No, it is not that Amsterdam in the Nederlands – I am still on the Indian Ocean! Amsterdam island is much bigger then Saint Paul. It is rising from the 30-m cliffs on the east to the 700-m high Entrecousteau coast in the west. French base, where 40 people live in the summer (20 in the winter) lies on theeastern coast. Main street – Avenue Martin-de-Vivies goes from the little jetty up to the “Residence of the Chef de District”. Fur seals living in the big number on the stony beach nearby do not care about the traffic – they walk the avenue
and often lay on the sun in the middle of the lane. On the beach there is limited space so they wonder up to the base. Near the hospital I saw a pair residing under the tree. It couldn’t be a pleasure for the patients to listen their barking day and night! Yes, there are trees on Amsterdam Island! What a pleasure for the eyes to see them again after few weeks spent in the harsh, deserted south! The island is famous for the endemic phillica trees – they try to increase their number. TAAF guides offer overnight stay in the little cottages ashore: Ribault on the shore – 20-minutes walk from the baseand Antonelli – at the minicrater some 70-minutes walk from the base. We are enjoying lobsters for our lunches – there is plenty of them around the island andthey catch them to improve their diet.
