Blog 179 Day 13. In the Port of Castries, St. Lucia.

I DO HOPE THAT I GET TO COME HERE AGAIN!

Whereas Barbados might not immediately “wow” with spectacular scenery (don’t get me wrong, the beaches are to die for), the backdrop around Castries is dramatic with distant hills and mountains inviting exploration. It was 26°C when I was crawling out of bed shortly around 8 am. The view, although nothing out of the ordinary, was worth recording and concluding my previous blog.

My original plan was to have breakfast, loosen up in the Spa; I did wake up rather stiff and the lower back, and then explore. Right now, I am enjoying breakfast outside. There is much intermittent cloud cover. When the sun goes in, the breeze remains warm and refreshing. When the sun emerges it becomes the kind of summer we can only dream about in England.

17.55 hrs Looking back.

I decided to leave the Spa until later. It was too tempting to get into glorious mountains. After all fresco breakfast, I returned to my stateroom to shower, collect my things and see what excursions were on offer. I chose a taxi ride that would take me to where I could photograph the famous Pitons of St. Lucia. Cash only! I had to return to the ship, obtain cash from the Purser’s Desk, and then pay for the trip. For a second time this holiday, my phone was nowhere to be found. After looking in all the wrong places. it occurred to me that I might have left it at security check in. Phew! It was there. My blood pressure returned to normal!

This is going to be expensive. I had a mini van to myself for a 120 km round trip ride to see the Pitons. Pascal was my driver for just under three hours. He told me some interesting local facts for the first few miles into the ride. We passed through two colourful fishing villages. Pascal is a professional fisherman when he is not driving tourists either to the beach or around the island. The roads are very bendy, steep and sometimes narrow, although the main road on which we were newly tarmacked and pothole free!

After negotiating Friday afternoon traffic in Castries (the Capital), we were soon climbing steeply until we stopped at the first viewing point, affording a magnificent uninterrupted sight of Queen Victoria, and the nearby P & O ship Ventura, slightly obscured.

With numerous hairpin bends and steep hills, albeit through dramatic countryside, it seemed to take a long time to reach the fabulous viewing point. Suddenly, Pascal pulled into the opposite side of the road. There they were in all the magnificence.

Once I had taken the photos. we turned round to head back to the ship. I took a few pictures and video of the ride back. In time to come, I can refresh the memories of this gorgeous car ride.