Soda Stream Refills

The real reason we came to Fort de France?  We heard rumors of getting Soda Stream refills aka Jesus Juice refills.

Background - We are not addicted to pop.  In fact, we had pretty much weaned ourselves off all pop. However.....we do like an occasional tonic drink.  And we have friends that like their morning pop and they were going to be visiting us....  So the day before we left the USA, I bought a Soda Stream machine from Wal-Mart.  I also bought some various syrups and two CO2 canisters.  We didn't even start using it until we got down to the BVI's.  It got a real workout when our friends Tim and Kim came to visit.  It also got it's new name the Jesus Juice Machine - turning water into pop!  Come on....that's funny.
 
Anyway, I knew finding refills for the CO2 would be a challenge but I didn't think it would be the impossible task it's turned out to be.  Inquiries were coming up empty - no place in the whole Eastern Caribbean!  Ugh!  We heard rumors of an industrial gas company in St Martin that would actually refill the canisters.  However we learned (after a 4 mile hike) that they can only refill the smaller topped European style canisters - NOT the bigger topped American.  Argh!  Since it's CO2 there is no hope for shipping some in.  Having friends bring CO2 on the plane?  BIG no no!

While in St Lucia, we caught up with s/v Adagio.  John happen to mention that he was standing on the street in Fort de France and saw a Soda Stream van drive by.  He started yelling and waving and the van pulled over.  The van driver spoke English and took John to his store where John was able to get the Soda Stream supplies he needed.  He emailed me the name and address and with that we set sail for Martinique.

Lovely Lucie

Flash forward to Friday, March 23rd.  We dropped anchor of Fort de France and rushed ashore.  I knew the Soda Stream store was far so we hailed a cab.  He drove us up into the hills of Fort de France and dropped us off in front of the address - we thought.  Traffic was backing up so he quickly drove off.  We dashed across the street to find the place closed.  Darn!  Oh well.  Open Saturday until noon.  We started walking back down the hill towards the waterfront.  After 8 mins or so of walking with heavy traffic passing by, we suddenly saw the Soda Stream van pass by.  We yelled and waved and.....he pulled over.  *John - does this sound familiar?  We ran across the street and got in.  "We were just at your store but since it's closed......"   The driver said "No, we are...em?....openz.  My wivf and child are zthere now."  Hum?  Then he turned down a narrow drive and drove a short distance to some shops that were down behind the main road.  D-oh!  We didn't double check the address when we got out of the cab.  We just assumed it was the one on the main road.

Their shop

We walked into Caraibes Decoration and it was wonderfully air conditioned and Lucie immediately began helping us.  Her English is very good.  She and Christopher own this kitchen/bath design shop.  Soda Stream is one of the brands they carry.  We visited a bit as she filled our order - 6 bottles of CO2 and 5 syrups - she threw one in for free, giving us six syrups total.  Yay!  Christopher told us they have been in Martinique 12 years.  They moved from Paris.  Nice couple.  They said they get some "people off boats" but we told them not many know about their shop.  Lucie said there is also a new place in Guadeloupe to get Soda Stream supplies.  Christopher told us to email them next time and they will have our order ready for us.  I would guess he might even deliver to the waterfront.  As it was, he offered to drive us back down to the waterfront.  We of course took him up on the offer.

Anyway....now big thanks to John on s/v Adagio and Lucie and Christopher, our Jesus Juice Machine is up and running again.  Cold, fizzy cocktail anyone?

FYI - I posted this info on Women Who Sail group on Facebook.  Hopefully that will help get the word out.
Caraibes Decoration 63 rue du Prof. R. Garcin, Dedier Fort de France Martinique.  www.caribesdecoration.com  caribesdeco@wadadoo.fr
Soda Stream in Guadeloupe - Le Gout de la Cuisine