Engelberg valley with Titlis in the background

Switzerland and the snow beckoned after War in Israel. Slightly different scene, I must admit. Engelberg is near Luzern in the German speaking part of Switzerland. Had an absolute ball learning to ski, and ended up skiing six days a week. Season was fun despite Meri Bellili being the CdV. Biggest highlight of the season was that the CdV invited my family for free, so Mum, Dad, Trevor, Suzanne and Kelly all came for a week. Managed to wangle the best room (well I was in charge of Planning!) for Mum & Dad with a view to die for overlooking the valley and Titlis Mountain in the distance (see photo). Snow conditions were excellent for the entire season. Only problem in Engelberg was the trip up the mountain, which took a fair bit of time. However it was worth it as the runs were varied and long.Marie Claude Jordi was the Gestionnaire and asked me to go to Martinique with her for the next season. The CdV wanted me to go to Tunisia with him. Of course I said yes, to get him off my back (hence the free holiday for the family) while secretly arranging with Boudou in Paris to go with Marie Claude. So from Switzerland I went almost straight away to the French West Indies. Just enough time to go home and change my suitcase from woolies to pareos!

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Flew from Paris Direct to the Island of Martinique. Very different from Eleuthera as the island is large and based around a volcano (like many Carribbean Islands). Of course this island had a distinctly french feeling being a French territory, currency was the French Franc and to all intents and purposes was France in the Carribean. However "Les Martiniquais" were not too impressed by France (though less so than the Guadeloupians). Nearly a two hour bus trip from Fort de France to the village. However the trip was fascinating, windy road through cane and banana plantations, resplendant in tropical vegetation and flowers. The village was outstanding, a presqu'ile with a massive Cocoteraie (Coconut Grove). The sea, a deep turkoise blue and a narrow but sandy beach. This village was definitely party party. Majorly a playground for young New Yorkers, distinctly Jap women and all the men seemed to be called Vinnie or Tony. Alcohol flowed from all quarters and the Night Club rocked all Night every Night. Often left the disco at dawn to go home for a quick shower and off to the Airport for the new arrivals. Sleep seemed unimportant in this village. New Yorkers were very promiscuous as well once the alcohol flowed. Favourite tipple was definitely a petit punch (rum) or le vieux rhum. Shame about the CdV who was called Bebert and was a total slime bag. Marie Claude was a darling Gestionnaire, but most important met up with Judy McInerney who had arrived from Haiti to be part of the Excursions team. Jude hails from Sydney and this was the start of a very close friendship that lasts to this day. Had a friend Remigia from Italy who had a monkey Kiki from Brasil and was therefore named the Monkey Lady. He spent his time on your head or shoulder and loved bananas and the toilet bowl!!!! One of the highlights of the season was a plane trip to the Grenadines which have to be in my opinion one of the most beautiful spots in the World. Left Martinique in November in the midst of a cyclone, with Judy on the same plane as we smuggled her out back to Paris.........Don't blame her not wanting to stay with Meri Bellili who had just arrived for the new season!

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Aerial View of "Les Boucaniers"

The "Tour du Port"

Marie Claude had invited me to come to Senegal with her to do my Stage Aide Gestion. This was a three month stage and couldn't have been happier than going to West Africa, and Dakar. Was there for the final day of the Paris - Dakar, which was quite an amazing experience. Also went to Lac Rose and spent three days in Cap Skirring, which was in the Casamance near to Gambia. Here in the Cap I met up with Jean Louis Dromas who was to feature in a later episode in my Club Med career. Got my first tropical ulcer here as well, after a rampant drunken night in the disco. The end of the night was a mass skinny dip in to the Pool which was a fab pool. Only problem was trying to fnd our clothes the next day. Bits and pieces kept turning up in the rose beds!!!!. Dived into the pool but dragged my leg behind, aiie the scar, but never felt a thing until the next day. I succesfully passed my stage and a call from Paris asked me to leave for home in order to go to Bermuda, where Club Med was opening a new Hotel, that was destined to be the new face of Club Med.

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