The Caribbean
Island Of Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the eastern
Caribbean Sea, location 16°15′N 61°35′W / 16.25°N 61.583°W /
16.25; -61.583, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometers
(629 sq. mi
It is an overseas department of France. As with the other
overseas departments, Guadeloupe is also one of the twenty-six
regions of France (being an overseas region) and an integral
part of the Republic. As part of France, Guadeloupe is part of
the European Union; hence, as for most EU countries, its
currency is the euro.
Guadeloupe does not fall under the Schengen Agreement. The
prefecture of Guadeloupe is Basse-Terre.
History of
Guadeloupe
During his second trip to America, seeking fresh water in
November 1493, Christopher Columbus became the first European
to land on Guadeloupe. He called it Santa María de Guadalupe de
Extremadura, after the image of the Virgin Mary venerated at
the Spanish monastery of Villuercas, in Guadalupe, Extremadura.
The expedition set ashore just south of Capesterre but did not
leave any settlers ashore.
Christopher
Columbus is credited with discovering
the pineapple on the island of Guadeloupe in 1493, although the
fruit had long been grown in South America. He called it piña
de Indes meaning "pine of the Indians."
Guadeloupe in 1865
After successful settlement on the island of St Christophe
(St Kitts), the French Company of the American Islands
delegated Charles Lienard and Jean Duplessis, Lord of
Ossonville to colonize one or any of the region’s islands,
Guadeloupe, Martinique or Dominica. Due to Martinique’s
inhospitable nature, the duo resolved to settle in Guadeloupe
in 1635, took possession of the island and wiped out many of
the Carib Amerindians. It was annexed to the kingdom of France
in 1674. Over the next century, the island was seized several
times by the British. The economy benefited from the hugely
lucrative sugar trade introduced during the closing decades of
the seventeenth century: one indication of Guadeloupe's
prosperity at this time is that in the Treaty of Paris (1763),
France, defeated in war, agreed to abandon its territorial
claims in Canada in return for British return of Guadeloupe
which was captured in 1759.
Geography
The Island of
Guadeloupe is Location in the
Caribbean.
Guadeloupe comprises five islands: Basse-Terre Island,
Grande-Terre (separated from Basse-Terre by a narrow sea
channel called Salt River) with the adjacent islands of La
Désirade, Les Saintes and Marie-Galante.
Basse-Terre has a rough volcanic relief while Grande-Terre
features rolling hills and flat plains.
Further to the north, Saint-Barthélemy and the French part of
Saint Martin once came under the jurisdiction of Guadeloupe but
on 7 December 2003, both of these areas voted to become an
overseas territorial collectivity, a decision which took effect
on 22 February 2007.
Guadeloupe's
culture is probably best known for the
islanders' literary achievements, particularly the poetry of
Saint-John Perse, the pseudonym used by Alexis Léger. Perse won
the 1960 Nobel Prize in Literature "for the soaring flight and
the evocative images of his poetry which in a visionary fashion
reflects the conditions of our time."
Guadeloupe has always had a rich literary production
prolonged today by many living writers, poets, novelists,
essayists and journalists, among them Mesdames Maryse Condé and
Simone Schwartz-Bart, M. Ernest Pépin.
Also culturally important are the arts, particularly
painting and sculpture. Famous painters and/or sculptors
include Michel Rovelas, Claudie Cancelier, Jean-Claude Echard,
Christian Bracy, Roger Arekian, les Frères Baptiste, Michelle
Chomereau-Lamothe, Léogane, Pédurand, Nicole Réache, Victor
Sainsily. Guadeloupean visual effects artist compositor Karim
Sahai of Weta Digital, New Zealand, has worked on the visual
effects of many movies such as The Lord of the Rings, King
Kong, and The Waterhorse.
Music and dance are also very popular, and the widely
accepted interaction of African, French and Indian[8] cultures
has given birth to some original new forms specific to the
archipelago. Islanders enjoy many local dance styles including
the quadrille "au commandement", zouk, zouk-love, kompa
toumbélé, as well as all the modern international dances.
Typical Guadeloupean music includes la biguine and gwo ka à la
base. Kassav' and Admiral T embody the traditional and the new
generation of music. Many international festivals take place in
Guadeloupe, like the Creole Blues Festival, the Marie-Galante
Festival, Festival Gwo-Ka Cotellon, etc. It goes without saying
that all the Euro-French forms of art are also omnipresent in
the melting pot.
Another
element of the Guadeloupean culture is
its dress. Women in particular have a unique style of
traditional dresses, with many layers of colourful fabrics, now
only worn on special occasions. On festive occasions they also
wore a madras (originally the 'kerchief' from South India) head
scarf tied in many different symbolic forms. The headdress
could be done in many styles with names like the "bat" style,
or the "firefighter" style, as well as the "Guadeloupean
woman." Jewelry, mainly of gold, is also important in the
Guadeloupean lady's dress, a product of European, African and
Indian inspiration. Many famous couturiers like Devaed and
Mondelo are Guadeloupeans.
Football (soccer)
is popular in Guadeloupe. Thierry Henry, a star of the French
National Team and Spanish League club FC Barcelona, often
visits, as his father Antoine was originally from the island.
William Gallas, whose parentage is Guadeloupean, visits the
island when not playing for Arsenal or the French National
team. Lilian Thuram, a star football defender for France and FC
Barcelona, was born in Guadeloupe. The French national team and
Everton F.C. striker, Louis Saha, is also of Guadeloupean
descent, as is MK Dons goalkeeper Willy Gueret. Pascal
Chimbonda of Tottenham was also born in Guadeloupe. The
region's football team experienced recent success, advancing
all the way to the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finals, where
they were defeated just 1-0 by CONCACAF powerhouse Mexico. Many
fine track and field athletes, such as Marie-José Perec,
Patricia Girard-Léno, and Christine Arron are also Guadeloupe
natives. The NBA players Mickaël Piétrus and Mickaël Gelabale
were born in this island. Famed Bodybuilder Serge Nubret also
hails from Guadeloupe.
Economy
Pointe des Châteaux in Guadeloupe.
In 2006 the GDP per capita of Guadeloupe at market exchange
rates, not at PPP, was €17,338 (US$21,780).
The economy of Guadeloupe depends on tourism, agriculture,
light industry and services. But it especially depends on
France for large subsidies and imports. {credit} http://en.wikipedia.org
A land of
Flavors
On the Guadeloupe islands, the magic of the cultural melting
pot and huge variety of spices has let a culinary genie out of
the lamp, casting spells over the great Creole restaurants like
the "roulottes de bokits". Being island-based brings a natural
affinity with fish products, and Guadeloupe is indeed the
second biggest consumer of fish in the world (per head of
population). Fish bouillon, clam chowder, grilled lobster, and
queen conch fricassee are some of the succulent dishes you’ll
love tasting.
With more than a third of the land dedicated to farming,
this agricultural and rural economy means there is a wide range
of young vegetables. Guadeloupeans were ‘green’ before their
time with their Creole gardens of fruit orchards and vegetable
patches ! The culinary classics are still hearty dishes, eaten
by all the family or at great festive meals.
And is that why Guadeloupeans are the biggest champagne
drinkers in France ? Proof, if it’s needed, of the incredible
fusion of cultures – Caribbean, European, Indian and African –
enriched by the influences of the Middle East. Gourmets and
gourmands alike will be overwhelmed by the fertile land of the
Guadeloupe islands and its gastronomic expertise, relishing the
delicious smell of a curry, tasting the sweet flesh of Julie
mangoes, drinking a freshly squeezed juice made from “péyi”
cherries, or savoring the aromas of a vintage rum.
Tourism is a key
industry, with 83.3% of tourists visiting
from metropolitan France, 10.8% coming from the rest of Europe,
3.4% coming from the United States, 1.5% coming from Canada,
0.4% coming from South America and 0.6% coming from the rest of
the world.[10] An increasingly large number of cruise ships
visit the islands.
The
traditional sugarcane crop is slowly
being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now
supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, guinnep, noni,
sapotilla, paroka, pikinga, giraumon squash, yam, gourd,
plantain, christophine, monbin, prunecafé, cocoa, jackfruit,
pomegranate, and many varieties of flowers. Other vegetables
and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although
Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, mainly from
France.
Light
industry features sugar and rum, solar
energy, and many industrial productions. Most manufactured
goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high
among the youth. Hurricanes periodically devastate the
economy.
Things to do
Sporting Activities
Guadeloupe Islands are an exceptional sports ground and without
a doubt you'll find the opportunity to play your favorite
sports in or to chance to introduce yourself to new sports,
often times in Guadeloupe, sport rhymes with discovery.
Les Saintes
10km (6 miles) south of Guadeloupe a chain of little islands
floating in the turquoise sea conceal a veritable little
paradise on earth, composed of marvelous scenery worthy of the
most beautiful postcard.
Mainland Guadeloupe comprises two islands,
Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre. Their principal city is bustling
Pointe-à-Pitre at the centre of the land mass; the islands'
sleepy capital, also called Basse-Terre, is on the remote
southwestern side.
Guadeloupe's offshore islands to the south and west make
worthwhile side excursions. Terre-de-Haut, is a delightful
place with a quaint central village and harbour, good beaches
and restaurants and some reasonably priced places to stay and
received The most visited,. The other populated islands -
Terre-de-Bas, Marie-Galante and La Désirade - have very little
tourism development and offer visitors a glimpse of a rural
French West Indies that has changed little over time. Just a
few of the things to do on the Caribbean Island of
Guadeloupe are:
Golf
In Saint François there is a magnificent international 18 hole
golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones which is very
popular with enthusiasts. Enjoy!
Diving
For beginners as well as for certified divers, diving spots are
abundant. Clear waters, a multitude of fish, some wreckages,
enough to enchant all enthusiasts. But Guadeloupe waters are
also suitable for ordinary diving with a mask, a tuba and
flippers.
Hiking
In the exceptional and luxurious context of the National Park’s
tropical forest or on the seashore, Guadeloupe is filled with
opportunities for family strolls or more adventurous hiking.
There’s a magical and luxurious universe open and available to
one and all to fill in the exciting sensations of new world
adventurers and discoveries.
Water
Skiing
People mainly ski on the
Caribbean coast where the waters are calmer but it is also
popular in the lagoons. You can inquire about water skiing in
the clubs of big hotels along the coast or at the
Baie-Mahaultclub , the largest on the island, for discovering
or perfecting under the supervision of qualified guides
Entry
Requirements
A passport, the exceptions
being citizens of Australia, South Africa, Bolivia, Dominica,
St Lucia, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti, Honduras, El
Salvador, Dominican Republic, Turkey, when a visa is
required.
Any non-EU citizen staying longer than three months will
need an extended visa. Citizens of the US and Canada staying
less than three months will not need a passport, although some
form of identification is required.
Getting Married In
Guadeloupe
The Island of Guadeloupe is the centre of the Caribbean's
Creole culture, with a boosting of spirited blend French and
African influences. The island is well known for its sugar and
rum as for its beaches and resorts, the archipelago offers an
interesting mix of modern cities, rural hamlets, rainforests
and secluded beaches, a perfect place to say I do..
Legal requirements for getting married in Guadeloupe
Your wedding on Guadeloupe is sure to be lovely, the strict
requirements call for more advanced planning than is necessary
on other Caribbean islands.
While there is no fee for a marriage license, allow yourself
one month to obtain it.
A blood test is required as are both parties’
original birth certificates. Certificates of good conduct and
certificates of single status are also required by both
parties.
Residency cards must be presented, as well as medical
certificates, including a blood test, issued within three
months of the wedding. Furthermore, all documents must be
accompanied by a French translation.
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