St. Lucia- February - March 2015

I returned to the Bel Jou, St Lucia, at the end of February 2015 - the last visit being in 2008, just after it opened as a SAGA hotel. ( There is a videoclip of the earlier visit on patrickclips ).

Due to the location there are many steps around the hotel and grounds - but they are clearly marked and handrails have been provided.

Birds, snatching food, are a hazard, but a small price to pay for the views from the outside dining area !

Set on a hill, on the outskirts of Castries, there are commanding views from the Restaurant terrace, of Vigie Beach down below and Castries to the other side, the harbour of which can hold about five cruise ships at a time. Both Castries and Vigie Beach are reached by the hotel courtesy bus, as well as Rodney Bay and Pigeon Island. ( See patrickclips )

.......... Vigie Beach ................................................................................................ Pigeon Island

The island, fought over many times between the English and French, is now independent. St Lucia became an independent nation on 22 February 1979. They remained part of the British Commonwealth, and had just celebrated Independence day when I arrived.

Tourism accounts for a large part of the economy generally - although bananas have taken over as the main exported annual crop. Sugar cane, once grown, was used to provide the molasses for the various St. Lucian rum distilleries. Now there is one remaining rum distillery ( St. Lucia Distillers Group, based in Roseau ) on the island, which now imports the molasses required from South America, and exports rum worldwide.

Various trips and excursions will be recorded on patrickclips, although a selection of stills has been provided here - patrickclips will be updated a.s.a.p.

Roman Catholicism is the main religion on the island, and there is a pleasant square adjacent to the Roman Catholic Cathedral, named the Derek Walcott Square, after one of the two St Lucian nobel prize winners ( both were born on the same date, although some years apart ).

Castries itself is a bustling city, especially when cruise ships are in. But there has been much development and building of shopping malls since the last visit, both in Castries and elsewhere.

Close views of the cruise ships can be had when down in Castries, since La Place Carenage and Seraphine Point duty free areas - where the cruise ships anchor - adjoin the market areas.

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