Day 21: Castries/St. Lucia

St. Lucia, a scenic paradise, was discovered by Columbus in 1502. Until independence in 1979, the island was a British colony for over 150 years.

The island is 43 km long and up to 23 km wide (180,000 inhabitants) and has 2 distinctive volcanic cones, the Pitons, which are landmarks! The two Nobel laureates Sir W. A. Lewis (economics) and D. Walcott (writer) came from the island.

Planning:

Full day excursion with Wiener Michael, who offers German-speaking excursions for cruise passengers in small groups at https://st-lucia-ausflug.com/!

After a calm night drive, we had breakfast on the ship at 7 am and were picked up by Wiener Michael at 8:15 am! We passed various viewpoints and a banana plantation on our way to the fishing village

Anse La Raye and then to the information center Morne Coubaril Estate! Fantastic views .... a fantastic green island, similar to Mauritius! Along the way, Michael provided interesting information about life on the island, his resume, and about the fauna and the many different types of fruits, some of which I had never heard of before! On the way back, we made a swimming stop in Soufriere ... which had to be cut short after 10 minutes due to a tropical rain (but I was already in the sea)! We returned to the AIDA via Marigot Bay, the setting of numerous films (Dr. Dolittle, Traumschiff)! A great interesting excursion, but then it was enough and the currywurst at the Scharfes Eck was calling....and a cappuccino! Before sailing at 6 pm, we had a drink at the bar and had a nice conversation with a couple from Karlsruhe! In the evening, there was Caribbean cuisine and the Beatles show!

From mid-December, it wasn't as busy with us anymore, but of course we want to show you some pictures. We experienced the following:

- Visit to the cocoa plantation in Soufrière and the most expensive beer Timo has ever drunk (hahahhaaaa.... 15 USD!!)

- We went on a boat tour with our neighbor and went all the way to Anse Cochon, a great afternoon on calm seas

- Of course we also celebrated our first Christmas together here. It was beautiful, but it was over so quickly! We had a nice dinner at the Indian restaurant and enjoyed the days together!

- On New Year's Eve, we went out for a fancy dinner and I had lobster for the first time in my life! It's something you have to try, but it definitely won't be my favorite dish

- And of course, the animals.... they are always an important part of our lives here. Feeding, walking, taking care of them medically, and of course giving lots of love!!

In this spirit!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Your Hasis

today we went to the east coast of the island. There we decided to walk to Grand Anse Beach, the largest beach on the island. Unfortunately, it is not a beach where you can swim, as the currents in the water are too strong and dangerous, so it doesn't make sense to swim there.

We parked our car at the top of the road and then walked down. The route was very exhausting, as it took 1.5 hours downhill to the beach. But the route was nice to walk, it was challenging but very scenic. Again, we saw goats, cows and sheep here and had a great time at our animal park.... :-))

Once we arrived at the beach, we first treated ourselves to a big gulp of water and of course a big pack of cookies. We simply enjoyed the moment before we started the way back.

We hope you can enjoy the pictures as much as we do!

With best regards,

Your Hasis!!

Today I had a very special guest to welcome! Because today the Mein Schiff 2 arrived in St. Lucia and Karina and Simon were on board!

Yippee, what a joy. When I asked them what they would like to do, they said: experience the country, its people, and have adventures!

Said and done. First, we went to the market in Castries and bought lots of delicious fruits there. We had to replenish our smoothie supplies, of course!

Then we went home, because I also wanted to show them our home and how and where we live!

After a delicious cup of coffee, we took a slight detour (of course, I didn't miss the Moonrise viewpoint and the properties available for purchase here) to Pigeon Island.

There, we climbed the two hills and enjoyed the wonderful view!

Afterwards, we went back down and refreshed ourselves with a delicious cocktail at Joes. In the meantime, Hasi joined us and we had dinner together and talked about current news from Germany.

Then it was time to leave for the harbor! Together, we went to the harbor in Castries and said goodbye to both of them!

Thank you for the wonderful day and for visiting us, dear Karina and Simon!

I hope to welcome you again next year!

All the best

Your Hasis!

today we went to Pink Plantation House for lunch to conclude the trip.

'It is the perfect setting for a restaurant. A spacious terrace, stunning gardens, breathtaking view and a cool hilltop breeze.
Now, infused with love, the bedrooms of the old house have been restored and brought back to life so that guests can enjoy a truly authentic Caribbean experience on this beautiful island of ours.'

Thank you for the great explanation! :-)

The food was great, we had amazing fish, delicious curry, and good meat, and the view of the city from there is indescribable!

We then realized that our time together is coming to an end and we went through the two weeks in our thoughts!

We laughed, had fun, explored both Barbados and St. Lucia! We took funny routes, it was shaky, sometimes we couldn't go any further.....

Thank you Katharina for the wonderful time here! It was amazing to welcome you as our first guest! Thank you for all the great memories and the awesome time!

See you next year!!

Your Hasis!!

Today is Katharina's birthday and of course we have come up with something very special for her!

In the morning, we started with a birthday serenade and delicious cake! (not completely homemade but made with lots of love :-))

We treated ourselves to that before setting off on our tour at exactly half past 8.

We went to the marina and then went on a boat tour.

Well, from what I can already say, it was a lot of fun!! We were warmly welcomed by the captain and crew and the promised champagne was on board too! It could only be good!

On our way to Soufrière, we made three more stops and invited more people on board, so we had about 20 people on board. We then went along the coast to the south, the first stop was in Marigot Bay where we took a little round trip. Then we continued to Sugar Beach where we were allowed to snorkel between the Pitons! A true spectacle, and you feel really small between the big mountains!

After exploring the underwater world, we continued on the boat to Soufrière, where we had a private tour to the two waterfalls 'Toraille' and 'Pitons Waterfalls'. The Pitons Waterfalls are absolutely amazing and you can swim there and it's very peaceful, not many tourists. On the way to the waterfalls, our guide naturally provided us with the local beer Piton. Then we went for lunch where we could enjoy delicious local food.

The grand finale was also the 'grand shot' :-)) Back on the boat, it was time to finish all the beer and rum punch. We didn't need to be told twice and I got to take the wheel and drive the entire way back!! It was a huge blast!!

Arriving in Rodney Bay, Hasi picked us up again and we ended the evening with a great feast at Spinnakers! The sunset is breathtaking and the food is fantastic. For Katharina's birthday, she also received a handmade gift from a local 'vendor' :-))

A great day where we got to experience a lot!

With that, good night

Your Hasis and Katharina

today we went to Pigeon Island, a national park in the north of the island:

Pigeon Island is a 17 hectare island rock located in the area of Gros Islet in the north of Saint Lucia. Originally a true island in the Caribbean Sea, it was artificially connected to the western coast of the main island in 1972 by filling in a land strip. The material came from the excavation of the Rodney Bay Marina. The island has two peaks. The northern peak called Signal Hill is the highest elevation at 109 meters (359 feet). The second peak is located in the southwest and is marked by Fort Rodney.[1] It is an important historical site with several fortifications, including the 18th century British Fort and Fort Rodney, both used by the English to observe French ships from neighboring Martinique. Today, it forms the northern end of Rodney Bay with the beaches Pigeon Island Beach and Reduit Beach at Rodney Bay Marina (♁Rodney Bay Marina).[2] In 1979, the island was designated a national park and in 1992 a national landmark, and has been managed by the Saint Lucia National Trust (SLNT) since. The Saint Lucia Jazz Festival is regularly held on the island.

Thanks Wikipedia!!! :-))

We had a lot of fun climbing along the island and even walked out to the caves!

As you can see, we had many great ideas while taking pictures today and completely exercised our laughing muscles!!!

In the evening, we had a delicious dinner at Joe's and then fell into bed exhausted!

In this sense.

Many greetings

Vanessa and Katharina

today we went to the south of the island, we went to Soufriere, a beautiful town in the southwest of the island.

First, we made a short stop to admire the beautiful Pitons in all their glory. The two mountains are truly a wonder and you can't stop marveling at them.

Then we continued our drive to the only Drive-In Volcano on Earth. We could drive right in and we got a great guided tour, where we learned all the important facts about the formation of the volcano and the whole volcanic area. Sometimes it's really crazy what nature brings.

We took many great photos, which you can enjoy to the fullest.

Afterwards, we went to Diamond Botanical Garden, a beautifully landscaped garden with many plants and a waterfall at the very end. Unfortunately, you can't swim there, so we continued driving. It led us to Anse Chastnet. When we arrived, we were really wowed because the most expensive hotel on the whole island is located there, a whopping $5000 a night (at least you can also be brought there by helicopter! :-))

The beach was very beautiful and we spent the afternoon there, processing the impressions of the day.

In the evening, we drove back again and can only marvel at how beautiful the island is!

In this sense,

Best regards,

Vanessa and Katharina

today our journey took us to Marigot Bay and one of our favorite viewpoints 'Moonrise'.

In Marigot Bay, we took the 'ferry', the only way to get from one side of the bay to the other. There is also the famous 'Dr. Doolittle Restaurant', where the famous movie was filmed. The weather played into our hands and we were able to enjoy the day there on the beach and in the water.

In the afternoon, we drove back and watched the sunset at Moonrise. A great view right on the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic. There are also many properties for sale there, by the way! So if anyone is interested, please let us know, we can help with that! :-)

A beautiful day comes to an end!

Many greetings

The Hasis and Katharina :-)

today we flew back from Barbados to St. Lucia. In a small plane, we returned to our home island in 40 minutes.

Upon arrival, Hasi picked us up from the airport and we drove to Castries to visit the market. We bought all kinds of fresh fruits again so that we can make delicious smoothies for Katharina :-)) And of course, we also bought something from the delicious 'bread lady' again. She has the best sweet treats at the market and she is always super friendly to us. By now, we are regular customers of hers.

When we arrived back at our house, Katharina was able to settle in comfortably and we treated ourselves to a little sunbathing by the pool!

In the late afternoon, we had a bit of action planned and showed her our 'house mountain'. It was once again a very exhausting experience and we bravely climbed up using the ropes. But in the end, the view was worth it and we took great pictures!

In the evening, we went out to eat at the Food Village and then fell exhausted into bed!

With that in mind.

Best regards

the reunited Hasis and Katharina :-)

Here's a little glimpse into our everyday life.

Since I've talked a lot about dogs, here are a few pictures so you can see what the little ones and big ones look like...

Some pictures of feeding time, some pictures from the shelter. It's fun and I always enjoy being able to do something good for the dogs.

Otherwise, you can also see how my bunny is so excited that he can finally make pancakes. He's been looking at the package in the supermarket shelf for so long, so I eventually bought it for him and it was really delicious. Thank you bunny for that.

Lastly, here comes the weirdest story. Currently, our passports are at the immigration office because we're waiting to get our visa. It's been quite a torture until everything is sorted out. We had to jump from one office to another and there's a saying here: 'the Germans have the watches. The St. Lucians have the time.'

We went there on Monday, after we arrived on Friday 10 minutes after 4pm and of course, we didn't get in anymore (the internet says they're open until 5pm, but who cares...). Then on Monday, we handed in our passports and we were told to pick them up on Saturday. Then we asked, really on Saturday? No, that was a mistake, we should come back on Thursday... And today is that day... So we're curious if it will work out today... Because if not, we'll just wait until it's our turn...😃😃😃

Since I'm flying to Barbados on Saturday and I'll be meeting with dear Katharina there (ohhhh I'm so excited....🎉🎉), I naturally need to have my passport back today...

We'll keep you updated and of course, I'll get in touch next time from Barbados...☺️☺️☺️

Take care

Your bunnies

Yayyy, finally allowed to do outdoor exercises (sport in new German) legally on Sundays.

So, this Sunday, of course, we went out again and went to a place called "Moonlight" which truly lives up to its name.

Just fantastic, an area full of impressions and also a luxury area of the finest. So, if any of you still need a nice property in the best location and view, this would be the right place. Just contact us, we are happy to arrange the mediation with the appropriate commission 😂😂😂

And you can also see in the pictures, especially the construction of a new golf course and there are also more luxury villas and a luxury hotel being built there. It will probably be finished in the middle of next year. So, whoever wants to visit us and does not want to stay in our luxury villa (😁😁), can also fly in there by helicopter.

A beautiful spot with a 270-degree sea view. Jogging is fun there.

In this sense, all the best

Your Hasis

Hello dear ones,

Long time no hear from us, I know. But that also means that everyday life has slowly caught up with us. Which is not a bad thing at all. In fact, it's very good because we are settling in very well and getting along very well.

The pictures were taken on Saturday a week ago.

We were back at the market early in the morning and stocked up on fruits for the whole week.

Then we thought about where we could go hiking today and came up with the idea of driving to the neighboring Monchy and leaving the car there. But after we were there, we realized that it's still quite a distance to the sea and decided to drive further. When we came across a gravel road (nothing that would actually stop us ), we stopped and walked the rest of the way to the sea. A beautiful route, especially downhill...

When we arrived there, we initially had a beautiful view of the bay. Great colors, the green of the forests on the side of the bay was breathtaking.... If it weren't for all the plastic waste on the beach. It's not a normal bathing beach, rather a beach for fishermen, a bay ideal for shipping things into the country that not everyone should see (????).... 😅😅😅

Well, after a short break, we then took the way back and of course we had to walk all the way up again. But the effort was worth it and the exertion was worth seeing a different spot on the island.

In this sense...

All the best

Your Hasis

How quickly the week has gone by. That's really crazy.... Today is already Friday.

So what has this week brought?

Of course, Timo had to work, he's doing so well here. I'm really proud of him and how he's handling everything. He had his first workshop this week, which he had to lead, and he did a great job.

In the meantime, I've dedicated myself to my new job. Dogs, dogs, dogs 😅😅😅 dogs everywhere.... It's fun taking care of them and keeping you updated....

And of course, I also took care of my husband's well-being. After the shopping adventure at the market in Castries last week, everything had to be processed....

Fortunately, tomorrow is Saturday again and we will probably go to the market...

In this sense, we wish you a wonderful weekend and look forward to telling you about our weekend next week.

With love,

Your Hasis

Hallo ihr Lieben,

Wieder haben wir uns am Sonntag letzte Woche aus dem Haus geschlichen und sind erneut joggen gegangen 😇😇😇 das wird langsam zu unserem Sonntags Ritual.

Samstag wandern, Sonntag joggen... Mei müssen wir gut aussehen, wenn wir wieder heim kommen. Ganzen Tag Früchte fressen und Sport bis zum umfallen 😂😂😂😂 ich erwähne jetzt Mal nicht die Chips und Keks Tüten am Abend 😁😁😁

Auch dieser Jogging Ausflug war überragend und es lohnt sich einfach immer da hin zu rennen, denn immer gibt es als Belohnung einen tollen Ausblick übers Meer. 

In diesem Sinne...

Alles Liebe

Eure Hasis 

On Saturday we woke up very early and went to Castries, the capital of the island. There we went to the market. At first, it was a very strange experience. I think we were the only white people there for the first two hours, so we were naturally treated like tourists....😂😂

We were very shy and didn't dare to ask anything or even buy anything.

After some time, we met a very nice lady who explained to us what can be done with Sweet Apples. That encouraged us and gave us the impulse to start shopping. We couldn't stop ourselves and ended up buying four big bags full of fruits and vegetables.

Of course, we have already consumed all of it, especially the Bread Fruit tasted really good and we will buy it again.

After packing the car with all the goodies, we drove further south to the Tet Paul Nature Trail. A beautiful hiking trail that offers a sensational view. Just look at the pictures, no need to say more, right ?? !!

The trail had a splendid view of the two Pitons, as it is right in between them. That of course encouraged us to climb one of the two Pitons in the next few weeks. But we still have to work on our fitness a bit, because the path will be tough.

After getting a great guided tour at the Tet Paul Nature Trail, we started heading back home, as it takes a good 1.5 hours for the 42 km (because the roads are really good 😅😅😅).

We made a quick stop in Castries and had something to eat on the beach, before finally arriving home with all our achievements....

It was truly a splendid day ....

All my love,

Your Hasis

Here's a small overview of our nutrition program....

It has everything...

Local fruits from the market (we got good deals 😅😅)

Spaghetti Bolognese (so delicious)

Smoothie in every variation

Eating at the Spinnakers restaurant (Hasi's birthday)

Cinnamon roll from the Suisse Bakery (you won't need anything else after that)

And of course, ICE CREAM!!! (Yes, Mom, they also have lemon sorbet there 😂😂😂)

Enjoy watching and make sure your mouth doesn't water too much 😇😇😇

All the best

Your Hasis

Yes, you read that right. I have a new job 😂😂😂

And take a look at the pictures.... Aren't they cute??? Unfortunately, they don't belong to us, but from now on I am allowed to feed the dogs twice a week. The dogs live on the street and on the beach. There are many stray dogs here, many locals have dogs, but often the dogs are abandoned after a while. Then they have to live on the beach or on the street and are always happy when people like me come and bring them food regularly.

I have 4 places there where the dogs live (Of course, there are many more) and there I now bring the dogs food regularly.

It's fun and the dogs are all lovely. They all let themselves be petted and are well-behaved. The dogs are all vaccinated and gradually neutered so that they do not reproduce further. There are also some veterinarians who take care of the dogs.

I am looking forward to my new task and will keep you updated.

Love

Your Hasis

Another week has gone by and I haven't told you about last Sunday yet.... I'm so busy... 😂😂😂

So why is it not allowed to jog on Sundays?? Well, there is a curfew here on Sundays and you are not actually allowed to go out and leave your house.

But we thought that with the good weather, you can't stay at home.

And at 30 degrees, you can also go jogging and break a sweat... 😅😅

But the effort was worth it and we found a beautiful place where we ran to. The view was breathtaking.... We just laid in the grass for a while and enjoyed the waves around us.

Of course, we had to run back as well, but after recharging our energy, it wasn't difficult anymore.

A beautiful Sunday, luckily we weren't caught and arrived home safe and sound. 😇😇

See you soon.

Your Hasis

An incredibly beautiful weekend lies behind us....

On Saturday we were in Pigeon Island. A natural wonder here in the region. It has to be seen by everyone who comes to visit us here. An absolute must.

We left on Saturday morning and arrived there after just 10 minutes by car. The distances here are not so big.

So we bought two tickets and walked up the first of the two mountains. Not so easy, in the scorching sun and 31 degrees in the shade.... As you can see, we were sweating. But it was worth it. After we reached the top, the view really took our breath away. It was indescribably beautiful. After some time and a little rest (and a short conversation with an American who lives on a sailboat), we climbed the opposite mountain. That was much easier. Here you could see above all that this area was used for military purposes in the past. There we saw many old cannons that were used in the past to defend the country....

The view up here was also fantastic.

Above all, the sea impressed us, because here the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet, a true wonder.

After we regained our strength here as well, we decided to go for a swim and snorkel a little on the beach.

The adjacent restaurant also made some sales that day because of us, and we had delicious burgers and fish.

An breathtaking day, it really feels like paradise....

All the best

Your Vanessa

After Timo's birthday, we didn't do much in the week. One highlight was especially that I got the Thermomix running for the first time and made our first smoothie 🥤. So delicious.

And of course we had our first bigger, flying house visitor. Little birdie said hello and then fluttered away again ....

But the weekend that awaited us was breathtaking...

All the best

Your Vanessa

Hallo ihr Lieben,

Ja jetzt kommt ihr langsam ins Schwitzen, bei so vielen Beiträgen auf einmal. 😂😂😂

Die ersten Tage waren sehr schön. Am Donnerstag Mittag durfte ich gleich Mal mit zu einem Lunch mit Diana (Mitbewohnerin von uns ) und ich hab direkt zwei nette Mädels kennen gelernt. Wir haben lecker Burger gegessen und anschließend noch im Meer geplantscht und geschnorchelt... Da gabs echt viele schöne kleine Fischiiis 😃😃 muss noch lernen, wie die alle heißen, dann kann ich es euch beim nächsten Mal Genauer erzählen 😂😂

Abends haben wir dann noch bei einem Glas Rum zusammen gesessen und uns gut unterhalten. 

Ein schöner erster Tag ging dann zu Ende . 

Alles Liebe

Eure Vanessa

Last Wednesday, it finally happened. The bunnies were reunited....

Of course, my bunny picked me up at the airport and welcomed me with open arms. I was so happy to finally be there and have him back. It was a long 5 weeks without my bunny.

Then we quickly drove home, of course not without making a short stop at a great viewpoint. There was a great view of the bay and Castries (capital of St. Lucia).

From that moment, I already knew how beautiful everything would be here.

After a good hour, we arrived at the house. Wow, what a great house, yes, we can now also call ourselves tenants... We are a bit proud of that. 😇😇

We had one more drink and then fell asleep exhausted.

Take care,

yours Vanessa

It's time for a new post, sorry for making you wait so long... I promise to improve 😇😇

I have been here for over a week and time is flying by.

The first few days were very interesting...

I swam in the sea for the first time, to be more precise, in the Caribbean Sea.

I drank a coconut for the first time at home.

I entered a supermarket and did some shopping for the first time there (which is quite special for me).

I cooked for the first time here.

I had good fish for the first time here...

And so much more...

But one thing at a time.

I will write about each experience in separate blog posts and also post pictures so you have a better overview.

I am excited to tell you everything.

With love,

Vanessa

Power-Boat trip to the two volcanoes.