Dreamy St. Lucia, but unfortunately facing another problem after a broken phone and suitcase

Phone broken, suitcase broken, can it get any worse? Yes!!!

We were on our way to Soufriere in St. Lucia to go hiking. At a bridge – police checkpoint. The officer wanted to see my driver's license, not the national German one, but the 'driver's license' from St. Lucia. A simple piece of paper that any rental station or post office issues for 20 US dollars.

The officer then issued me a warning, a ticket of 1500 dollars, because I didn't possess this 'paper'. He didn't even want to see my international driver's license.

In summary, after this shock, we accidentally found the German honorary consulate in Soufriere. The staff were very eager to help, simultaneously shocked about the ticket, the consul was currently in Miami.

It turned out to be 1500 East Caribbean dollars, about 500 €.

This ticket seemed to be a mix-up on our part upon entry due to the broken phone, confusion during the car rental, and pressure on the officer during the control.

The consul made use of her contacts from Miami, also involved the car rental company, we asked a policeman on the street who could also help us. In the end, we had to drive back and forth almost all day to get the international driver's license, have it stamped at the Ministry of Transport, and then a friendly officer in the Traffic Department took the fine and declared it resolved. All parties involved, especially the consul, were very eager to resolve this mishap. We would certainly have had problems leaving on Saturday if we had not paid the 1500 dollars.

Unfortunately, a lost day, but there wasn't really a clear culprit, well, during the police check, they could have been a bit more approachable and interested in the circumstances.

Again, a lot of chatter about various problems, but this is part of such a journey.

The island of St. Lucia is truly dreamy, pineapples grow along the roadside, coconuts hang from the palms, there are mangoes and fruits that we didn't even know. Truly paradise-like.

Scenery is definitely more beautiful than Barbados. But the locals – apparently much poorer than on the previous island. You can feel it everywhere. There is constant begging, you see many 'fallen' people, and personal contact with the locals is often reserved.

We preferred it better in Barbados. But nature here is more beautiful.

We hiked the Tet Paul Nature Trail. This 'stairway to heaven' leads between the two landmarks of St. Lucia, the Pitons. These are two sharp volcanic cones that rise impressively from the sea. Entrance 10 US dollars, including a guide. But you can also walk at your own pace without a guide.

At the height of the trail, you have an incredible view of the two Pitons, breathtakingly beautiful. A young man sells simple souvenirs there.

Look at the pictures, I think I don't need to say more.

Tomorrow we want to hike at the northern end of the island, maybe we’ll make time for a Caribbean dream beach, of which there are, of course, countless here.

Oh yes, cars are not sent to the junkyard here, they are simply handed over to nature at the roadside or used as a parts depot.