St.Lucia
Dawn of Wednesday November 28, 2007 saw Sea Cloud II gliding northwards along the lee side of St.Lucia with dark rain clouds hanging over the magnificent twin volcanic peaks of the Gros and Petite Pitons. Here and there shafts of sunlight pierced through, revealing the forested hills and small settlements along the coast. Early risers sipped their coffee and did their light morning exercises as the sun rose higher and the skies cleared. Further up the west coast, in the placid waters sheltered by the hills, all the sails were set and groups took to the Zodiacs with their cameras for a spin around the ship and brilliant photo opportunities of this handsome vessel under full sail. Tacking back to the south, the ship entered the dramatic bay of Soufriere with the pitons as its backdrop and the quaint cluttered little town of Soufriere tucked in the verdant valley off the bow. After a delicious lunch on the Lido Deck the shore side adventurers made for the Zodiacs and landed at a small dingy dock to board the waiting minivans. Others who had opted for the snorkelling trip zoomed off to the northern point of the bay around Anse Chastenet and spent the afternoon observing beautiful coral and reef fish among the underwater volcanic outcrops. The highlight of their sightings was viewing peacock flounders scooting along the seabed.
For those on land, knowledgeable guides filled us in on the basics of St.Lucian nature and heritage as we wound our way through the colourful narrow streets of the town and moved up into the lush countryside towards the “drive-in volcano”, a still active crater of flooded fumaroles puffing steam into the moon-like landscape. We took a quick spin through the well presented visitor centre where a video, dioramas and panels guided everyone easily through the geology of the area. Further down the hillside we joined other guides on the rim of the sulphur springs for an “on site” explanation of the natural phenomena around us.
Back in our minivans we were off to the Diamond Botanic Gardens and waterfall, a lovely glade of tropical plants, flowers and fruit crops such as coffee, cocoa, bananas, plantains, coconuts and a host of others. Tables spread with many of these fruit and spices enabled us to see in the raw, many of the things such as nutmeg and cinnamon that we take for granted on supermarket shelves. A wide, even path led us through the gardens to the Diamond Falls, its sides orange and yellow with sulphur deposits. We were off again, this time further into the interior as our vans climbed along the narrow roads beneath overhanging tree ferns and heliconias to the Toraille Falls. Here, the more intrepid adventurers donned bathing suits and had a dip in the cool invigorating waters of a mountain pool fed by the powerful fifty foot cascade that roared over the forested cliff above. As the late afternoon sunlight turned golden we went to our last stop, way up in the hills overlooking Soufriere Bay. Sitting on a spectacular veranda that is perched on an almost vertical hillside, the group sipped rum punches and nibbled local delicacies of fish cakes and spicy chicken wings while looking over the scene of our afternoon adventure spread beneath us in the evening glow. Back down in the bay we skimmed over the dark blue water to our ship with the sky orange and Sea Cloud II lying as a twinkling silhouette against it. Once on board everyone changed into cocktail mode and drifted onto the Lido Deck, listened to recaps of the visit and tucked into another luscious Sea Cloud II dinner as this gorgeous ship sailed northwards into the night.
