Exchange to Guadeloupe
The Lincoln-Guadeloupe Exchange was delayed due to the February 2nd blizzard. Twelve ambassadors from Lincoln, 3 from Ottawa, and 2 from Milwaukee met in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe on Friday in time for the scheduled Welcome Party.
Saturday was Heritage Day. Ambassadors and their hosts toured the new Memorial ACTe museum. The museum is an expression and memory of the slave trade and slavery and was well done in a former sugar factory. A luncheon of typical slave food followed.
On Monday everyone toured by bus to Basse Terre, the mountainous island. We visited the Botanical Garden, enjoyed lunch on a lovely beach, and saw where the British television show, “Death in Paradise” is filmed.
Sunday and Tuesday were Family Days. Many hosts took their guests to Mardi Gras parades. Tuesday evening ambassadors treated their hosts to a delicious dinner at a local restaurant.
One of the highlights of the exchange was the Farewell Dinner. Everyone wore black and white to celebrate the end of Carnival. There was a buffet dinner and dancing well into the night.
The Lincoln ambassadors said good-bye to the others and flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico on Thursday for four nights to fun and relaxation.
