 GENERAL INFO (Jump to Diary)Saint Lucia covers a land area of 617 km2 and is the home of close to 200.000 citizens of which 85.3% are Black, 10.9% Mixed, 2.2% Indian and 1.6% Others. 96% are Christians while 2% are Rastafarian. The French were the island's first European settlers. They signed a treaty with the native Island Caribs in 1660. England took control of the island from 1663 to 1667. In ensuing years, it was at war with France fourteen times, and rule of the island changed frequently (it was ruled seven  times
each by the French and British). In 1814, the British took definitive
control of the island. On 22 February 1979, Saint Lucia became an
independent state.The volcanic island of Saint Lucia is more mountainous than most Caribbean islands, with the highest point being Mount Gimie, at 950 metres. The local climate is tropical, and with the mountains, that form some great nature. The mammals are made up by the invasive agouti and some bats, here are two amphibians while the reptilians count four snakes, three lizards, one iguana, three Anolis, a skink and five geckos. Here is a single tortoise; Red-footed tortoise. Here are around  170 different species of birds. The flora counts 1300 wild flowering plant species and 150 species of ferns.
DIARY Well, I stop at a big supermarket to restock supper for some days, and then I head down south, along the western coast. It is a real lush and green country I meet. In contrast to Dominica, all the houses have their roofs, and it just seem more organised. The country side houses are still mainly made up in wood, but more neat.
Here are quite some farming, and bananas are their second
biggest income after tourism. A huge meadow only houses a few cows, but it
might be too wet for anything else.
I reach Marigot Bay, which seems to be the rich's playground. I start with lunch - in the car, as it start to rain. In-between light showers, I find my way around huge ships, mangrove with small colourful crabs and fancy restaurants. On the pier, a rather not-so-posh barbershop is open - to all sides.
I head further south, through some banana plantations,
but mainly wild nature. Here are some incredible views down to the sea, when
the road
Next planned stop is the little fishing village of Anse La Raye. It is found at a river mouth, and most buildings are old wooden huts. They are use to tourists, to judge after the amount of souvenir shops behind the harbour-beach, but I'm the only pale around now. I spend some time, waiting for the rain to stop, and the sun to get on again.
The
Further south, the slightly bigger Cananes
is found.
The road to there is a adventure by it self. It twist its way around the
coastal mountains, and some of them are rather dry. I even see some Cereus
cacti. Here are probably more interesting plants, but after more than two
months in
Cananes is quite alike Anse La Raye, with the fishing boats on the sandy beach and the wooden houses, just bigger. And here are a few more posh houses. Again, I have to wait for the sun, but it is surely worth it. I follow the beach to the river, and loop back along the beach among the seagulls.
I head a bit further south, but turn around to get back
to Millet Bird Sanctuary. It is found inland, and again, it is a magnificent
drive through
I
have to head further up north, but then a road leads deep into the fantastic
hills and mountains. The first part is through quite some farmland. Besides
from the numerous bananas, here are all kind of vegetables, even in plastic tunnels.
A
I have a big room with balcony, and access to a big
common room with well equipment kitchen, and I rather cook my self, than
chase a crappy vegetarian super somewhere in town. 7. I head down the western coast to where I left yesterday. My first planned target is Anse Chastanet, and I really have to pull myself together not to make a lot of photos of the fantastic coastal road on the way. Here are so green, lots of real pointy mountain peaks, covered in greenery though and the sea.
The surroundings turn into true rainforest before I reach
the bigger town I do a walk along the water, which is crystal clear. I see some of the local Anolis; The St. Lucia anole; Anolis luciae. I jump some rocks at the end of the beach, and get to a little road, winding its way between the vertical cliffs and the sea. Here are a few Cereus and a strange flowering tree, probably invasive.
The rain that keep me in the car at Morne Tabac
Rainforest Trail have now found its way down here, and I make a tea stop.
Then I do a loop around
It lightens up a bit, and I head back to Morne Tabac
Rainforest Trail, and the road is dry all the way. Then, when I open the
door, it start poring down. Well, there are more low coastline, which more
likely will be dry. On one side of the ancient Soufriere volcano, some sulphur is oozing out, creating steam and bobbling ponds. This is where all the medium sized busses with cruisers have gone. They line up to be covered in white and black mud, while there are next to none at the thermal activity.
Well, I don't blame them: It is only a few black mud
ponds, less then 25 square
I
find a smaller road, leading the right way, and it is a joy, despite the
gloomy weather. It crosses several rivers, some of them several times. It is
through dense rainforest, and here are little settlement.
I find a few small sandy beaches and a bit of mangrove in the river mouth, and here are Cereus. I reach Choiseol and its harbour. Many of the small houses in the village is old wooden ones, and the church is mainly made in wood too.
I
continues, and on the hillsides, way better and bigger houses are found.
Another beach turns up, but the river have spitted it, and I don't get to
the seaside. I turn around, but follow the eastern coast homewards. It have several large, perfect sandy beaches and a international airport. I guess this is where they keep the tourists?
The coastal area is pretty dry, and here might be some
interesting plants. But I am running out of time, and I would like to visit
Mamiku Botanical Garden, while I'm here. "Open seven days
a week, from 9-5",
I stop a few times for great coastal views, and turn into the little fishing town of Dennery. It have a limestone island out in the bay - unless it too is volcanic. The harbour is quite big, but the boats are still just rowing-boats with small engines.
From
here, I swing into the inland mountains, and everything turn green. I spot a
coastal hill behind Dennery fire station, which might be interesting to have a
stroll on, should I find the time. I'm a bit late home, and with a lot of
photos: Another late night. Anse Chastanet,
Soufriere, Drive In Volcano, Piton, South Coast, Choiseol and Dennery |
the bag, and before eleven, I'm out on new adventures.
leads over the coastal hills. I do a lot of stops, but one thing is
to see the great looking coastline or mountains through bushes, another to
capture it on camera!
colourful boats on the dark sand, under the palms
make great motives. I chat with a fisherman mending his nets while I wait.
The Frigatebirds are getting close, and I almost get a good picture. 
the Caribbean, I have seen most.
the green mountains. The road soon turn into a smooth gravel
road, and here is mainly pure nature on the sides of the road. Then it kind
of vanishes, and I have to turn around. Guess it was not restored after last
hurricane?
gravel road leads bye some small farmers, and I
walk pass pigs, goats and cows. It leads through dense and green rainforest,
and I get actually too fare, before I turn around. Here are
a wide array of birds, but I don't try to get any photos. I head home to
cook and work, and I am beginning to feel, I was up before three this
morning.
of Soufriere, and just before, I turn right, along the
coast. Here, I find Anse Chastanet, which should be
"a
magic tropical paradise", but I think that is based on the resorts pamphlet.
Here is a narrow beach, filled with parasols, a diving company and the
resort in general.
Slightly
disappointed, I return to Soufriere, which is a rather large town. It
use to be the capital, before the Englishmen shifted it. That means a lot of
old wooden houses have been preserved, mainly due to the lack of funds. I
find the harbour, which is a bit Sunday-dead. Some of the locals are playing
Domino for money, and take it real serious.
the old part of town - which is pretty much all
of it.
Next to the river, the houses are real bad, but still charming. 
the other side of Soufriere, "The World's Only Drive In Volcano"
is found, and despite it is a lie, I give it a go.
meters each, and some noisy cascades of steam. I
wait for quite some time for the sun, but it is not really present. I give
up, and continues down south, this time to the trail in the Piton area.
The Pitons are two iconic volcano cones, visible from most of the island.
That pretty much round-up my west coast sights, and I
just follow the coastal road down to the south. The road leads out to
the steep coastal cliffs, and the area get real dry. It is
mainly
yellow grass, and here are the remains of several old windmills.
The little harbour is fenced in, and I have to follow a
kid, to see where there are a hole in the fence. The fishers are at the pier,
but activity is low. I follow the beach to the river, which is a lagoon. The
houses here are small and in a bad state.
is closed off, and I I thought is was a industrial or military
area, but it pure hotels and resorts.
but is this the eight day??? Well, it does not look
so great from the outside anyway.