Tropical Getaways – Saint Lucia

Polar vortexes, polar plunges…how much cold weather can any of us take?  Bring on a series of posts called ‘Tropical Getaways.’ First up… Saint Lucia.

St Lucia has twice been our destination in escape from the Canadian winter. This amazingly lush Caribbean island was named after St Lucy of Syracuse by the French who were the first European settlers in the 1600s. The French and British battled over this paradise and Lucy changed hands 14 times.

Sometimes referred to as Helen, as in Helen of Troy, Greek mythology touting her as most beautiful woman in the world. One doesn’t have to visit long to see why Saint Lucia bounced between the French and British in dizzying fashion; a stunningly breathtaking prize for the winner.

This sovereign island country of the Lesser Antilles in the Eastern Caribbean Sea is home to less than 200,000 people. With English as the official language, an estimated 95 percent also speak Saint Lucian Creole French (Kweyol), which is more commonly referred to as  “Patwah” (patois).

More mountainous than many other Caribbean islands St Lucia also boasts the only one with a drive in volcano. The concept strikes me as a front page news item waiting to happen but certainly a tourist draw to the sulphur springs bubbling and hissing.

The most famous landmark of Saint Lucia are the two pinnacles Gros and Petit Piton hovering over the town of Soufriere.

” I think tomorrow we should hike one of the Pitons” Hubby casually remarked from his sun chair on the beach. I managed not to choke on my pina colada. Personally I seemed quite content with the exercise of lifting my beverage. ” It will be an adventure!” he beamed, looking like a puppy wanting desperately to go play in the park.

The next morning we were off to hike the Gros Piton, the tallest of the volcanic spires rising 2,619 feet above sea level. The Petit Piton, although slightly smaller, is far steeper and climbing gear recommended for that ascent. I had to draw the line somewhere with Hubby.

Coming from a dry climate I can not speak objectively about the humidity level. All I know is that if sweating were a competitive sport I ranked high in the official standings. The fauna flourish here in the rain forest and 148 plant species have been recorded on Gros Piton alone. The setting felt as though a Tyrannosaurus Rex might poke his giant head around a leaf at any moment and be added to the record books.

Sweating aside the views from the top are jaw dropping. Below from one side of the peak with Petit Piton in the background.

…and the other side of the summit looking southward …

Now back to the beautiful beach for some relaxing! My view of Hubby from my beach chair and his idea of taking it easy.

Can you see him in the photo below?

He actually settled into a beach chair after that!

Would you like to escape to Saint Lucia?

Map courtesy of World Atlas, Photo credit- photo #5 –  Wikipedia Commons