52. Lucian Life

Flying down on Jet Blue, it was a four hour flight followed by a forty minute immigration process to enter the land of iguanas. The country flag colours are Blue for the sea, Black & White for the people and Yellow for the sand. The native bird is an endangered multicoloured parrot. Pristine football pitches spread all over welcomed us to our honeymoon holiday.

Our wonderful taxi driver, Gildus drove along the east coast through the windy roads. There were little pockets of beauty in a hilly atmosphere to the top of the island. So many colourful colonial houses filled the 17 villages. Saint Lucia has an approximate population of 180,000. The people speak English, French and Spanish as well as Creole Patois which consists of French vocabulary intermingled with Spanish. Also there is loads of fresh fruit and fish and loads of greenery to enjoy including the gorgeous Gros Piton. There’s a mountainous spot where you can get touristy trinkets from Sughany.

Cruising the island, beautiful banana trees are everywhere. Bananas are main export as well as green bananas and plantains. There’s a proper process where they’re wrapped in blue and green bags to preserve and protect for trade. Bananas are even featured in the local rums and a variety of sauces. It’s important to stop for a welcoming rum punch at the bar by Mandela Point. It shouldn’t be too much of a problem as there are hardly any traffic lights and small roundabouts.

The day went by so quickly though by the time we arrived our hotel, Mystique by Royalton. Our check in by Fabiana was welcoming. Then her colleague, Nyius brought over a refreshing rum punch. For dinner, we walked over to the tasty catch of the day, mahi mahi and vegetables at Buzz Seafood & Grill.

Friday it was time to celebrate my birthday. Our amazing guide, Dannyboy from St Lucia Tour Experiences took us to the best attractions. First, we saw the Castries Market. The capital Castries is about 30 square miles with seven fishing villages. Next we past by Mount Fortune. Then my husband and I viewed the Sulfur Springs. The smell of hydrogen sulfite filled the air. Imagine rotten eggs. The natural beauty of the scenery was lovely though. Soufriere was superb. We learned that Soufriere translates to suflur in the air or sulfur in the atmosphere. After that, we enjoyed a magical mudbath. Rubbing mud and paint on each other was intimate, relaxing and therapeutic. The pools were warm and wonderful.

From there, we went to Torraie waterfall which was wonderful. It’s nicknamed the powerwash for reason. For lunch, we tried the National dish of Saint Lucia which is green bananas and saltfish. Soon enough, we returned to our accommodations for a beverage, the local beer Piton at Mistral Lounge and a swim at Reduit Beach. When ready for dinner, my husband and I took a stroll over to Jacques Waterfront Dining. It was a calming and serene vibe. The lamb chops and vegetables as well as the grilled jumbo prawns were yummy with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Then a surprise came when the servers and happy birthday to me and presented a French vanilla gateau.

Saturday was sports day. We checked out the pub, Keebees to watch the Premier League football matches. Hungry for something local, Spinnakers was suggested. The restaurant had a lively vibe and fresh fish too. Eventually the beach called our name. We danced between the waves in the water and on the sand for fun and to get a workout in. Since it was our last night, we decided to treat ourselves at the Chic restaurant. It was a romantic experience. Really enjoyed the soft rock tunes to set the mood. Then the pumpkin and mushroom ravioli was very appetising. The steak and vegetables was great. It was the wonderful way to end the evening.

The last lunch was spent at Mahi’s. Our wait staff, Nigela was excellent. The Pitons were cold and the burger was delicious as we took in the beach view. If we’d stayed awhile longer, it would be the National Day celebrating Saint Lucy on 13 December. She is the Saint of the blind. Saint Lucia is the place to take it easy. I would recommend a visit. Leaving you with a joke to end this travel post : “a politician is like a banana, you’ll never find a straight one.”