TRAVEL DIARY: ST. LUCIA

In mid-June, I had the privilege to enjoy and explore the beautiful, Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia. Set in the Lesser Antilles, St. Lucia is a mountainous island with a collapsed volcano, lush green hills, mineral baths, and friendly people. My best friend and I stayed on an Atlantic Ocean coast resort called Coconut Bay Beach and took a few excursions to Soufriere.

Being of Caribbean descent, I always feel right at home returning to any West Indian island; like I'm returning to a land with a culture I can identify and be comfortable with. I come with the expectation of knowing the foods and understanding the people fully but more often than not it's not the case. There's always something new to be learned in the Caribbean and the people, culture, and life in general. If there's at least one constant among all of the West Indian nations, it's that food will always taste good no matter where you go!

Yoga on the beach

In St. Lucia, although the official language is English, 95% of the people speak the same French-based Kreyol/Patois as my mother does in Dominica (which I know bare minimum of) due to the island having been under the rule of the English seven times and the French seven times--which explains why the town names are in French and driving is done on the left--before receiving its independence in 1979.

Beachside at Coconut Bay Beach Resort

During our first excursion, we went to Soufriere to explore the bubbling sulfur pools at the drive-thru volcano, the sulfur mud baths, the warm mineral water baths, and snorkeling in the bay between the Pitons (two peak mountains named Gros Piton aka Big Piton and Piti Piton aka Little Piton). Each experience was more beautiful than the last, but my time snorkeling was abruptly shortened by the sight of a sea eel (which I confused for a snake) so I refused to go back again haha. I don't play when it comes to snakes.

Sulfur pools in volcano -  the magma under the crust heats the sulfur to 230+ degrees Fahrenheit

Snorkeling between the Pitons at Sugar Bay Beach Resort 

Crystal clear Caribbean Sea water

For our second excursion, we returned to Soufriere but this time for a tour of Morne Courbaril Plantation Estate and some adventurous zip lining. I definitely was not feeling my zip lining look (a helmet only makes someone with a 'fro look like an egg head haha), but I had the time of my life zipping through the exotic plants and scenery of the estate grounds.

Overall, our trip was amazing, the resort was the best I've ever been to, and the island left me with a yearning to return. St. Lucia, sété plézi-mwen. (St. Lucia, it was my pleasure). I can't wait to return and do some more exploring someday!

Artwork at Coconut Bay Beach Resort 

Love,

Sherelle