’s Saturday and you
‘re here every Saturday. Exactly. So tell me, can you
tell me, for you, what is the big case? Ah, well, the big case,
it’s part of our soul, our energy here, in Guadeloupe. We have been immersed in this since childhood. It is an integral part
of Guadeloupe. It is our soul.
Exactly. We really feel that it’s more than a
culture, it’s an integral part of who we are and what defines us.
Exactly. And we still have a beautiful heritage. Exactly, and don’t let go. It’s music in which, let’s
say, a way of letting things out, but in a trance. So there is an elevation
of the person in his being. The drums of the boca have been resonating
in Guadeloupe since the arrival of the first slaves. Steeped in struggle and suffering,
these rhythms and dances were also a quest for freedom. A way to resist,
to exist in the face of dehumanization. After being banned and then despised,
guoca was rehabilitated from the 1960s onwards,
to the point of being recognised today as an intangible heritage
of humanity by UNESCO. And it’s true to see this evolution
today, getting to where it is now, the big K, as you say, which is playing,
dancing, singing with pride without hiding. It’s really extraordinary good. The slaves themselves,
when they played this music, it was also with pride.
Completely. So, returning to this
pride is essential. Every time the drum starts,
every time the K sounds, something happens inside us. These things, history,
it remained there, it crossed the path and this
vibration, it is still there. You’re here, you called,
you have something happening inside you that makes
the camp move for me. Exactly. Our journey continues towards the other
wing of the butterfly, Basse-Terre. Contrary to what its name suggests,
it is the highest part of Guadeloupe. A volcanic land, majestic,
lush and green. The Americans named it Karukera,
the island of beautiful waters. The splendor of the waterfalls rivals
the beauty of the seabed. Carly is a local girl. Like many young Guadeloupeans,
after her baccalaureate, she went to study in mainland France. An experience synonymous with revelation. From the town of Saint-Mandé, in the
domain of the town of Saint-Mandé. I lived in mainland France for 12 years and I think
that leaving allowed me to realize that this island was truly
richer than what I knew. And that’s what pushed me to
get into the tourism sector by creating my agency to allow
people to also discover this beauty. We are lucky to live with
so many beautiful landscapes, a very rich culture, and a mix of people.
It’s priceless. To begin our discovery
of Basse-Terre, Carly takes us to its
most prestigious site: La Souffrière. At 1,467 meters above sea level,
this volcano is usually the highest point in the Lesser Antilles. A modest old lady, La Souffrière
shrouds herself in mists most of the time. So it was in the grayness
that Carly set off to attack the summit. She is guided by Fabrice, a
mountain guide. When we were down there,
it had really cleared up. We had beautiful sunshine
and I’m still surprised to see that when we get here, it’s much cloudier. For me, this is normal weather. It’s covered. But it’s not raining.
Effectively. Simply because we
‘re in the clouds here. I could even say to you: Here,
open your mouth wide and chew. There you have the opportunity to eat
a cloud, a piece of cloud. I’m going to try it, I’m going to
take some to go. It could be nice.
You can do that. As usual,
Fabrice is barefoot to better feel this terrain that he knows so well. A route reserved for guides
and scientists. It is called the geologists’ trail. On this path of craters,
we see the traces of geological activity left over time. Earthquakes and eruptions have
created immense faults in the massif. So there, well, you see, there, you see, there,
exactly the scar that the last events of 76, 77 left him. It was at that time the most
fragile place, so, well, that’s where it broke, you know.
Okay. And indeed, if I remember
correctly, there is a major evacuation of the lowland area. In August 1976,
under the threat of an imminent eruption, 73,000 people had to be evacuated. Pulverization of rocks, projection
of ash and acid gas, sinking upright. The massive explosion caused no
casualties, but the exodus of the population lasted more
than three months due to aftershocks. This was the last eruption,
but in recent years the volcano has shown signs of
renewed activity, leading to certain mandatory precautions. There you go, you can
transform into Batman there. We are good.
Is it good for you? We are good. Are we getting closer? We are gradually getting closer to the summit. It’s getting warmer, can you feel the heat?
Yes. I present to you the chasm of 1856. When you make a little noise…
It blows. Do you feel how it burns your eyes?
Exact. These fumes come from agzacide,
present at the bottom of the chasms. At the top of the cliff,
more than 10 meters of water fall per year. All this rainwater seeps
into the rocks and reaches the bowels of the volcano. In contact with magma,
several kilometers underground, it becomes acidic, heats up, and boils. This complex steam engine
releases fumes containing sulfur and toxic gases to the surface like a pressure cooker. This area has evolved. Before, everywhere here,
you had greenery. It was beautiful
when it was blooming. And now, for several years,
this whole area has become a real swarm. So, you really have to be
careful, actually, when you… There you go. And that’s also why we’re not going to
stay here for long and we’re going to get out of this area.
Okay, very good. So you stay right behind me
and walk where I walk. You can trust me. I feel where it’s hot with… Without shoes. Without the shoes. And then, reliable as that, for once. As threatening as it may be, the souffrière
remains nonetheless fascinating. All around the massif, nature shows the full extent of its generosity. Clinging to the steep slopes, the
tropical rainforest is omnipresent. It is called the rain forest. True to her desire for discovery off
the beaten track, Carly invites us to follow her
in the company of an atypical character. Raphaëlle is both a guide and a counter. I thought the meter would have
brought me a stick. Oh no, the meter has its stick. He has his stick. Oh yes, each to his own stick. And by the way,
what’s the story with the meter? Well, every counter has its stick. And this one, I call him Wani Wana. I found it by the sea
like this, over 26 years ago. I actually use it
to tell the accounts. There is no question of telling
the accounts without Wani Wana. Wani Wana. Yes, because you see, for example,
if I need a motorcycle when I tell a story, I use Wani Wana. If If I need a bike,
if I need a hat, if I need a seat, you see, I can
sit on it and I tell the story. Well, it really is your multi-function. This is Wani Wana. This
forest is characterized by an extremely diverse flora: trees,
shrubs, orchids, ferns, vines. More than 700
different species coexist. What is particularly impressive
are these kinds of hanging gardens formed by epiphytic plants
like this bromeliad. Epiphytic plants
are plants that will use large trees,
large species as support, but which will live
independently. These are plants that use
the tree as a support to search for light. This dense and exuberant forest is a
setting conducive to the flight of the imagination. A perfect setting to let yourself be carried away
by the voice of a storyteller. And in Guadeloupe, all stories
begin the same way. Ye, Jack. Ye, Crac. Ye, Misty Cric.
Ye, Misty Cric. Is the court asleep?
No, the court is not sleeping. That was a long, long, long time ago. In the Caribbean Sea
there were still no islands. There was no Triny yet.
Dead. There was no Saint-Lou yet.
Yes. There was no Karuké yet.
Ra. There wasn’t even Spanish yet. There was just the sea. And you could just hear
the sound of the waves coming. The count is a central element
of West Indian culture. Born in colonial dwellings,
this oral tradition has spanned the centuries and shaped
Guadeloupean identity over time. So,
I grew up a little bit with the cons through my grandmother who told me about them. It was obviously in the evening,
after working hours, when people were coming home from work. And the children were… We gathered the children
in the same neighborhood, in the same… In the same space,
and the children listened to counters. It’s true that since television
became established, their account is less present,
but it is still necessary. And not only so that people
understand our culture, but also so that people understand
all our traditions. They have their symbolism
and their symbolism will never be lost. Even in 10,000 years,
we will still need these stories.
Creole tales permeate and nourish minds and imaginations,
just like beliefs and legends. In the Antilles, every forest, every tree,
every pond, conceals its share of secret lives. And the pond where Carly and Raphaël arrive
is no exception to the marvelous. So, we’re at the zombie pond,
but why this name? Why zombie Obviously,
there have been many legends, including those that tell of a son of slaves and a daughter of masters who loved each other. And there have been cases of venom,
sometimes in the evening, but one without anyone knowing. And the day the master knew that this was
happening, he came and killed the slave’s son and drowned his daughter. It is even claimed that in the middle of the night,
we can hear them. Very calm water,
no ventilation at all. And that’s what gives a little bit of what
some people find gloomy, but which is a
magnificent site, isn’t it? It is magnificent, indeed.
It’s calm, there, it’s soothing. The west coast of Basse-Terre,
sheltered from the trade winds and broken by the mountains, is called the Leeward Coast. Offshore, the sea is relatively calm,
ideal for observing its inhabitants. Carly, takes part in
a sea trip with the Rinaldi family for the first time. Renato and Caroline are the
cetacean specialists in Guadeloupe. Thirty years ago,
they created an association for scientific research and observation
of marine mammals. So how do you
spot sperm whales? Since, well, it’s quite vast. Yes, it’s certainly vast. There, currently, we have put the background. So, the visual is extremely
important, obviously. You see, the breath, visible. A back, an animal jumping. You really have to look carefully. We will try to spot the blows
for sperm whales in particular. They are mammals like us,
air-breathing animals that regularly come to the surface. And the exhalation is still visible. For animals over 5 or
6 meters, you will clearly see the breath. In Guadeloupean waters,
nearly 30 different species of cetaceans are likely to be observed. Sperm whales, dolphins, whales,
if nothing appears on the surface, the team listens to what is happening underwater
with a waterproof microphone: a hydrophone. In an acoustic, there, I have a pseudonym,
a kind of delphine idea, a little bit in the south.
Okay. And I don’t have a sperm whale in the North.
Okay. At the observation post,
the eye remains on the alert. Ah, they’re on the surface, okay, fine. So there, it didn’t like because
the animals are on the surface. They’re on the surface, okay.
So let’s go, right? Where can we go from?
Yes, yes, totally. Okay. Well, I don’t know
exactly the direction. We’ll ask Mallet. Mallet, management,
are we in the Cape? Yeah, on the Cape, we’re perfect.
This is heading to Montserrat. The distance. 1,000 and a half, almost 9,000. 1,000 corresponds to 1,852 km. Well, basically, we say 2 km, what. So, you see,
we just listened. Manolo just listened. He doesn’t have sperm whales
in that direction. Yeah, that’s not true. Either the animals are
on the surface and there, it does not communicate. Finally, it doesn’t emit
an ecolocation click. Either it’s a
humpback whale with its baby. Well, now we don’t know. That’s what’s good, precisely. We’ll go in the direction, we’ll
accelerate a little bit and you’ll watch carefully. You can put yourself on the edge, if you want. Ah, that’s it. Look, humpback whale,
up ahead, jumping. Gorgeous. Come on, nice jump from the female,
that’s it, the mother and the baby. Little breath. Carly, do you see the breath? Yeah, yeah, I see him over there.
Okay. Did you see the jump?
Awesome. The spectacle is all the more
jubilant because it is rare. You can only have the chance to observe
whales four months a year. Between January and April,
they come to breed in the warm waters of the Caribbean before
heading back to the Far North. So for me, you know, for a first,
it’s impressive and it’s really extraordinary. I don’t even have the words to express what
I feel, but I wonder if you, after so many years,
do you still have these emotions? It’s obvious we like it. We are dealing with wild animals
and we can approach them peacefully. Yes, it’s always an emotion. It’s obvious. Afterwards, it remains… It’s part of our work,
but we are passionate, above all. After this encounter, as fleeting as it is
unforgettable, Carly is not at the end of her emotions. The hydrophone picks up
approaching whistles. Very quickly, the boat has its escort. Ultimately, the boat
has bows. You see, all boats
have this shape, a V. We push a mass of water
in front of the boat, there. All right. And it allows the animals
to move forward without making any effort. Ah, they are lazy, actually. They are lazy. And then, it’s always a joy to see
the dolphins in the bow, all the same. Exactly, they are magnificent. They will match their
speed to us. They are beautiful. Let us now take off for a getaway to the one whose sounds alone already act as an enchantment:
Marie Galante. Its nickname, the island without a mill,
reflects the close connection it has with sugar cane. The atmosphere here is
peaceful and authentic. Time seems to stand still. The deserted and wild beaches
prolong the charm. With his gentle voice and committed lyrics,
Fred is an artist whose fame extends beyond the borders of Guadeloupe. Marie-Galante is its home port. My connection to Marie-Galante is
first and foremost a familial connection, because my grandmother was from
Marie-Galante, and it is a connection that is of the heart. I come here often, I like coming here. There is a connection, something
sentimental, deeply mystical. I feel good when I
‘m here, I like being here. I don’t know, there is something,
there is a poetry, there is a charm. So I come here often and
I’m interested in it. It’s a little crazy. Little black, little white, little whites,
little Indians, we live in our great corners of the European. To begin our trip,
Marie Galantez and Fred invite us to share what sets
the rhythm of life on the island from March to June: the sugar cane harvest. He has a meeting with
Jean-Claude and his animals. Built for the strong,
oxen were valuable allies for agricultural work. Riding in a carriage was the
ancestral means of transporting canes. It is still used today
by a few farmers who remain faithful to tradition. Harness, it’s come, jouc. Jouc, stopping is good or good. Blazer jouc, the stop is good. I live peacefully, I am in
nature and I remain as I am. That’s it. Here we go. Come on, my God. Hey, visit, it’s okay, my man. The team sets off towards the Cannes field at an improbable gallop. At a decent speed, a little shaken. Fred experiences the authentic means of
travel, always, in Marie-Galante. Where does
this tradition of lending oneself to each other come from? Well, it’s the ancestors. They always used their cart,
charabeu, which was used to do everything. They went to mass where they were
concerned about the value of man. These were the real values. And this health, yes. In Marie-Galante,
sugar cane is still mostly cut by hand. For Fred, it’s a first. You know that I’ve never
cut the cane? Well, that’s not a problem. I never cut. You hold the cane,
you cut the foot first. All right.
And be careful, head. The head is there. Should
I cut there? There. Well done. Well, there you have it.
It’s good, yes. And that’s good. But did you see that I
‘m not very strong? Yes, and that’s precisely… I’m not very good because
I don’t know yet. I know there is a tradition of
mud chanting to help us work. That’s what it’s like at school, at school.
To school, to school. Working, there was always a song. They always sang a song. It gives a rhythm. Yes, it gives a cadence. While they were working,
there were our cadans, our rites and people appreciated them. People were having fun. That’s it, music always accompanies. So. When they work… Introduced in the 17th century, sugarcane has shaped the history, society, and culture of Marie-Galante. The island’s primary economy,
it still covers most of the cultivated land today. Firmly supported by their 800 kilos
of muscle, the two cattle are capable of pulling up to four tons of cane. Head to the nearest distillery,
where they will be crushed and then transformed into rum. As for our athletes, it
‘s almost time for the reward. As usual,
after an intense day, they will enjoy the gentle waves. Before sugarcane cultivation
became established, indigo was cultivated in Marie-Galante. The leaves of this shrub are used
to obtain indigo blue dye. This production is an integral part
of the history of Marie-Galante, but it has been completely forgotten. Fred is with Pierre, a passionate man
whose ambition is to revive it. In fact, we are awakening a plant
that is 400 years old. That’s what’s incredible. And for me, every time I come
and see her, you know, it’s like every time, you fall in love all over again. Yeah, you fall in love again,
you fall in love in love. And then, in fact, you leave her and then
you think about her, morning, noon, night. It’s just a plant. Yeah, but for you,
she’s sensual, right? How ? But you know how she is, there. She, indeed, she has… She has a kind of gentleness. Wild indigo trees can be found all over the island
. But to control his raw material,
Pierre decided to plant some. In his experimental field,
he revives the cultivation of this botanical treasure which has made the
island rich, its blue gold. How do you know there’s
blue in there? I don’t know.
The sap is white. Yes, it doesn’t show.
It doesn’t show at all. So, we wondered how we were
the first to know that it was blue. This discovery remained a mystery. One thing is certain: we have known how to make
blue from Monday Gautier since Antiquity. Peter is therefore in the secret of the gods. It is in his workshop,
in the village of Grand’Bourg, in an old fisherman’s hut,
that he shares his know-how with visitors. And there, we will see what that gives us. Hello, House of Indigo. You’re welcome, Mr. Fred. There you go, there you go, there you go. So here, we’re going to take the plants that
I cut this morning and there, we’re going to put them in another tank to macerate. I put it on top to keep it at the bottom,
plus a pebble there, like that. So that there, you see,
bubbles pass and that there, from there, they release their sugar. Besides, the blue dots
that are in the leaf. In 24 hours, the magic happens. So, we’re going to discover the vats. So, there you have it.
And we discover the indigo vat. That there, we already have the forest which is
already there, but we are going to wake it up. It digs like that. So.
And you stir, and you stir,
and you flick your wrist. You see? There you go, there you go.
I see, OK. Good, but not good. It’s super pretty. And there you can see purple reflections.
Yes, we see. You see, there you go.
And it’s beautiful. That’s what it means
that the indigo vat is ready. To be dyed. Pierre and Fred will prepare their fabric
using the chibori technique. These folds, twists and ties will allow original geometric patterns to
appear on the fabric . Now I’m going to give you a massage. I’m going out. In a few seconds,
the magic of blue has happened. We put it in the tank, we take it out, it comes out
green, it turns blue with the air. You see, you lift up your fabric. There you go, just so you can see.
You see? Air, transformation. You see?
And gradually, you go down. You see? It’s how you smell there,
you’re the dyer. You do it your way. It’s perfect how you do it. It’s perfect. And there we can contemplate our works. You see, facing the sun,
facing the sea, the sky. Contemplation, Marie-Galantez. Contemplation, Marie-Gal. It’s true. That’s great. Yes, honestly, it’s great.
Pierre, I am happy. Fred, I’m also delighted
with our little experiment like that. It’s a great experience. I can joke and say that I’m
looking at what I did myself. It gives me chills.
I’ll put this around my neck. What you’re saying gives me chills. The thing you’re doing there. You put it in big letters and wait
for someone to ask you: But where did you get it? And there you say: I
did it myself with Peter. Well, sometimes.
Guys It is on this palette of colors that our trip to Guadeloupe ends. A sparkling land where the joy of living comes in many shades.

Localisé au cœur de la mer des Caraïbes, à plus de 6 000 kilomètres de la France métropolitaine, l’archipel de la Guadeloupe est l’une des destinations phares des Antilles.

Pour découvrir les merveilles des plus belles régions de France, c’est ici – Abonnez-vous 👉 http://bit.ly/3zjR2Vj 🙏

Si ses îles font rêver les férus de plages idylliques et de lagons turquoises, elles font aussi le bonheur des amoureux de la nature qui viennent ici savourer des paysages sauvages exceptionnels. Grimper au sommet de la célèbre Soufrière, randonner le long des traces de la forêt tropicale, découvrir la beauté des fonds marins en snorkeling ou en plongée sous-marine, faire une balade en catamaran dans la réserve naturelle du Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin, admirer la faune et la flore locales le temps d’une flânerie… Autant de moments privilégiés à apprécier sans modération ! Un paradis aussi pour les amateurs de découvertes culinaires : les marchés colorés où abondent fruits et légumes exotiques, épices et produits de la mer, les plats typiquement créoles, le fameux rhum agricole ou encore le délicieux sorbet coco ont vraiment de quoi ravir les papilles… Une escapade merveilleusement dépaysante et surtout des plus agréables en perspective !

Réalisé par Charlène Florès-Hoffsess
© MORGANE PRODUCTION