So, my first impressions of St Lucia were from the air and as I had a window seat (with masses of legroom in an exit row!) almost the first things I saw were the famous Pitons, so not at all like Anguilla which rarely rises above 85 feet over sea level and, also unlike Anguilla, lush and green.
I also saw as we approached over the sea great patches of the seaweed which is causing so many problems in the Caribbean, and elsewhere, damaging the local fishing industry and smelling vile particularly on the Atlantic coast. You can actually smell it from the car on the coast road.
The humidity as I stepped off the plane was palpable- of course it didn’t help that I was wearing chinos and a jacket! Well, I like pockets when I’m travelling. I was through immigration quickly initially but hit a snag when questioned as to my address on St Lucia. I’d filled in Reduit Park, Rodney Bay as instructed by Allie who had told me that our little house doesn’t have a name or number, not even a street name. This is in fact quite true but the immigration supervisor seemed disinclined to believe me and it seemed as if we were going to have a problem particularly with me staying much longer than most visitors. This is not to say they were at all unpleasant, far from it, so when I suggested that the taxi driver Allie had sent to collect me could confirm what I’d said the guy was happy to come to the Arrivals Hall to see him and happily accepted his word and waved me on my way. I can’t see that happening at Gatwick or Heathrow.
It’s about an hour and a quarter from the airport in the South to Rodney Bay in the North and, although the Island is about the same length and width as the Isle of Wight, it has a much greater area and is quite mountainous, so a 25 mile journey as the crow flies is more like 50 on winding, and in many places steep, roads whose quality varies from mile to mile. The vegetation is lush, lots of rain, and incredibly varied. As you drive along you see bananas, plantains, breadfruit, papaya, mangoes, avocados, coconuts and much more growing abundantly. Apparently most of the bananas sold in Sainsbury’s come from here. There are wonderful deals to be had from roadside vendors on fruit and veg and also roadside wood oven bakeries. Fresh baked local bread is a real treat.
Have I mentioned rum punch yet? Amazingly not! Yes, my first drink on St Lucia on Sunday afternoon after a glass of water at home was a rum punch at the St Lucia Yacht Club, a place some of you will know, on Reduit Bay. That set quite a standard being delicious with a real kick! I’ve compared the offerings in three other establishments so far but not bettered it yet!
The people seem friendly and pretty laid back but with a slightly annoying habit of asking every white person they see whether you’re looking for a taxi. That’s not only taxi drivers either but just private citizens driving past looking to make an extra dollar, very enterprising.
Despite the weak pound prices are not too bad, particularly if you buy local. There is a decent range of shops within easy walking distance of the house and plenty of restaurants although we’ve not eaten out yet. We’re contemplating a nice long lazy lunch at Spinnakers on the beach tomorrow, Saturday.
We have no TV so have been listening to lots of music, we have my iPod, and have watched Netflix on my tablet. We get up before 6am so have been going to bed just after 9pm which seems to work well. We’ll be out later tonight as we’re going to the “jump up” at Gros Islet a couple of miles up the road, a street festival of food, drink, music and dancing. I’m looking forward to that.
It’s now 9.45am and so I’m about to pack up and head to the beach for a little while before it gets too hot. Will write again soon.
Allie's Caribbean Travel Blog 