Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2014/January 2015 | Page 29

TRAVEL

boat was some half a mile from it, I will
never forget the grace and enormity as it
dived and re-appeared to take in air.
The island has several underground
volcanos and on one of our guided
tours we witnessed the sulpha springs
bubbling mud emitting pungent gases
from a volcano. The island’s main export
is bananas, which is said to bring equal
revenue to the island to that of tourism.
However, this was seriously affected
when many plantations were lost to the
hurricane.
The small coastal fishing villages
around the Island lead to both banana
and coconut plantations which are
situated in deep valleys topped by a rich
and mountainous jungle. I found the
St. Lucians generally less extrovert than
those of their neighbouring Caribbean
islands and have somehow quietly
embraced various cultures.
For example, if you visit a Catholic
cathedral in the capital you will find a
real mixture of influences. Very often the
building will be of French design with
richly bright painted interiors from an
African influence together with portraits
of a black Madonna and child and
surprisingly services conducted in English!
It is the very scenic and secluded
backdrop that the island offers that has
drawn many film directors to the island

"Homes and schools
were flattened and
the road system
extensively affected
by mud slides."
over the years including for the film
Superman 2 and in 1967 the original
Doctor Doolittle with Rex Harrison.
Like many of the Caribbean islands
the food is very much of a West Indian
influence coupled with Creole dishes

found across the Caribbean, but more
particularly the most wonderful variety
of fruit throughout the seasons with
bananas and coconuts appearing in a
variety of local dishes.
The wildlife is spectacular, particularly
watching the flight of the large frigate birds
and herons as they fly across the island
and nesting in the dense jungle areas
around the Pitons. But watch out for the
snakes as boa constrictors are plentiful!
It is an island certainly to be explored
both by land and sea and nothing is
better than to observe the spectacular
sunsets over the sea in a local bar washed
down with a glass of Piton beer brewed
and produced in Vieux Fort on the island.

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