Leaving Barbados we set sail for Saint Lucia. St Lucia is the second largest of the Windward group in the Lesser Antilles and is located about 24 miles south of Martinique and some 21 miles northeast of Saint Vincent. The capital and major port is Castries. Saint Lucia is a member of the Commonwealth.

The island is of volcanic origin and is bisected from north to south by a central ridge of wooded mountains. Many streams flow from the mountains through fertile valleys. In the southwest are the Gros and Petit Pitons, two immense pyramids of rock rising sharply from the sea and enclosing a small bay. Near Petit Piton, in the crater of an ancient volcano, are the boiling sulphur springs from which the nearby town of Soufrière takes its name. A choice tourist site, the springs also contain substantial energy potential.

The forest, which has been reduced through lumbering, contains colourful orchids and anthurium. The rich birdlife includes the Saint Lucian parrot (the endangered national bird), the Saint Lucia black finch, and the Saint Lucia oriole. There is also a lizard unique to Saint Lucia, and the agouti is common.

So what did we do in St Lucia? We signed up for a van tour that encompassed quite a bit. We saw Rodney Bay, visited the Sulpher Springs, took a short hike through a rainforest, had lunch at a great place with views of the Pitons and Marigot Bay. Then went to Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens and got to see the waterfalls. Sound like a lot? It was but it was great! Ready to go back.