http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , Saint Lucia en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:53:23 BST Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:53:23 BST In early May we left St. Martin and sailed to Oranje Baai St. Eustatius also called Statia. We stayed there 2 days and one of the highlights of our visit was a hike to the crater rim of the Quill Volcano. Most people have never heard of Statia but in the 1700s it was the trade capitol of the Indies with over 100 ships in the harbor at a time. After Statia we sailed to St. Kitts where we anch http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/Anse-la-Raye/blog-281927.html We sailed to St. Lucia picked up Donna's sister Debbie at the airport and visited Pigeon Island in Rodney Bay. Pigeon Island is conserved by the St. Lucia National Trust. We walked to the top of both peaks on Pigeon Island.We went to Rainforest Sky rides and rode their gondola up to their zip lines. We went to the fish fest in Anse La Raye. On Friday nights they set up tables and stalls in this http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/Castries/blog-280851.html Last week I attended the destination wedding of two dear friends in lovely St. Lucia an island in the Eastern Caribbean. We flew into the international airport in the south and took a helicopter north to the opposite end of the island where we were staying in Rodney Bay. After months of dreary London winter the sun sand and tropical drinks were almost too good to be true...For days on end our http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/blog-263995.html We moved the boat 10 miles North. We are in Marigot Bay. Tried anchoring 3 times to no avail. Had to take a mooring for 65 EC for the night. It is a small village mainly composed of restaurants and hotels. All prices in US dollars very unusual.There is a Mooring's base here huge A lot of catamaran's. Very busy. Lot's of ARC regatta boats anchored here. ARC is a yearly regatta from the Canari http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/blog-246819.html Last night we went to Gros Islet. It is a little town about 14 mile from our dinghy. Went to public dock we had very NONE lady landings Had to get on bow of dinghy and then roll over best we could. One of our friends Living the Dream Ann had put on a dress. Just too funny. Getting back in was a different story now we had to jump down I am so short I landed on Dick's gas tank he gave me http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/blog-246818.html We left Rodney Bay around 1050 for Catries by bus.Arriving around 1610. Long day. We found 4 cruise ships and 1 French navy ship docked in Castries. Actually the Queen Mary 2 was anchor outside too long a ship to come in. We went all over streets were crowded too many cruise ships in plus the locals trading but oh what fun and what an experience. Dad decided yesterday morning he wanted to go http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/blog-246816.html What a spectacular view we had this morning. The ARC Around the World Rally started at noon today from here. We had front chairs. Had dinghies hanging on our boat had so many persons on board. Most we ever had. I even took a video you know I call it putting the Sony to work. Great camera I am so happy with this investment of a couple of years ago.Last night we were invited to Lone Star. We me http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/blog-246807.html Worms finer for fishing you couldn't be wishingI delved them dismayed from the velvety sodThe rich loam upturning I gathered them squirmingbig fat gleamy earthworms all ripe for my rod. Robert ServiceIn the morning if you get outside early enough you will see blackbirds pull wiggling pink worms from the grass before wolfing them down hungrily. The sea is also home to worms of all descriptio http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/Soufri-re/blog-246386.html Wersquove been here 5 days and been pretty lazy not that hard in the Almond Smugglers Cove 4 star allinclusive resort. Apart from the beach the pools the cocktails and the great food we have managed to get in some snorkelling wakeboarding sailing their HobieCats and sea kayaking. We also got out to the weekly ldquoJump Uprdquo a reggae street party at Gross Islet and down to Margo http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/blog-238728.html We are at the Deux Piton on a mooring. The marine ranger assigned us the mooring yesterday. The charge is 40 EC for 48 hours. This morning we went to Soufriere by dinghy in open water only us would do such thing eh We had to go check in with customs and immigration. Customs is on a corner as you come off the dinghy dock. They do all the paper work by hand. The charge was 25 EC. From there we http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/blog-235910.html I went on tour today with my teens. A ldquoBiking and Waterfall Hikerdquo that was far more wonderful that Irsquod expected or imagined. Irsquom on port manning this week due to safety requirements we have to stay onboard during port times on a rotating basis so there hasnrsquot been any travel stories to share. But yesterday and today I switched around IDs the process to be able http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/Anse-la-Raye/blog-233547.html Not much to report on really. I dont think i have moved to much for the last 3 weeks or so. Plan to make up for that somewhere along the road. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/Castries/blog-232406.html When we awoke this morning we were docked in Castries the capital city of St. Lucia. The island is famous for being very verdant and lush as well as for it's famous landmark The Pitons. We signed up for a full island tour which would last most of the day. Included in this tour was a drive through the rainforest a stop at a fishing village a stop at a volcano a hike to a waterfall and http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/Castries/blog-230910.html Rodney Bay was very interesting. When Pete checked the transmission fluid he found it was milky. Ouchy...I am thinking tranny is gone. Miles from anywhere. We were fortunate that a cruiser we knew Second Millennium was anchored behind us.Melody new a mechanic in this island. Pete called him right away he was able to look at the tranny next morning. So Pete took dinghy into marina brought hi http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/Castries/blog-220441.html Sorry for the rather long gap since my last post it has been a busy week on Ocean Star with the shipmates exploring St. Lucia and learning how to do underwater surveys. St. Lucia is an extremely beautiful island particularly when you approach it from the south there are two mountains called Grande and Petit Piton that rise vertically from the sea and form part of a World Heritage Area which http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/blog-216114.html Arriving in Rodney Bay we anchored close to the beach. We had previously met 2nd Millenium we anchored close to them.See httpen.wikipedia.orgwikiSaintLuciaPete checked engine found water in transmission.Melody on 2nd Millenium gave us name of mechanic Tony George and his cell number. Pete called him made appointment.Turned out it was a leaky oil cooler for the transmission. We were abl http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/blog-204817.html Day three came went...and it is safe to say that it was our best yet Because we are here on the 'Romantic package' there are a few things that came included that we have been taking advantage of. Free breakfast EVERY morning...GOOD STUFF. Plus we had a free dinner here at The Bourdeau Restaurant...where the food is just delicious Another perk was either a 4 hour horse ride or a 12 a day on http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/blog-179403.html We woke up this morning enjoyed some St. Lucian cuisine...very good The milk isn't warm so that's always a plus... We wanted to spend our day laying swimming over at Marigot Bay but when we got there well let's just say it wasn't very nice... Sooo we took a 'water taxi' over to the Northern tip of the island. We passed Castries the most populated city here and saw Rodney Bay and fina http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/blog-178835.html Hi Guys Sam I are finally here We wish everyone could see the scenery I'm going to post some of the pictures that we have taken so far...if I tried posting them all your computers would blow up because Sam takes 5647 pics a second D Our plane ride went smoothly I was sitting behind toddler who apparently was teething but besides that it was alright. We got to St. Lucia at about 230 http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/blog-178196.html Hello EveryoneI have decided to become a travel blogger This way I can try to document as many things that I do while I am on vacation For those travelling with me in the future sorry Anyway I will be landing in St. Lucia tomorrow and can't wait to tell you guys all about it Love you allxoxo http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/blog-177843.html Semi final AUS v SAnbspCentral America Caribbean raquonbspSt Lucia raquonbspCastries By Doug and BecApril 25th 2007Doug Taylor and Bec FidlerWhat a joke.We paid 130US each to sit in the stinking hot sun only to watch a complete white wash.Still the Aussies are outrageously fabulous and just watch them take that 3rd cup in a rowWhat a way to spend Anzac Day. Lest we forget.How freaki http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/Castries/blog-154243.html this is a quote we have used many times please note the sarcasmHonestly I thought I would have a good time but man life really is superb we went to the NZ game the other day and as per usual we flogged them.Yesterday we saw the true Caribbean style as well as the poms in fine form. The game was unreal we had sensational seats and the beer was great. As you would all know the game was http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/blog-151271.html It is almost time to change our cruise run to the new ports and this week are our final stops in St. Kitts St. Lucia and St. Maarten.Yesterday we were in St. Kitts. I spent another day on the beach at the Marriott Hotel. Though this time they wanted us to pay 125 US to go on the beach. The beaches are all public so wersquore allowed on the beach but they wouldnrsquot let us walk through t http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/Castries/blog-146873.html 35c Fine The bumpy 3 hour ride from Dominica to St Lucia via catamaran was highly uneventful. I wished something had of happened because I had this sinking feeling in my stomach that I wasnrsquot going to like what St Lucia had to offer either that or I was worried Irsquod be kicked out. I had no CARICOM visa and St Lucia was a big player in the cricket finals which were a few days away http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/blog-145906.html Today was fantastic We are in St. Lucia. I went with Brooks Kristina Kevin and Chelsea to Pigeon Island a National Park off the Northern end of St. Lucia. After an incredibly emotional night last night more of the same anxiety over people leaving and generally feeling vulnerable and unsettled I was determined to enjoy the day and enjoy the island.Irsquom so happy we went to Pigeon Island http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/blog-141017.html On the right wing of a butterfly.As I have mentioned before the route that we currently sail is called a Butterfly route in the cruising industry. This means that we do both the western and eastern Caribbean. Last week we were cruising the western side of the Caribbean and today we are cruising back to our home port from the eastern Caribbean.The crew activities are going well at this point and l http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Saint-Lucia/Castries/blog-130524.html