| Recently my husband and I visited the tropical island of | | | | dessert-lovers delight. Step inside and help yourself to |
| St. Lucia. St. Lucia is a small eastern Caribbean island | | | | the jars full of chocolate chip cookies or banana bread. |
| which is approximately 238 square miles in size. It is a | | | | Have a yummy shake or delve into a piece of their |
| democratic country that gained its independence from | | | | cheesecake. There were a myriad of desserts, all |
| Great Britain in 1979. The population is just over | | | | there for the taking. My mouth is watering now just |
| 166,000. The capital is the city of Castries. It is primarily | | | | thinking about it!! |
| a mountainous country, being volcanic in origin. English is | | | | The room service menu was much more limited than |
| the official language, with the national currency being | | | | the Bayside Restaurant where we had most of our |
| the Eastern European dollar. The American dollar, was | | | | buffet meals. Nonetheless we had access to room |
| however, readily accepted wherever we traveled. This | | | | service 24 hours a day, and used it many times for |
| particular destination was chosen for its tropical locale, | | | | our early breakfasts before diving. Just remember - |
| and the opportunity to pursue our favorite hobby, | | | | after breakfast you may want to order two helpings |
| SCUBA diving. | | | | of each menu item, as the room service portions were |
| We arrived at the St. Lucia airport early in the | | | | quite small However, it was delivered very quickly, and |
| afternoon. Getting through the airport took little time. In | | | | was equally as delicious as the dining downstairs. |
| twenty to twenty-five minutes we went through line, | | | | We went diving four of the seven days we were in |
| had our passports stamped, and recovered our | | | | St. Lucia. The divemasters were all very helpful in |
| baggage. Immediately outside the airport was the | | | | making sure we got the correct weights and full tanks. |
| transportation terminal. Essentially we stepped outside | | | | They did a good job of keeping divers on track |
| of the building, and the Sandals' staff was right there | | | | (making sure they completed safety stops, etc), and |
| awaiting our arrival. It was also very refreshing that | | | | didn't let anyone stray. The dive boats were spacious, |
| there weren't twenty people trying to aggressively | | | | with ample space for dive gear, etc. You could sit up |
| assist us with our luggage as we'd experienced in | | | | top for a comfortable ride on the dive sites that were |
| several other countries. We were both extremely | | | | further away. There were many extended trips to the |
| pleased with our stress free arrival into St. Lucia. | | | | Pitons (two easily identifiable mountain peaks). |
| From the airport it was approximately an hour to our | | | | Unfortunately the diving we did at St. Lucia was |
| facility of choice, the Sandals Grande. If you are an | | | | average at best. There was plenty of the usual. |
| individual plagued by motion sickness, you may wish to | | | | Trumpet fish and banded shrimp were plentiful, as at |
| begin your anti-emetics before leaving the airport, as | | | | most dive sites. We saw many spotted eel, a juvenile |
| the ride from the airport to Sandals was mountainous | | | | drum, and a file fish. One bonus was that there were |
| with many dips and turns. There were several | | | | more stonefish here than I see at most sites. There |
| passengers on the route that experienced some | | | | was a very noticeable absence of the big animals... |
| degree of motion sickness. Several remarked they | | | | turtles, rays, etc. The most troubling aspect of the |
| wished they had been better prepared for the uneven | | | | diving, however, was that there were jellyfish |
| terrain. It was a chance, however, to see some of the | | | | everywhere!! Most divers, including my husband, took a |
| local scenery. The countryside was beautiful. It quickly | | | | good sting. Most of the jellyfish were hovering near the |
| became obvious bananas were a large part of the | | | | surface which made the safety stops very stressful. |
| commerce in the area, as there were banana trees | | | | There were also some that were seen (and felt) at |
| noted frequently throughout the drive. | | | | depth, as well. One divemaster noted that the jellyfish |
| Sandals Grande is one of three Sandals resorts on St. | | | | were a rarity. I heard another say "you know what |
| Lucia. It is the largest of the three with much scenery | | | | happens when the current comes in... jellies". The |
| and many activities to offer. With regard to the other | | | | current must have been coming in that entire week!! |
| resorts, the Sandals Regency is touted for its beautiful | | | | On the day before departure we signed up for an all |
| golf course, and the smaller Halcyon is advertised as a | | | | day excursion, the "Soufriere Adventure Cruise". The |
| quaint and secluded resort. The latter is recommended | | | | cost was $112 per person. We boarded a catamaran |
| for the romantic getaway. One of the benefits to | | | | early in the morning and took a boat ride to the Pitons. |
| staying at Sandals, however, was that guests were | | | | There were beverages on board including beer, rum |
| allowed to experience all three resorts on the island at | | | | punch, and sodas for the taking all day long. We |
| anytime. Your Sandals bracelet allowed access to the | | | | disembarked in the town of Soufriere where we |
| Sandals of your choice. Hourly shuttles operated most | | | | boarded Taxi's that took us to the Sulphur Springs. It |
| of the day and night. All one had to do was hop on a | | | | was touted as the "drive through" volcano, but there |
| shuttle and the amenities of the other resorts were | | | | wasn't much driving through it. You walked down to it |
| easily accessible. | | | | while a tour guide explained the history of volcanoes |
| The Grande was an easy choice for us. It was the | | | | and the island. The information was interesting, but the |
| largest, and the only Sandals on the island with dive | | | | smell of Sulphur was overwhelming! If you don't like |
| boat operations there on site. It was just a short walk | | | | rotten eggs, this would not be the place for you to go. |
| from our room to all the diving and water sport | | | | There was no "getting used to it"! Whew!! |
| activities. Upon arrival we quickly decided that we had | | | | After the volcano we drove to the Botanical Garden |
| made the correct choice. Our room was everything | | | | which was absolutely beautiful. It ended in a gorgeous |
| and more the brochure said it would be, which is not | | | | waterfall. We were told the movie "Romancing the |
| always the case. We had a concierge level room and | | | | Stone" was filmed here, and I could see why. It was |
| our baggage was hand delivered there without delay. | | | | absolutely gorgeous. It was a very nice way to spend |
| The Concierge was very accommodating. As new | | | | the afternoon. After looking at all the flowers and |
| guests, we were provided with a thorough tour of the | | | | foliage, we headed to a small restaurant at the top of |
| grounds and the restaurants. We were introduced to | | | | a mountain. Sitting there, looking down at the harbor |
| the various onsite activities and off site excursions we | | | | and up at the pitons, the view was beautiful. The food |
| could engage in. As the trip progressed, we visited the | | | | was satisfying, the people friendly. With our bellies full |
| Concierge many times. We were always greeted with | | | | we headed down the mountain back to the |
| a smiling face, and a knowledgeable staff member | | | | catamaran. |
| who made every effort to assist us to the fullest. | | | | Our return trip included a stop off for snorkeling. We |
| One of the best things about Sandals is the fact that | | | | warned the crew and everyone else who would listen |
| the resort is all inclusive. At all but one restaurant there | | | | about the jellyfish we'd been seeing. Everyone jumped |
| are no additional fees. Gratuity is also not required. | | | | in anyway, and all were back on the boat in about ten |
| There were a couple more upscale restaurants at | | | | minutes, several with stings from jellyfish. Thank |
| Sandals which required reservations but meals here | | | | goodness bottles of vinegar were plentiful on all boats |
| were still included in the original price. Gordon's was a | | | | that week (vinegar is the treatment for dive stings). |
| special restaurant which cost $150 per couple for the | | | | The stings were quickly taken care of and we were |
| meal if you wished to dine here. In general there was a | | | | on our way home. As points of interest along the way, |
| very good variety and quality of food available. | | | | we did see a huge containment center for oil, and a |
| One of our favorite places was The Pizzeria. It was | | | | very deep and beautiful cove that all the boats took |
| an outside eatery that made pizzas in a brick fired | | | | refuge in when hurricanes were headed toward the |
| oven. The thin crispy crust was wonderful! Just behind | | | | island. |
| The Pizzeria was Josephine's. Josephine's was a | | | | |