Diana Petterson Caribbean Islands, St. Lucia

St. Lucia: For its Stunning Scenic and Panoramic Views

Elizabeth and me at Caribelle Batiks with views of the country island of St Lucia. I was looking forward to an actual demonstration of batik dying but unfortunately this was not the trip for that. But with tourism being the number one industry in St. Lucia, this sop was about buying items in the shop and appreciating the exquisite views. (Dec. 15, 2024)

St. Lucia: Country #89 on my Countdown to 100 U.N. countries by the time I turn 70 in 2026.

I’ve discovered that even though my Caribbean culture and ancestry runs deep through both sides of my family tree, I’m no island girl. But spending time on these island countries has definitely given me an appreciation for the beauty, simplicity and laid back feel of the islands and the waterways surrounding them. 

Saint Lucia, an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean, is a mountainous volcanic island that stretches 27 miles long and 14 miles wide. The estimated population of Saint Lucia in 2024 is 186,500 people who are predominantly of African and mixed African-European descent. English is the official language, although many St. Lucians speak a French patois, a French-based Creole language. 

For a day, actually a few hours of traversing the island, the main thing we got to see were the stunning scenic, and panoramic views. 

So, here are those scenic viewpoints. 

Elizabeth and me at Caribelle Batiks with views of the country island of St Lucia. I was looking forward to an actual demonstration of batik dying but unfortunately this was not the trip for that. But with tourism being the number one industry in St. Lucia, this sop was about buying items in the shop and appreciating the exquisite views. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Elizabeth and I stopping for a quick breakfast in the Waves Grill Restaurant, by the open poolside on our Oceania Cruise’s Insignia ship, before our “A Panoramic View Of St. Lucia” tour. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Our ship, Oceania’s Insignia, docked for the day at the Pointe Seraphine Cruise Port in Castries, the capital city of the island country of St. Lucia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Elizabeth and me heading to our shore excursion, “A Panoramic View of St. Lucia,” after disembarking our ship, Oceania’s Insignia. (Dec. 15, 2024)

Views of the downtown area of Castries, St. Lucia’s capital and largest city, near the cruise ship dock. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Views of the downtown area of Castries, St. Lucia’s capital and largest city, near the cruise ship dock. (Dec. 15, 2024)
More views but this time it’s of the Pointe Seraphine Cruise Port in Castries, the capital city of the island country of St. Lucia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Views of the Pointe Seraphine Cruise Port in Castries, the capital city of the island country of St. Lucia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Views of the Pointe Seraphine Cruise Port in Castries, the capital city of the island country of St. Lucia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Climbing up the hilly country roadways in St. Lucia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
More views of the the Pointe Seraphine Cruise Port in Castries, the capital city of the island country of St. Lucia as we weave our way up to the Morne Fortune area. It is a historic site and residential area in St. Lucia that’s known for its panoramic views and military history. (Dec. 15, 2024)
The Morne Fortune area changed hands between the British and French several times, but the old military buildings from the late 1700s still stand and are now the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College on the country island of St. Lucia. The college was established in 1985 and is named after Saint Lucian economist and Nobel laureate Sir Arthur Lewis. (Dec. 15, 2024)
The Morne Fortune area changed hands between the British and French several times, but the old military buildings from the late 1700s still stand and are now the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College on the country island of St. Lucia. The college was established in 1985 and is named after Saint Lucian economist and Nobel laureate Sir Arthur Lewis. (Dec. 15, 2024)
The Morne Fortune area changed hands between the British and French several times, but the old military buildings from the late 1700s still stand and are now the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College on the country island of St. Lucia. The college was established in 1985 and is named after Saint Lucian economist and Nobel laureate Sir Arthur Lewis. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Selfie views of the country island of St. Lucia from the Caribelle Batiks shop. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Views of the country island of St. Lucia from the Caribelle Batiks shop.(Dec. 15, 2024)
Views of the country island of St. Lucia from the Caribelle Batiks shop.(Dec. 15, 2024)
Views of the country island of St. Lucia from the Caribelle Batiks shop.(Dec. 15, 2024)
Inside the Caribelle Batiks shop on the country island of St. Lucia. Again, I was quite disappointed in this stop, not in the views, but in the lack of a promised Batik demonstration “where you will watch artists creating one-of-a-kind fashions using hot wax and colorful dyes.” Instead it was just a shopping opportunity. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Inside the Caribelle Batiks shop on the country island of St. Lucia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Inside the Caribelle Batiks shop on the country island of St. Lucia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Inside the Caribelle Batiks shop on the country island of St. Lucia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
A piece of batik art at the Caribelle Batiks shop on the country island of St. Lucia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
A shop with a million dollar view along the Morne Fortuné Road in St. Lucia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
At Stony Hill Manor House, a privately owned family home built high on a ridge in the north of St Lucia in 1999 where we again stopped to take-in the island views. (Dec. 15, 2024)
At Stony Hill Manor House, a privately owned family home built high on a ridge in the north of St Lucia in 1999 where we again stopped to take-in the island views. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Views of St. Lucia from the Stony Hill Manor House on the north ridge of St. Lucia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Views of St. Lucia from the Stony Hill Manor House on the north ridge of St. Lucia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Views of St. Lucia from the Stony Hill Manor House on the north ridge of St. Lucia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Views of St. Lucia from the Stony Hill Manor House on the north ridge of St. Lucia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Views of St. Lucia from the Stony Hill Manor House on the north ridge of St. Lucia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Views of St. Lucia from the Stony Hill Manor House on the north ridge of St. Lucia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Heading back to our cruise ship, the Insignia. Unfortunately, for me the only thing around the port is duty free shopping. So back to the ship I go. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Heading back to our cruise ship, the Insignia. Unfortunately, for me the only thing around the port is duty free shopping. So back to the ship I go. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Back on our Oceania Cruise’s ship, the Insignia with its beautiful Christmas decorations. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Back on our Oceania Cruise’s ship, the Insignia with its beautiful Christmas decorations. (Dec. 15, 2024)
Back in time for a nice steak dinner in the Grand Dining room of our Oceania ship, the Insignia. (Dec. 15, 2024)
My delicious steak dinner in the Grand Dining room of our Oceania ship, the Insignia. (Dec. 15, 2024)