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

Put A Lid On It, Shape It All Up, & Time for Rememberances

After the walls and floors are all in place, the next thing to deal with is the roof.  The roof of Calabash Mountain Villa is magnificent, especially in the center portion of the structure.  We have that very high cathedral ceiling, and as you can see from the pictures, it took lots of reinforcements to ensure it was constructed safely and securely.  The beams, the plywood, and the shingles were all done with great care. 

               




Our next focus is on finishing the walls inside the Villa.  We plastered all of the walls to provide a nice smooth surface; then we painted the walls with colors that reflect the vibrancy of the Caribbean.  

   


And, remember those piles of rocks from when we were first clearing the land?  Well, they are back – as part of the front of the Villa.  The cut-stone facing is from the very rocks that were busted as we began our work.  The cut-stone facing was not in our initial plan, but along the way it seemed the perfect thing to do.  There are other places in the area that have done this and it really appealed to me.  We were really fortunate to have this resource that only cost us 

the time spent busting up the boulders for use.  

What great opportunities have you had to use what you already had, to enhance a project?  Isn’t it sweet when this happens?

Each day as I drive back and forth between my brother’s house in Soufriere to the site of Calabash Mountain Villa, I take in the local community.  I reminisce about my growing up in this community.  A lot of the things that were part of my childhood are still here today.  Many of the buildings are wooden and over 100 years old.  I remember incidents and people as I look at these old buildings.  I remember a childhood filled with love and community spirit.  I remember a time when I could go anywhere without any worry about my safety.  During my time down here, building, I have become reacquainted with some family members and met ones that are new to me.  It is great to have such a feeling of connectedness to the community.  A lot of the tourist sites that I remember from my childhood have been renovated and enlarged to accommodate the volume of today’s tourists.  What have you experienced after going back “home” after being away for a while?  Were things the same or very different?  Were you happy with the changes?  Leave a comment and let us know.

Taking Shape & Staying Motivated

By June 2010 things were really taking shape.  The two wings of the Villa went up first, then we tackled the center portion which holds the kitchen, common area, and on the level below the game room and laundry.

I am sure that people watching the build-out from afar were wondering just what we were up to, what this place was going to look like. But for me, who knew what it was going to be, it was exciting to see my dream take form day-by-day. And at the same time, was the realization that there was a lot more work to be done. As the building was going up, I also took some time to tend to the landscaping. We planted various flowers and foods along the winding path up to the Villa from the road below.

And one of the things that would keep us motivated was seeing those spectacular rainbows as they framed the work we were doing. What kinds of things keep you motivated when you are involved in a huge, laborious task? What would you like to have around to keep you motivated (keep it clean)?

Built Tough Against Nature's Beauty

Once the beams were up; then came the floors and walls. We used cement blocks for the walls. This is really hard labor. Again, hats off to the crew for making sure it was done right, so we would have an excellent structure that is safe and secure for our guests.

You can see from the pictures, steel continued to be an integral part of the construction process. As I took pictures of the construction, it was natural for me to make sure I got the scenery in the pictures. I want you to see what it will be like as a visitor enjoying the surroundings. When I share pictures with my friends, they all say how much they would like to visit and experience this serenity first hand.

What do you think of this setting as a place for vacation? Do you think it will help you relax and really "get away?"

Made By Hand

Once the land was cleared and leveled, we began staking out the building, marking where the columns would be placed, and making sure we were on target with the plans so as we build up, it will be in line with what we planned. Making the columns was the next big task. Those cement columns did not come ready-made. And because of the area, we are building to be able to withstand hurricanes and earthquakes.  That meant we needed to make steel-reinforced cement columns. Again, location and resources meant we had to bend steel by hand. I marveled at how my crew went about this task. I watched and learned what it takes. Here are a couple of pictures of them doing that work.

                                    

                  

To make steel reinforced components, we have to make the mold for the cement using wooden planks, put the steel in place, and then pour the cement. Throughout the structure there are steel-reinforced concrete beams and platforms.

Hats off to my crew who worked hard and made sure it was done correctly!

Could you ever see yourself doing this work?