St. Lucia, Additional Port Stop
The Pitons are two mountainous volcanic plugs, volcanic spires, located in Saint Lucia. The Pitons of Saint Lucia are among the largest of the world's volcanic plugs.
April 22, 2014
Castries, St. Lucia
“How far is the town?” I asked the security guard at the port gates.
“It's fifteen minutes walking distance. Just turn to your left and follow the curve. And then,that orange roof you can see from here, that's the handicraft market,” the man said.
As I got out of the port gates, I had but a short distance to walk but the blinding sun and heat, made me changed my mind and took a cab for US$3.00.
“What time do you want me to pick you up,” my taxi driver asked.
I agreed to meet him after an hour atthe same spot and made my way inside the handicraft market. Stalls full of baseball caps, t-shirts,cotton blouses, key chains and fridge magnets were lined up one after another.
“Sweetie, come take a look,” a vendor beckoned me.
“I made this myself in two hours,” a vendor with cornrows explained. She pointed to the bracelets made from coconut shells.
Welcome to St. Lucia, another Caribbean Island! Where the souvenirs are much the same, and prices are the same, and there was a slow motion ambiance! As the action in the port begins to heat up, things are slowly kicking up at the scruffy shops in the market. I walked a few more steps inside, and I saw some of my fellow passengers from the ship, buying several cotton sun dresses. A few vendors were fast asleep on their small stools, none seemed to notice tourists walking by. Some were chatting and they continued,as sales were moving very slowly, for once.I met Anna, a St. Lucia native with beaded cornrows. She was friendly and laughed out loud like so many islanders.
“Today is a slow day because your ship is the last one. During peak season, we get four ships a day, “ Anna tells me. “So come and have a look, and bring back something,” she continued. I eyed her and said, “ ‘I’m sorry I must not be looking.”
Back on the ship at our sail away, I stood on the railing and got a last glimpse of the pop-up shops, restaurants, and duty free shops at the port terminal. Here is one domain of the port of St. Lucia. For sure, there is something more exciting than just tax free shopping. Then, there is the ocean. It’s impossible to overstate the impact of the ocean on its inhabitants and its millions of tourists ever year. Though, I didn't get to see any gorgeous ocean panoramas, and didn't partake of any seascape adventure in St. Lucia, perhaps, it was because we didn't spend much time on the island.
P.S. St. Lucia was not originally part of our itinerary. It was added to our port stop after scheduled stops in Banjul and Dakar were cancelled.
Comment
Colorful and full of sunshine there, a good place to go for winter, don't you think? Thanks for sharing. From Kim L., on May 5, 2014 at 05:59 p.m