ENOUGH HISTORY. I'M ON HOLIDAY.
A truly beautiful piece of paradise and the journey from the airport, along its winding roads, to our resort through the lush green rainforest was Amazing. Foliage on steroids.
We watched in anticipation as the gates to St. James Club, Morgan Bay, opened. It was about 25 years ago we visited this resort, although it was a Wyndham then, with the children. Would we enjoy it as much??? A member of staff smiled broadly, cheerfully waving us in, we had arrived. Greeted with complimentary pink cocktails or beer, the reception staff quickly settled us into one of the resident golf buggies for the ride to our room. We loved our room location (647). We were in a beachfront room on the top floor. To the left we had a beautiful ocean view, where we could watch the cruise ships coming into Castries and to the right the beach. Against the hazy, late afternoon sun, we watched as people sipped cocktails at the bar, lounged under the shade of swaying palm trees and floated in the Caribbean sea. We had arrived in paradise - the grounds were beautiful too, flowers everywhere.
After flying west, you wake early. On my first morning with my body clock four hours ahead of local time, I was wide-awake soon after 4 a.m. By well before six I had wandered out on to the balcony of our room to enjoy the warm air and watch the slow, mysterious way that day breaks in the Caribbean. The sky glows, the greys lighten, distant shapes resolve and then imperceptibly slowly, colour drains back into the landscape. Phil had wandered off to the lobby to check his e'mails and then off for an early morning swim in the warm Caribbean before breakfast.
Would we be confronted by chicken nuggets, burgers and chips each night? Our first evening, however, soon quashed any concerns. On the first night you always dine at the Palm (buffet) Restaurant and the fish was truly excellent. The next night we dined at the Bambou Restaurant, and this is where we also had breakfast every day.
Again delicate fish filled my plate and crisp white wine filled my glass.
In fact, dining at all the restaurants in the resort was a real pleasure. Our favourite being the atmospheric Morgan's Pier.
We also enjoyed the Treetops Italian restaurant. And the posh Le Jardin (extra charge).
Aside from the restaurants there is also the Choc Bay Café. Settling down in the café in the evening, as the sound of crickets filled the air, Phil indulged in a coffee speciality. And as our eyes began to droop, it was just a short walk back to our comfy beds and quiet room.
On Wednesday night we were treated to ' Fete bor la Mere ' the weekly - and infamous - beach party. Strolling down from our room, the smell of BBQ making our bellies rumble, we gazed out across a beach now illuminated by torches and a bonfire. Children played in the flame-lit sea. It was magical. Later, our bellies full of BBQ ribs, and jerk chicken we joined the crowds to watch the fire eater and limbo dancers.
Collecting the coconuts for the beach party and building the bonfire.........
After all this eating we couldn't spend all day asleep under palm trees, although it was sooo lovely to be so ridiculously relaxed.
The adorable Sandpipers on the beach kept us amused for hours
and every morning we watched a hummingbird feed whilst we fed ourselves.
Just a quick walk across the beach to the watersports hut and you're ready to go (and at no additional cost). Phil sailed the hobie cats and even did waterski-ing.
For lunch a wonderful beach bar-be-que was laid on with fresh fish, pork, chicken and burgers.
You are also given a red flag to raise if you would like a drink and there is an ice cream man too.
Unfortunately, he went on vacation too half way though our holiday and it meant we had to get up off our sunbed and walk to the Plum Tree Bar for one.
And then in the late afternoon sun we would wander up to the Hillside pool bar for sunset and, of course, a cocktail. Sadly no green flashes this week.
On the Friday we ventured out of the resort for Phil to go diving. Dive St. Lucia picked us up in the Lobby at 8.15 and drove us to their dive centre at Rodney Bay. What a professional outfit. Very friendly and a great boat.
Equipment was modern, the boat had a head downstairs, freshwater showers on the rear deck. The crew even wash your masks for you pre-dive with baby shampoo to stop misting. Ladders easy to climb with large flat area to step onto. Phil did two dives, one reef was immediately below the pitons.
I stayed on board and relaxed although the crew did invite me to go snorkelling with them if I wanted to. I declined as I only like to eat fish not swim with them. Phil commented that it was the most professional outfit and nicest boat he has been on in the world. Also good food on board - all part of the package.
The defining image of St. Lucia: Gros Piton and Petit Piton are the second and third- highest peaks on the island at 2,619 ft. and 2,461 ft. respectively. They are much more spectacular than St. Lucia's highest, the 3,118ft Mount Gimie in the central rainforest. Volcanic plugs formed by an eruption aeons ago, their foliage-covered flanks tower majestically over the southern coast, and they have been recognised as a World Heritage site by Unesco.
So. This place is not posh (think of the price), don't expect everyone to dress up for dinner with long trousers and collared shirts (unless you book Le Jardin restaurant), don't expect Grey Goose vodka or Stella Artois beer, respect the staff and they will respect you and lastly make sure that you have a Dirty Banana every day (that's a drink for those of you who may have read something else into that).
Balmy weather, fantastically friendly people, interesting food and drink, dive excursion.......what's not to like? We enjoyed so much about this resort and the week we spent here that we are able to overlook the terrifying long taxi ride back to the airport (he drove so fast) and the twice daily brief rain showers.
We will definitely return.
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