The smaller islands are fairly hilly but dry, particularly those in the Leewrd group. Some beautiful French colonial architecture remains, witth intricate fretwork in the gingerbread style, but the modern buildings are concrete blocks and lack charm, looking as though they have been picked up in France and dropped on the islands by mistake. The islands have the same status as any D partement in European France. The inhabitants are French citizens. The people speak French.
Visitors are often surprised by how French the islands are.
The connection with France confers many benefits on the islands, which enjoy French standards of social legislation etc, but it also drives up the cost of living, which is rather higher than elsewhere in the Caribbean. All rights reserved.