Day 13, Castries, St Lucia

Today was probably the earliest we have been up all cruise, 07:10. We had breakfast in the buffet, to avoid the waiting about in the restaurant. In harbour with us today were P&O's Azura, another massive beast and something called Sirena. Not sure which cruise line but it may even be smaller than us.

By 09:15 we were on our coach for the West Coast and Volcano tour.

St Lucia is probably the hilliest island we have visited, so the roads out were tight and twisty. We made a 'stop' at a spot where we could take a photo of the city/ harbour but weren't allowed off the bus!

The harbour, through the square window!

Next up we stopped at a little fishing village. 15 minutes for the locals to sell as much as they could. Up into the hills and on the edge of the rainforest. Next stop was a viewing point overlooking the former capital Soufriere and with a view of the Pitons, Grande & Petit, St Lucia's two highest mountains. 2 minutes to get a photo but long enough for the locals to try and sell you a piece of weaved palm leaf.

Soufriere and Grand and Petit Pitons

Back on the bus, we drove through Soufriere, a lovely looking town, and on up into the hills to the volcano park. Here there are mud pools where people (not on our tour) could bathe and cover themselves in 'healthy' volcanic mud. We had about a 20 minute tour, with a guide explaining about the geology, sulphur dioxide gas and how hot the mud bubbling in pools is. I've forgotten already!

Hot bubbling mud

Then it was back on the bus and back to Soufriere, where we stopped at an old mill, once part of a sugar plantation. Here we had a very nice lunch. There were six dishes, only one of which Catherine couldn't have, chicken. They had a hot sauce on offer. Catherine took some, tasted it, then went back down the queue, on her way to table, telling everyone to avoid it. Needless to say, I had a dollop. On its own, it was bloody hot but when mixed in with food it wasn't so bad.

Whilst eating we saw some humming birds hovering around the flowers near us. I managed to get a photo but only when one had settled, not in hover mode.

Why don't humming birds sing?

Soon we were on the move again and driving right through Soufriere, back the way we had come. It would have been nice to stop there for a while.

That, effectively, was the end of the tour. The roads are that twisty it took about an hour to get back to the ship.

We got back on board and dropped some gear off, then went back out for a mooch around. We were probably out about an hour, before returning to the ship. On the way back Catherine made a purchase, once again putting her negotiating skills to good use. 

We'll soon be leaving Castries and setting sail for Grenada, the last of the islands on the trip. We don't have a trip booked, so we'll be staying local.

After we leave the ship on Thursday, she visits some of the island's again, before sailing across the Atlantic and carrying on through the Mediterranean, eventually settling in  Cyprus. The last four couples we have got chatting to, are all staying on for that. Not sure I could stand 7 nights across the Atlantic. 

That's all for now.