I’ve returned to the Caribbean for the winter and I must say it’s nice to be home. The sun is shining gloriously and the sea is calm and beautiful. I just took a morning “sea bath” with my new little puppy. It’s fun to see a pup’s first reaction to the powerful ocean current. She did well, was a little shaky and scared when she got out, but swam like a champ. The sky was so clear I could see our neighbor island of St Vincent.
I flew from Miami into St Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport on American Airlines and Hon. Allen Chastanet, the Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation of St Lucia, was seated near me in first class. Amazingly enough, after living here for several years, we have never met. Senator Chastanet was returning from his trip to London where he was recently awarded Caribbean Travel Personality of the Year. The World Travel Awards acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.
Chastanet and team have recently changed the direction of marketing for the island and with that came more awards, such as Caribbean’s and World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination designations, while the Caribbean’s Leading Spa Resort went to The Body Holiday LeSport. The Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand and the World’s Leading All-Inclusive Company went to Sandals Resorts.
The St Lucia Jazz Festival is slated for May 1-9, 2010, and it’s a great time to visit and hear some excellent talent from around the world. Great people watching too, with photo ready views from Pidgeon Point. A few of the artists performing this year will be: Earl Klugh, Jean-Luc Ponty, Maxi Priest, Steel Pulse, Foreigner, Carimi, Harvey Millar Monty Maxwell, Carl Gustave and Teddyson John for one of the best parties in the Caribbean. I always look forward to Jazz.every year.
If you are interested in the origins of indigenous Caribbean cultures , check out a new book by St Lucian author, Sylvester Clauzel, named “Indigenous Peoples of St Lucia—Nou Se Kalinago,” which demystifies the old wives tail of cannibalistic Arawaks running amok throughout the land. But perhaps more importantly, Clauzel’s research reveals that St Lucia’s geographical features were very important in the spirituality of indigenous people across the region, and despite hundreds of years of inaccurate stories, they were not the heathens one might think, in fact the Taino and Kalinago tribes believed in a Tiune Godhead, much like most Christians today. Three pointed stones found on the island are thought to have represented the holy Trinity of land, sea and humankind.
So come to St Lucia and enjoy a verdant, volcanic and mystical island. For the budget minded who want to stay near the airport, try the family friendly Coconut Bay Resort or for majestic views, try Villa Caribbean Dream (where they will also teach you to salsa). If you want to view the tops of the stunning UNESCO Piton Mountains every morning as you arise, check in at romantic Ladera. For the ultimate in bliss, try the award winning Jade Mountain whose individual splash pools are being featured on numerous magazine covers. If you are ready to start the New Year with a fresh, healthy approach to life and your body, take a week at Le Sport: the bodyholiday. I love their tag line, "give us your body for a week and we'll give you back your mind." (do you think that's really possible?) Luxurious private villas are available throughout the island as well.
From guest cottages to super luxury resorts, St Lucia has accommodations for every budget. Check here for more information from the Tourist Board or read some of my previous articles:
St Lucia: Colonial Creole Country
How to Spend a Day in St Lucia
How to See St Lucia by Helicopter
How to Speak Patois for the Traveler
Oh, my lunch of fresh passion fruit juice, cantaloupe slices and freshly caught tuna are ready, gotta run!
Comments
Not funny! I don't want to know how beautiful it is there when i am here!! Don't tell me about the calm sea when our lakes are frozen solid!! And don't tell me about flying in first class. Every flight on an RJ is first class to me, so there!!
got room for a visitor? I'll be in MIA in a couple of weeks and could hop down for a guided tour. :-)
Hi Lea Ann,
Wish Stephen and I could be there now... It's COLD here in Dallas, so drink in all that warmth and enjoy! Sounds like St. Lucia is getting lots of recognition... Very cool that you got the scoop from the Tourism Director!
I bet you're glad to be back. The photo is lovely.
Great place to spend the winter!
It would be awesome to see Foreigner at a Jazz festival in the Caribbean.
would love to visit. lucky you.
I want to go to St. Lucia!! (I'm now a subscriber)
You are so blessed, Lea Ann. It must be like living in a dream every day. While San Diego, my home, is lovely, it gets cold in the Winter, and even swimming in the ocean during summer can be chilly. The Caribbean waters are amazing. You must have a great sea shell collection. Thanks for these wonderful articles! Here's wishing you a very Happy New Year.
I think you are truly in paradise. Enjoy it for the rest of us.
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