BY:
Therold Prudent
A gala of spacious skies, painted in tropical blue, towers over this tiny Caribbean island of 238 sqare miles. Its first inhabitants, the Arawak Indians, and later the Caribs, named it “Hewannora,” long before any European ever set foot in that part of world, which is today called the West Indies.
St. Lucia is located in the southern part of the Caribbean, and to its north is the French island of Martinique. To its south is St. Vincent. Barbados is to its east, and to its west are the pristine waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Long cherished by its people and visitors alike, St. Lucia, to quote its national anthem, is one of the “fairest isles of all the earth.” Its immaculate and enchanting beauty begins in the town of Soufriere, where the colonial French established the island’s first official European settlement in 1746. Part of Soufriere lies in a canyon beside two majestic peaks which soar high into the heavens, as if they were the giant wings of an eagle. They are called Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the eighth wonder of the world. They are also symbols of a small nation’s determination for continued peace and prosperity as they strive to assert their independence, which was granted by Britain on February 22nd of 1979.
Also in this part of St. Lucia is the only walk-in Volcano in the world. It is there that the movement of the earth is felt beneath the feet, as springs bubble into a white haze filled with sulfuric odor.
The enchanting features of St. Lucia continue into Vieux Fort, another town which sits on the southernmost tip of the island. There, the land lies flat like a bed, a perfect setting for cruising and for inhaling the fresh breeze which blows from the nearby Atlantic Ocean. Vieux Fort’s proximity to the ocean makes it an ideal area for professional windsurfing, but it is also, for many visitors, the major gateway into this island Paradise. Hewannora International, the island’s largest airport, is perhaps the greatest source of employment for St. Lucia’s southern people. The southern region of St. Lucia also encompasses the small villages of Choiseul and Laborie.
The island is connected by a small network of winding roads which run on both its western and eastern coast. Therefore, after savoring the thrill of a laid-back St. Lucian welcome, it is very likely that if your hotel is up north, your journey–which should last no more than 45 minutes to an hour –will take you through the agricultural and fishing districts of Micoud and Dennery.
There will then be a brief entry into Castries, St. Lucia’s capital city, which is clustered with narrow streets and shops. That will be short lived, for as you continue along the Castries harbor, a busy port of call for both cruise and cargo ships alike, you will begin to experience the serenity and charm that awaits you up north, in Gros Islet.
My home district, Gros Islet is lined with a stretch of beautiful sandy beaches on both its western and eastern boundaries. It is divided into four sectors. They are Gros Islet Town, which comprises of Gros Islet proper, Pigeon Point, Rodney Bay, Cap Estate, Reduit and Cas-En-Bas. The areas of Monchy and Grand Riviere, which are generally rural in nature, give our district an ambience of country and greenery. Then there is Marisule, a quiet community that straddles both sides of the Gros Islet–Castries Highway.
By day, Gros Islet is like a sleeping serpent, where visitors can enjoy swimming, fishing, snorkeling, sun bathing, golfing, horseback riding, or even a visit to the tiny offshore island known as Pigeon Point. It is there that one can catch a view of Martinique on a clear day, and relive a bit of St. Lucian history, which included fourteen battles between the French and British for possession of this “Helen of the West Indies”.
But then, as the sun sets slowly in a mirage of dazzling colors, the serpent awakes to ignite the night. One can easily find an open bar to soak in the wonderful experience of the day, dine at a fancy restaurant, and later head to a club for an evening of fun. But it is on the weekend, particularly on a Friday evening, that the true spirit of St. Lucia comes alive. It all happens in the streets of Gros Islet proper, where the rhythms of Caribbean Music reverberate through the night air. Barbeque chicken, fish and conch kebabs are just a few of the mouth-watering foods available. And then, as the night explodes into a colorful festival which brings together native and tourist alike, one can only think and ponder a bit, on how beautiful it is to be in St. Lucia.
Therold Prudent
Author of -Glory Days and Tragedy
www.theroldprudent.com
