Floating bus chases through the waves in low-altitude flight

"In Marie Galante every boy dreams of being a captain one day," says Ary Calme. His grandfather and his father still used to cruise to the mother island Guadeloupe by sailing boat, and his brother is in command of a tanker in the Mediterranean. "And me – well, I actually drive a bus," he adds modestly. Mind you, a bus with a cockpit like in a jet.

By Bernhard Grdseloff

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Ary Calme is captain of the express ferry "Rubis Express" that operates between Guadeloupe and the small, unspoiled sister island of Marie Galante. At a travelling speed of almost 40 miles per hour, the 10,000 HP catamaran weighing 700 tonnes needs 40 minutes.

"I need to take every wave correctly at that speed." That’s how the sailor explains why he steers the ferry by hand during the entire time instead of switching on the auto-pilot. "Otherwise it’ll be a pretty rough ride." After all, most of the 445 passengers allowed per trip are holiday-makers who want to enjoy their excursion to Marie Galante.

"Up to now there’s never been a problem," says Calme. Amazing, considering he’s been chasing across the waves for 20 year now.

Captaine Calme in the cockpit: like a jet

Dressed for the joy of life

Warmth and sunshine all year round is the best way to bring out the joy of life in us. The carefree lifestyle of Martinique’s and Guadeloupe’s inhabitants clearly reflects in the colorful Creole costumes. The ensemble "Le Ballet Pomme Canelle" from Martinique combines bright-colored clothing with traditional dance to form a unique show. Up to seven hundred costumes from various ages are used in their twenty three different dance spectacles. "The program reflects our history from the time of the first African slaves up until today," says D’Jessy Alamelu, founder of the ensemble meanwhile comprising 50 artists. The repertoire ranges from African tribal dances to Salsa and Calypso. Calenda, the love dance of the slaves, which used to be prohibited because of its sexual connotations, forms the highlight.