The Mountains: St. Lucia’s Breadbasket & Sweet Retreat…

As you sit at Calabash Mountain Villa, the view you see is of the marvelous mountains; but you do not see what is really on these mountains.  The Fond St. Jacque area in the Soufriere Quarter is known as the breadbasket of St. Lucia.  This area is very green with the trees of all sorts and the other plants, many of which feed the community; ergo, the breadbasket.  Being in the breadbasket can be rewarding in more than one way.  The obvious benefit is that it provides an awesome backdrop for this beautiful community.  The practical benefit is having a wide variety of food staples available in the area.  And our guests benefit from the freshness and variety of food items readily available in close proximity.

The gardens and farms can be deceiving because the terrain is not flat.  When driving through the area after the roadside area gets trimmed you could be very surprised at what lies behind the roadside growth.  Sometimes, you see well-tended farms with various crops growing.  Other times you will see homes surrounded by smaller gardens (some with gorgeous flowers, some with edible items or both.)  The breadbasket term fits both types of farms/gardens that produce edibles – they feed people.

Sometimes on larger plots you will also find livestock – cows, pigs, goats, chickens, and/or sheep.  While the livestock is not “breadbasket”, it is the meat that provides sustenance for the people.

So, what goodies will you find in the “breadbasket” farms/gardens?  Some items are regular staples in the St. Lucian diet, such as yams, dasheen, breadfruit (see below), plantain, calaloo greens, christophine, black-eye peas, tomatoes, celery, soybeans, carrots, etc.  There are fruits, such as bananas, avocado, papaya, guava, oranges, grapefruit, ackee, star apple, pumpkin and more. 

You will also find spices such as allspice, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, cumin seed, and peppers,  (sweet, hot or pungent,) and onions.  Cashew, coffee and cocoa trees are also found in this area.  There are so many other items found growing in the area, but this just gives you a sense of the variety and how they are tailored to the ingredients of the typical St. Lucian diet.

While all of these items make great traditional meals so tasty, they also make the area beautiful, with all these plants growing.  The array of colors is splendid – reds, yellow, orange, green and more – and provides an awesome backdrop for your Home Away From Home!  

There is something special about realizing that what is on your dinner plate came from surrounding gardens and farms.  The feeling of being one with nature comes into sharp focus when you take in the beauty of our surrounding area and recognize it is also a source of sustenance.

Written by:

Sandra Emmanuel, 

10/28/16

Sundays at the Beach...

When vacationers choose a Caribbean Island for their vacation, most people assume quality beach time will be part of the itinerary, as well it should be.  But, all beaches are not alike.  The physical terrain of an area has a lot to do with the appeal it has to tourists.  And, of course, the body of water that the beach is on also has something to do with how enjoyable the beach is.  For example, are there waves that are so large that it makes it difficult to be in the water?  Do waves wash a lot of trash up on the beach?  The answers to these questions help determine how enjoyable the beach will be.  

One, of a number of beaches in St. Lucia, that is a great place to spend some time while in the Soufriere area is Malgretoute Beach.  This is a beach that is well maintained and the people who frequent the beach are a nice mix of local residents and tourists.  It is one of our favorite beaches on Island.

Malgretoute Beach is located in Soufriere.  This Beach is a local favorite and a popular stop for boaters who are sight-seeing or just “cruising.”  Being right at the Pitons, makes it a spectacular site to see from the water.  The sand on this beach is not your white, fine grain sand.  This sand is great for constructing great sand castles or whatever you choose to make.  There are plenty of waves that come in from the sea, some of which are firm, especially when the wind conditions are right.  This only adds to the allure and adventure of the water.

This is a beach that attracts family groupings, couples, and individuals who want to enjoy a beautiful day at the beach.  On this day, it was especially nice to watch a group of kids who played soccer (also known as football in St. Lucia) then later played cricket right on the beach.  The older kids were showing the younger ones how to play the games and helping them hone their techniques.  The atmosphere was very positive as the older ones helped the younger ones.  And it was instructive to those who don’t know the ins and outs of the games (like me.)

But, on this day, our eyes kept being drawn to the water where a number of boats were mooring to enjoy the view from that spot.  There were a couple of “water taxis” and a couple of private boats who had been drawn to this beach to enjoy its beauty.  There were also boat handlers on hand to help boaters get anchored by tying their ropes to trees on shore.  At one point there were so many boats, they had to scramble to keep them from bumping into each other.  They were successful, but had to stay alert to avoid mishap.

While we were there, a party cruise sailed in.  You could hear their music way before they were ready to anchor.  The party cruise stopping here is a weekly occurrence.  Some of the people were dancing onboard as they came close to shore.  When they anchored, some people from the boat dove into the

water and swam ashore (others got on the dingy and were rowed ashore.)  It appears they were a charter group of St. Lucians, probably from the Castries area, as some who came ashore knew a number of people at the beach that day. 

Sometimes the party cruise is full of tourists who have signed up for a party cruise.  The boat usually stays about an hour; bringing their party to all at the beach.

In addition to the party cruise, there were other boaters out on the water who came to shore to enjoy the beach on this day.  The number of boats who came to shore is what accounted for the “fun” the boat handlers were having that day.  Our hats were surely off to the handlers as they averted several bumps and scrapes.

It was great to relax at the beach, look out at the Caribbean Sea, enjoy the saltwater bath, and enjoy the people gathered at the beach that day!  This is one of the things that tourists to St. Lucia can be a part of, enjoy the gathering of people, and learn more about the local culture. 

What is your favorite thing to do at the beach?  Share with us in the comments......

Written by,

Sandra Emmanuel,

August 18, 2016

NEED A VACATION? !

Is this you?  “I’m too busy."  "I don’t have time to take a vacation.  I don’t need a vacation."  "I don’t have anywhere to go on vacation."  "A vacation costs too much money.”  Are any of these excuses running through your mind?  Well, stop listening to these evil voices in your head.  Everyone needs vacation and should take vacations periodically.  A vacation is, “a break or a time of respite from something.” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)  Start planning your respite right now!

When you plan a vacation, one of the things you want to consider is ‘what can I do while on vacation?’  Of course, many just want to relax and feel that where they go isn’t that important, because they really don’t want to do anything.  Consider this – suppose you decide not to go anywhere, as people find out you are at home, on vacation, the phone starts to ring.  It could be people from work who just have “one quick little question” as they apologize for bothering you while on vacation.  Or it could be friends or family members who have some great ideas for how to spend your free time by going and doing stuff.  Your plans for a relaxing vacation are already blown. 

So now, can we agree the best option is to go somewhere?  The question is where to go.

We propose going to St. Lucia.  Why you should visit St. Lucia:  This is an island where you can do absolutely nothing if you want to.  There are lots of beaches around the island for you to enjoy and just relax.  There are places where you can just stay in your lovely, luxurious room and do nothing.  You can go sit in a park or a lovely garden and do nothing but enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area.  Go to see the most beautiful waterfalls, marveling at the beauty of nature – and just sit there and do nothing.  You get the picture, you can be inaccessible to those who know you, and would plan your day for you because you are on vacation.

Some people only think they are tired, but they are so bored from doing the same routine things day in and day out, it wears them out.   They may be ready to actually do something different.  Well, there is plenty to do in St. Lucia for fun.  Beaches and gardens are there for you to enjoy, but there is much more.  You can go to major shopping centers where you can find very unique fine items.  If nature is more your style, take a hike through the rainforest; climb one of the Pitons or other mountain trails; go horseback riding; go scuba diving; and the list of what to do goes on...  You can go shopping at the vendor markets and pick up some wonderful jewelry, works of art (paintings, sculptures, and more), clothing, etc.  There is plenty to do in the evenings too.  Pick your style of entertainment and go enjoy some music, do some dancing, walk along a moon-drenched beach, enjoy the constellation of stars that shine bright at night, lots to do!

SOURCE OF INSPIRATION & INNER PEACE

People draw inspiration and inner peace from a wide variety of sources.  Birds soaring above provide it for a great number of people.  There is something about the act of soaring through the air that seems so free and unfettered.  It is that sense of being unfettered, and the peace of that gentle gliding that people respond to.  While we know we have responsibilities, we tend to drop that stress of obligations sitting on our shoulders when we watch birds soaring so freely.  Of course that is a passing moment, but one to be enjoyed nonetheless.  When you can have that feeling for prolonged periods of time; that is when you feel the benefits of true relaxation and peace.

First thing in the morning, before the day with its planned activities take over; I watch these beautiful white birds enter our valley.  They “make an entrance” into the valley every day.  And at the end of the day they “take their leave”.  When I first started watching this ritual, I thought maybe they were doves.  First, one beautiful white bird would fly from over the mountains on the far side of the valley, and traverse the area going the length of the valley on one side, then coming back on the other side.  Then more white birds (sometimes as many as 11 or 12 of them) would join the first one.  They enter this valley from over the mountains on the far side of the valley.  They fly up and down the valley a few times, doing loops and circles as they go.  They sometimes break into two or three groups; then they begin to settle in various places.  The pattern is not set, which makes it interesting to watch them as they make their graceful sweeps of the valley, and one by one, drop down to settle for a while. 

Just before sunset, the birds begin to gather again through a process of sailing back and forth through the valley.  Then they fly over the ridge on the other side of the valley, I presume to settle in for the night.  Sometimes I see one beautiful white bird make the final pass through the valley - solo.

After a few months, I found out these are the Cattle Egrets that feed on the insects that are found around grazing cattle (here that means cows, goats, and horses.)  Finding out exactly what kind of bird it is and why they are here has not changed how they make me feel.  The way they soar, brings peace, calm, and inspiration.  What things in nature bring you that sense of calm and relaxation? (Let us know in the comments.)

WAKING UP!

It is 6:00 a.m. and it’s light outside.  You are brought to consciousness by the distant crowing of a rooster.  While it is light, the sun has not crested over the mountain tops just yet.  The other sound you hear is the sweet chirping of birds throughout the valley.  [Too early for you?  No problem, let the chirping birds lull you back to sleep.]

Depending on whether it’s a weekday or the weekend, you will hear dogs bark occasionally, coming out to greet the new day as people make their way to work.  Then there’s an occasional car of someone headed to work.

If it’s a windy day, you hear the leaves rustling on the trees.  If it is raining, you hear the gentle sound of rain against the building and the trees.  Sometimes you will hear a horn tooting as it travels the winding roads, announcing the bread truck so people can go out and get the fresh baked local bread (yum.)

Little by little you hear more chirping.  It’s a variety of chirps as more birds awaken and arrive in this valley.  You may hear the mooing of cows, bleating of sheep and goats join in, or the whinny of a horse here and there.

If you’ve decided to get up and enjoy watching the valley as it awakens, you will also see birds sailing through the valley, stopping occasionally in the trees to chirp and signal others that it’s a new day.  This is when you see the Cattle Egret along with other birds.  When you see the birds, the sun is in the process of cresting the mountain tops.

Another beautiful day is underway!  Birds are not the only activity going on in this area.  During the week, you will see children making their way to school and adults making their way to work.  Some of this foot-traffic and some vehicles go right past us on the road below, where you can see them.  Others are making their way to school or work on the road above us.

THE TRANQUILITY OF SUNSET

The sun rises and sets every day.  Some of the rising and setting is more spectacular than others.  Many feel watching the sun rise or set on the sea is the best.  We believe there is beauty in the process wherever you happen to be.  If you happen to be at Calabash Mountain Villa, you can see for yourself, it is a beautiful event, and here is how it happens……

Calabash Mountain Villa sits in a mountain valley, on the side of a mountain.  There is a lot of mountain behind/above us.  We don’t sit due north or south.  So, sunrise and sunset look a little different here.  Sunrise for us comes over the mountains that sit across the valley and to our right as we look out from the balcony.  Sunset is even trickier.  The sun sets behind us to our left.  The mountain where we sit blocks the “real” sunset from our view.  However, that does not mean we cannot enjoy the beauty of sunset.

Our sunset is in the play of sunlight as it slips behind the mountains and it gets progressively dark.  This is a beautiful sight.  As the sun slips behind the mountains, its rays play off of the clouds in the sky and the mountainsides we see in front of us.  The setting sun bathes everything in its reddish hue, as it gets closer to being fully set.   We enjoy watching the various birds as they sail up and down the valley as they prepare to settle into their overnight spots; singing and calling to each other as they soar back and forth.  Along with the birds, the crickets, ting-ting frogs, and other insects create a symphony of sound that goes along with the sunset.  When the sun is just about fully set, there is still enough light for a moment to see and appreciate the beauty of the mountains.  When all the light has gone and the mountains are dark, the symphony continues on into the night, the perfect lullaby. 

What end-of-day phenomena of nature do you enjoy the most?

CALABASH – TREE OF MANY USES

The Calabash tree is the national tree of St. Lucia and can be found many places around this island.  One of those places is Calabash Mountain Villa.  We chose the name of this Villa based on its significance in St. Lucia and because of the tree’s presence on this property (we have about five on property.)  The Calabash tree is a lovely tree and adds to the beauty of our property.  It also provides a nice conversation piece for our guests.  The tree grows to about 40 feet tall, produces a large spherical fruit with a hard shell and soft pulp.  The sphere can grow up to 20 inches in diameter.  The pulp is whitish with thin brown seeds.  The tree also has flowers with light green petals and purple streaks that come together in a funnel shape.  An interesting fact about this tree is that the flowers bloom at night on the trunk and branches after being pollinated by bats.

You might expect the tree would be a food source, having been elevated to such prominence.  However, it is the overall utility of the tree and the fact that it’s plentiful, that elevated it to the national tree status.

So, how is the tree useful?  The calabash fruit pulp is used medicinally for cough medicine, laxative, healing skin problems and bruising, asthma and other respiratory problems.  The shell is used as bowls, scoops, cups, musical instruments, and as an ornament.  The wood of the Calabash tree is said to cure ear aches and reduce fever.  The leaves are used in blood pressure medicine.  Of course, people with health issues should consult qualified medical professionals for their problems and direction for use of the calabash as a remedy.

The Calabash tree is a lovely tree and adds to the beauty of our property.  It also provides a nice conversation piece for our guests.

THE SOUFRIERE WATERFRONT AREA

There is something special about waterfront areas, especially when the waterfront is a sea or ocean.  The waterfront at Soufriere, St. Lucia is no different.  It has always been a wonderfully relaxing place and really great to look at.  A few years ago Soufriere decided that it was time for some sprucing up.  They came up with some new ideas and gathered the necessary resources and they gave the waterfront a face-lift.  This was not just a, splashing some paint on existing structures, face-lift.  They gave some real thought to what the area should be for tourists.

They decided to expand the tourist info office from one of the buildings along Bay Street to an additional free standing kiosk right by Soufriere Bay.  It is bright and inviting and a lot easier to find.  All the maps, brochures, and magazines you need to decide where you want to go in Soufriere are right there.  A real improvement.

The pier was also given a face-lift with some paint and signage that welcomes visitors to the town.  Many people who are sightseeing in Soufriere arrive by boats from other parts of the island, or from ships that anchor in the Bay, or even from nearby islands.  While Soufriere always welcomed visitors, there is no doubt now that you are welcomed to this town.  And the beautiful kiosk makes you feel like this is a place you would really like to know much better!

What things make you really excited to explore an unfamiliar area?  When you travel, what do you look for to help you find your way around?

Written by,

Sandra Emmanuel

June 4, 2016

So Many Interesting Things to See…..

#St. Lucia culture  #natural surroundings  #walking trails  #mountain climbing #sustainability

St. Lucia is just one of many “islands in the sun,” so it is fascinating to see why people choose St. Lucia.  Many choose St. Lucia because of the variety of things to do and see.  And, the variety of things to do in the Soufriere area is one of the things that brings guests to Calabash Mountain Villa.

One of our special treats is to see the excitement of our guests as they leave for their special excursions while staying with us.  Some of them have really done their research ahead of time, figuring out what they want to visit, what things they think will fit into one day, and what would be the logical place to stay to make their plans work.  And we have noticed that those who have done their homework well are the ones who are most fulfilled when it is time to return home.  Some of the guests will sit with our manager and see if what they planned is “doable” and if the combination of activities to be done in one day makes sense.  Daron is truly happy when he can help our guests have a fabulous experience while here.  He is especially good at making sure the plans are “do-able” within the timeframe they have planned.  He always checks with them on their return from the excursions to find out if everything went as planned.  The only comments I’ve heard that are less than totally positive is when the visitor has over-estimated what they could cram into one day.

One of our recent guests was one of those “plan-ahead” people.  And she took Daron’s advice to heart.  She even sat and tweaked her plans after recognizing that some of the activities can be really challenging, and too much for one day.

This story, like the last couple of posts, will tell you the story via the guest’s photos, of what a visit in St. Lucia can be.  

We love it when guests like our place so much that they begin taking pictures of our place when they arrive.  This guest started with her room.  Her room photo captures the colorfulness of the room and the balcony and green trees visible from the balcony.  We believe that lots of beautiful, rich colors have a lot to do with how well your vacation goes.  We also think that it is great to have your bathroom set up to reflect the fun you will have with us.  The decorative styling with the towels and wash cloths are a nice touch that guests appreciate (and even take pictures of.)  Her next step was to capture pictures of the surrounding area – the lush green mountains and all the vegetation around us.  She even captured the colorfulness of our building; the second level of our building; and other pictures of the community surrounding us, from the vantage point of her piece of the balcony.  And everybody tries to get pictures of the frequently seen rainbows that appear.

                           

Our guest traveled the Tet Paul Trail as one of her adventures.  Tet Paul is a community run nature trail that includes an organic farm, lookout points, beautiful views of the Pitons, and excellent insights to traditional local life.  It covers a 3.1 mile path through the Soufriere District.  The pictures include pineapples growing, views of the mountains and surrounding small communities.  You can also see that she captured a picture of a very stylish, upscale home located among the trees and other plants in nature.

In addition to the awesome views from the Trail, you can also see the beautiful plants along the way.  The other thing visible is views of the Soufriere Bay and the ocean beyond.  Several places along the trail you are afforded views of beautiful mountain-scapes, ocean views, and beautiful cloud formations, that all come together for an awesome view. 

    

 From a distance, mountains can appear as huge rock formations, but getting closer and really getting to see the mountain terrain, you see that there is plenty of vegetation and trees on these mountains.  And when you do these mountain hikes, you become aware of the distinct mountain trails that have formed and been around for a very long time!  The other thing that becomes obvious from a mountain hike is just how many trails, dwellings, and fields of crops are found in the mountains.

                         

   

From the elevated vantage of a mountain trail, the water sport vehicles and beaches look much smaller than they do when you are down at the water or beach level.  When you go up in the mountains you also become more aware of the communities that exist in the mountains.  Depending on the size of the community, you might not even know they are there unless you actually go into the mountain vegetation and experience the trails, roads, and communities that exist among the trees.

St. Lucia looks at cultural heritage as one of its greatest assets.  Visitors to the Island love that they can see actual communities and vestiges of “days gone by.”  You can see how meals were prepared in large iron pots on a real fire inside thatch buildings.  It is a better history lesson than just reading about it.  The guides are excellently versed in the history and culture of the areas.

Downtown Soufriere is still struggling from a huge fire that affected several blocks of the central downtown area.  The most damaged area is cordoned off by wooden barriers to prevent people from getting injured from trying to explore the damaged area out of curiosity.  However, Soufriere is still in business, serving visitors to the area and residents of the area.  Vendors have found new places to set up their wares and entice tourists to look at and buy their products.

Back at “home base” you have Esperance Road, which used to be a main road in this area that could

take you right into Soufriere, but not anymore.  But, it is still part of the local community.  Down this road you will still find local residences.  You see children pass along this road going to and from school.  The “bread man” passes through this road, early in the day, selling home baked local bread.  So there is no reason a guest at Calabash Mountain Villa should not feel free to go ahead and explore that part of this local community.  It is a very green and tree-rich area.  There are a beautiful variety of flowers and plants growing along this road.  Some are growing, apparently wild, but they are still beautiful and colorful.

                  

And the goats you see belong to someone when you see them with a rope or tether around their necks.  Some of the plants may be wild flowers, and some are planted by people in this area who also come and tend to them, e.g. the cocoa trees.  In all it looks like there were over 35 different kinds of plants that were seen in the photos taken.  The plants attract birds and insects which add more ambiance to the area.  You will also see well maintained fields growing a wide variety of crops in the area.  This is why the Soufriere area is considered the bread basket of St. Lucia.

An interesting news item that ties into this very topic is that, “St. Lucia’s Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology has formally launched the 10 Year National Forest Strategy (2015 – 2026.)  It provides a framework for the management of terrestrial ecosystems of St. Lucia and the services they provide.  Key priorities include maintaining healthy ecosystems and thriving species; ensuring sustainable flows of products that support both local economies and biodiversity conservation; protecting water supplies, soils and coastal zones and ensuring resilience to climate change; promoting awareness, visitation and cultural enhancement; and organizational strengthening.” This is why visitors to the Island will be able to look forward to such beautiful experiences, which are also eco-friendly to ensure the experience is there for future generations of St. Lucia residents and visitors to the Island.

There are many trails and paths in this area of the Island and we help those who want to explore this area some more trails, find a local guide to make sure they don’t stray onto a private land, or get lost and be unable to find their way back.  Many of our guests have found themselves enchanted by the trees, flowers and surrounding fields of crops that they have seen in this area.  Some of the farms are so well manicured that they rival the flowers for the attention of visitors.  There is something so calming and restful in a natural area of this sort.  You expand your understanding of what it takes to be stress free and you learn about a different place while you are being reenergized.

The final shots taken by our guest were of some of the beautiful original artwork which adorns the Common Area of Calabash Mountain Villa.  The original artwork was done by a local artist who knew the flowers, fruits and vegetables growing in this area and the birds that frequent the area, very well.  

Special thanks to our guests who have shared their pictures with us to help you see this area.

Written by,

Sandra Emmanuel

Calabash Mountain Villa

April 17, 2015

Beautiful St. Lucia! Part 2: A Walk-Through Volcano; a Sulphur Bath; & another Awesome Beach

Beautiful St. Lucia!  Part 2:  A Walk-Through Volcano; 

a Sulphur Bath; & another Awesome Beach

Continuing with the story of our guests who planned ahead and were determined to visit, at least most of, the things they had researched and chosen to do.  The walk-through Volcano was the next on the list.  It is an attraction that many find hard to believe, until they experience it for themselves.  The “Soufriere Volcano” is the only “drive-through” volcano in the world.  It is a natural draw for visitors to St. Lucia.  People are drawn to this attraction for: hopes that the touted medicinal qualities of the water will provide relief to sore joints and limbs; some because of the sheer “adventure” for taking on a “live volcano”; and others because it is an unusual attraction that they will be able to talk about when they return home.  Our two guests probably exemplified all of those reasons between them.  So, the day after exploring the Botanical Gardens, they were off on another adventure.

Even before getting all the way into the park, their noses told them they had arrived.  The legendary “rotten eggs” smell of Sulphur lets you know you are close, even before you arrive.  The volcano is considered dormant, thus posing no danger if you follow all the rules of the Park.  The volcanic minerals and health-giving properties (which are said to be really great for the skin) are why this is such a popular attraction.  The Sulphur Springs give off a mixture of iron, calcium oxide, Sulphur, copper oxide, carbon and magnesium.  There is no volcanic lava involved, which is why it is considered a safe attraction.

The “mud baths” are a couple of hundred yards downstream from the springs, where the water temperature is still “hot,” but considered “cool enough” to be safe (about 110 degrees Fahrenheit/45 degrees Celsius.)  These mud baths are said to contain medicinal properties, which is why some tourists and some locals use them.  The waters are also said to have therapeutic qualities for the ski The “mud baths” are a couple of hundred yards downstream from the springs, where the water temperature is still “hot,” but considered “cool enough” to be safe (about 110 degrees Fahrenheit/45 degrees Celsius.)  These mud baths are said to contain medicinal properties, which is why some tourists and some locals use them.  The waters are also said to have therapeutic qualities for the skin.

Yes, our guests went right over and experienced the Sulphur bath.  But, guests/tourists in St. Lucia are not the only ones drawn to the attraction.  Many residents of St. Lucia bathe in this pool for the same therapeutic results the tourists seek.  It is considered a real valuable asset by many.

Personal Testimony:  I have personally experienced the healing power of the Sulphur Bath.  Many years ago, on one of my first visits to St. Lucia, I was walking around with my husband and brother-in-law on some family property that was pretty rough.  I stumbled and ended up with a gash in my foot.  We were near the Volcano Park, so they took me there and had me put my foot in the pool.  The water was really hot, but I kept my foot in there for a little while.  When I took my foot out, you could barely see where I had cut my toe and it did not bleed anymore!

And, another beach….  St. Lucia has so many beach areas, you have no excuse for not visiting the beach while visiting here.  Many of the prime beach locations have been claimed by hotels that are located near the coast (and some require you to buy a pass to access the beach.)  One of the more popular beaches is the Hummingbird Beach (located by the Hummingbird Beach Resort.)  There are a number of reasons it is popular:  you don’t have to buy a pass to access the beach; it is right there at the waterfront in Soufriere; you can see some awesome views from this beach; there is a lot of boat/ship traffic you can see from this beach; and it is easily accessible.  The other plus is that the restaurant at Hummingbird Resort is a great place to eat.  And our guests took advantage of all those pluses. 

Our guests enjoyed another full day of activity without having to leave this general area.

Written by,

Sandra Emmanuel, March 29, 2016

BEAUTIFUL ST. LUCIA! THE BEACH, A GREAT MEAL, A RUM TOUR ...

#St. Lucia Beach #Rhythm of Rum Tour #Anse LaRaye

We get great joy from having our guests venture out to discover the awesomeness of St. Lucia and return with glowing reports and pictures.  We thought you might enjoy seeing what a couple of our guests “discovered” during the first two days of their stay with us.

These two ladies did their homework before coming to St. Lucia.  They had a list of places they wanted to see, in person, after having seen pictures during their online research.  When they arrived in St. Lucia, they rented a car so they could go where they wanted to, when they wanted to, without having to depend on someone to take them around.  This gave them maximum flexibility to see what they wanted to see.  Their spirit of adventure was laudable!

Bright and early the day after they arrived, they arose and noted the early morning beauty of this area.  The sun was about to crest over the mountains to the east of our valley when they took this photo; the beginning of a beautiful new day!  Our guests then had breakfast and started out on their day’s adventure.

Finding a beautiful beach was high on the list of priorities.  After breakfast, they needed to finish up some business regarding their rental car.  And, there is a beautiful beach right by the airport where they rented the car.  It made perfect sense that the beach was their second stop.  Vigie Beach is on the Atlantic side of the Island.  Nonetheless, it is a beautiful beach; and when you look out at the Ocean, it just goes on “forever.”  And on-shore, looking at the sand tells a story all its own.  There was a heart declaring love for the Island of St. Lucia; very touching!  There was also your “typical” sand creation – a fort made of sand.  

This photo tells a different story about this beach.  Lots of footprints and paw prints – must have been where a dog(s) played with the owner(s.)  Look real close and you will see shoes that were shed when someone decided to wade into the ocean.  Overall, this scene gives you the feel of a popular beach that gets lots of foot traffic.  The beach loaded with footprints also tells you that lots of people are drawn there to look out to a place that seems to go on forever and can take you to “far-away” places.  It’s a place that fuels dreams.  And these ladies still dream big dreams, and act on those dreams.

That evening, back at home base, it was dinner time.  The beautifully plated meals served at Calabash Mountain Villa certainly make your mouth water.  When initially served it looks so scrumptious you can hardly wait to dive in.  Then as you begin to consume the meal, you realize that you have a hearty serving of food and start to wonder if you will be able to eat all of it.  You dig in and do your best to savor every bite.  When done, all you can do is sit and enjoy the great conversation at the table (nobody can move.)  Often the conversation just goes on until it is bedtime...

The next morning the ladies were ready for day two of their site-seeing.  This day was determined to be the day for the "Rhythm of Rum Tour" at the St. Lucia rum distillery.  This tour is a great experience.  On this tour, the very capable and entertaining tour guide gives you the history of St. Lucia rum making and all that goes into the process.  The Tour is very educational and the tour guide is very entertaining as he shares his knowledge of the process with those taking the Tour.  (You come away from the tour with a new appreciation of all that it takes to distill rum.)  The added feature of this tour is that you also learn a bit more about St. Lucian culture as the rum is discussed in context of the celebrations of which the rum is part and parcel.  There was a segment of the tour that discussed the rum in context of the St. Lucia Carnival experience.  They even had recordings of the music and costumes that some on the tour agreed to adorn and get into the Carnival spirit.  And yes, our guests got into the act (and no, we are not sharing a picture of that.)

Following the Tour, you are led to the “tasting area,” where the tables are set up with bottles of the various flavors of rum that are distilled there.  You have an opportunity to go around the tables and sample different flavors of rum.  Then you can go into the onsite Rum Shop (duty-free shopping) and purchase the bottles of rum you want to take with you.  And yes, we engaged in the buying end of the tour.

A good chunk of the day was gone and it was time to head back to the Villa. And on the trip back, the beauty of the communities we passed through prompted a photo-taking stop.  So, we parked the vehicle in Anse La Raye and our guests exited to take pictures from a viewpoint (an area that is situated where you can take great photos of the area and not obstruct other traffic.)  The viewpoint gives you a great look at the layout of the community that is situated in a very mountainous area.  The mountains in this area make for a dramatic and beautiful scene.  The beauty of the vibrant colors of the homes almost demands that pictures be taken.

Back on the road again, we find more places to capture land and seascapes.  Gorgeous and colorful homes abound on the Island of St. Lucia!  More mountains –awesome surroundings– simply gorgeous!  And we even got to capture a storm coming in from the sea (we managed to move on before it actually came ashore.) 

Written by Sandra Emmanuel

Pictures courtesy of our guests!

March 19, 2016

A WALK IN THE MOUNTAINS

A WALK IN THE MOUNTAINS

A good number of our guests really enjoy activities like climbing Petit Piton or Gros Piton, or exploring some of the other natural wonders and attractions that this area of St. Lucia has to offer.  In actuality, we are no different than our guests.  For example, one day we were sitting around and Julian decided we should go explore an area that he remembers from his childhood.  So, we got a great person, our neighbor, Kendall, to help us navigate to the area we wanted to visit.

Our adventure started off in our vehicle.  We drove around to the other side of the valley we face and drove up behind a bank of mountains.  The road was kind of rough, but we have a vehicle equipped to hand it, shifting into a lower gear, we pressed on.  And we wound our way up the mountains on the other side of our valley.  While we went along, Julian would point out various houses and other landmarks that he remembered from his childhood.  Then we finally got to a place where he decided we should proceed by foot.  There is a lot of farming that happens in these mountains.  You can see some of the fields from our vantage point at Calabash Mountain Villa, but that is only a small part of what is really in this area.  The picture below is of a Christophene arbor.  This plant is one of the staples of great meals around here.  It is a food that compliments any main dish.

It was quite fascinating to listen to Julian's remembrances of his childhood growing up in this area.  He would recall specific incidents, like they had happened a few days ago.  Many of his recollections were humorous ones, so we enjoyed great chuckles as we walked along.  When we got to a certain area, he identified it as an area they had lived in for a while.  He even was able to show us a specific house they lived in, and he was surprised that it was still in halfway decent condition.  As he told us about locations, there were also stories about some of the happenings that went on in those places.  Many of the stories were humorous and others were filled with his remembrances of what was a childhood full of interesting capers and experiences.  It is always fascinating to hear all about childhood experiences that someone can recall like they happened yesterday.  The housing in this area is pretty rustic, and the memories were rich.

Before long we had reached an area that had some very spectacular views of the town of Soufriere.  We were on the mountains that are opposite the side of town that is the waterfront.  Awesome views!  And yes, we were glad we had the camera to get some of these views.  However, as is usually the case, the pictures are great but don’t really capture the magnitude and beauty of the area.  (Of course, part of the reason is that we are not professional photographers.)

As we kept walking, we got to a spot where we could look down and see Calabash Villa from the mountains across from us.  When we are standing on our balcony looking across the valley at the mountains, it looks like one continuous mountain landscape.  However, it is rows of mountains, with roads and houses between the mountains.  It is these roads that enable you to get up to the upper reaches of the mountains without having to actually climb the mountains.  It is absolutely fascinating what all is on the mountains that cannot be seen from a distance, because the roads and buildings are hidden by rows of trees on both sides of the roads.  But once you go up there, you can better understand where a lot of the traffic you see driving around comes from and where they are going.

The other fascinating realization is that there are lots and lots of mountains that you would never see unless you climbed high enough to see over the lower mountains.  You can see in some of our pictures the rows and rows of mountains that exist on this part of the Island.  These are awesome views!  In the above picture of Calabash Mountain Villa, taken from the mountains across from us, you get a sense of the landscape around us.  When you are driving here, you see the trees around the roads, but do not get a full sense of the entire area.  Being able to get high enough up to look down on us really gives you a better perspective of this area.  

If you get a chance to visit St. Lucia, or if you are on St. Lucia, make it a point to go and see these views for yourself.  Aside from being gorgeous views, it also gives you another perspective about this Island.  There are communities that evolve from the natural landscape of this Island.  The terrain helps form small communities that share an area.  People in these communities have bonds that last a lifetime.  Of course, that is not to say that people do not get around to other communities, but there is a special bond between people who attend the same schools together, play in the same areas together, and who have dealt with natural conditions and calamities together.

Written by, Sandra Emmanuel

March 2, 2016
www.calabashvilla.com