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St. Lucia - Helen of the West Indies
St. Lucia is part of the Windward Islands. It has a unique heritage in that it changed hands 14 times between the British
and the French before finally being controlled by Great Britain in 1814. This is how it became Helen of the West Indies. Its
heritage is both British and French. English is the official language taught in the schools. However, patois, a French-based
language, is spoken in the home. All of the towns have French names. As a part of the British Commonwealth, English laws and
customs prevail, including the odd custom of driving on the wrong side of the road. Nevertheless, the country is quite livable,
the inhabitants are friendly and life is good in St. Lucia.
| The view of Castries from Mon Fortune is wonderful |
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St. Lucia is 24 miles long and 14 miles wide. It is between Martinique to the north and St. Vincent to the South.
Tourism is the Number One industry on St. Lucia, followed by bananas. St. Lucia is generally considered an upscale island
and is one of the favorite destinations for honeymooners. The weather is great all year round with temperatures rarely
exceeding 85 degrees. Because it is a part of the Windward Islands, a moderate breeze is usually present.
The Pitons, a World Heritage site, are the symbols of St. Lucia. These peaks rise majestically from the ocean and provide
a breathtaking view from your airplane as you land at hewanorra airport on the south end of the island. No trip to St. Lucia
is complete without a tour of the island and the opportunity to view the Pitons up close. If you are reasonably fit, a guided
tour to the top of Gros Piton can be had.
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