A Visitors reflection of St Lucia

Claire Durkin

This ravishing island rests approximately between 60 and 61 degrees West longitude and 13 and 14 degrees North latitude. She is in the Windward Islands which are part of the Lesser Antilles that belong to the exotic West Indies. Her lovely neighbours are Martinique, St Vincent and Barbados. There are direct eight hour flights by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic from the UK to Hewanorra International Airport. The capital is Castries which is about 75 minutes away and home to St Lucia’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. It will be another 20 minutes to your beach resort.

Currency in St Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar. You can change your sterling at banks, larger hotels and at the shopping complex Point Seraphine at Castries. U.S. dollars are also welcomed. The main language spoken is English and because of St Lucia’s French – British Heritage also a French based Creole and a local patois is used.

St Lucia became independent from the British in 1979 and celebrates this every February (I was there in February) with formal ceremonies, sporting events and parties. While I was there I went horse riding at Trims at Cas en Bas (I have the photo to prove it). I rode a gentle creature with a soft, unspoilt mouth. A long stony descent took us to a wonderful beach on the fresher Atlantic coast at Cotton Bay. The wild gallop along the shore was exhilarating, if a little alarming, and I wish I could do it again.

Sugar Beach and Jalousie Plantation

Apparently Sugar Beach and Jalousie Plantation are also the most desirable address in St Lucia. Whether they are or not, they are definitely situated in one of the most spectacular sites in the world. These houses and hotel have the immense good fortune and advantage of being under the watchful eye of the Pitons. The Pitons are two colossal peaks formed from volcanic eruptions and in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Tides at Sugar Beach is a collection of fabulous new dwellings and refurbished existing dwellings.

Jalousie Plantation is 192 acres of rainforest on the only completely white sand beach in St Lucia. The buildings are designed with a French Caribbean feel, and are elegant and charming. The villas have a butler service and many luxuries. They are arranged in settings climbing higher and higher up the forest surrounded by tropical shrubs glowing in the startling sunlight. Best to make sure your handbrake is in good nick and your stout walking shoes have rubber grips on the soles. The views up here are beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful. Best to check it out for yourself.

To see more try www.sugarbeachvillas.com or contact Naomi Cambridge, at naomi.cambridge@sugarbeachvillas.com

Tags: Jalousie, Jalousie Plantation, St Lucia, Sugar Beach, The Tides Sugar Beach, UNESCO

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