Last week, I was walking without Chuck and without my usual camera. We took a trip to Saint Lucia, a lush, volcanic island in the south western Caribbean. The reefs are beautiful – rich with colorful sponges and fans, anemones and living coral. We swam with huge schools of vibrant reef fish and spotted eels, squid, huge trumpet fish and innumerable other fish. Along the shore, I saw a number of herons and other shorebirds. I was so excited and surprised to spot a green heron! This is the same bird I see in the metroparks all the time; I guess he likes to vacation in the Caribbean too.
Inland, we explored the rainforest on a zipline tour and visited the botanical gardens. There was an incredible variety of plants at the gardens, too many for me to identify! A meandering path leads to Diamond Waterfall, which is unique because it changes color based on which mineral(s) are most prominent in the water at a given time. It was also the site of a scene in Romancing the Stone, a fun fact that we learned after we got home! The same water that flows over the falls is collected in a series of pools set amongst the gardens. It contains a variety of minerals purported to soothe ailments from sunburn to arthritis. The restorative waters were originally discovered in Napoleon’s time. His troops used to come to the island to bathe in the waters in between campaigns. It is said that Napolean’s wife also visited the baths. It was incredible to soak in the warm waters and contemplate all those who had been in that very place before!
There is so much rich life and culture on the island. It only gained its status as an independent nation in 1979 after a long history of colonization by the French and the British, so there is an interesting blend of influences on the food and language. Everyone on the island speaks English, but they also move effortlessly into Patois (Patwa), which is a French-based Creole language. The creole food is exceptional! It’s simple – typically fish or chicken marinated for a long time in a blend of spices and served with rice, beans, plantains or macaroni salad. Of course, the fruit is also amazing! The mangos and passion fruit were our favorites. Interestingly, bananas are grown all over the island and are a major export for the country, but we didn’t see them served anywhere.
I know this post is a big departure from the norm. I hope you enjoyed the variety as much as I did! I don’t want to drone on and on, but if you have any questions about St. Lucia or any of the photos, don’t hesitate to leave a comment and I will answer.
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