Photography by Bill Mortley

Are you looking for a tour that’s likely to take your breath away for a moment, for more ways than one? If you are, the Paradise Tours Parrot trail is ideal for nature and hike lovers, or any sort of outdoorsy person who loves a challenge in an unforgettably gorgeous St Lucian setting. This tour is a bird watchers paradise and you’re likely to see birds like the Saint-Lucian Parrot, Warbler, Pewee, and Oriole in the forest.

It’s called the Parrot Trail with good reason, so be sure to ask your guide what the best times are to take the tour. Kurt, the tour guide described by all who take the tour as passionate, informative and fun guides you along answering questions and explaining about the surrounding forest environment in Micoud. Along this trail you get the chance to get up close and personal with various species of birds. In 2011 there are even more parrots than ever before on the trail, and as the tour guide will tell you, following hurricane Tomas the area became more frequented by the gorgeous birds.

During this trail you will hear and /or see the Saint-Lucia national bird, the Saint-Lucia Parrot also called the Amazona Versicola. The national plant, bamboo, can be found on several occasions. You will come across several fruit trees, such as sweet lime, guava and carambola.

The hiking trail takes four hours. Be sure to walk with comfortable clothing, walking shoes and be ready for adventure! The trail is rated strenuous. This trail is the ideal private activity for your entire family, and on the upside, you don’t get burned by the sun’s rays along the way thanks to the natural canopy of trees overhead.  Along the way you get a panoramic view of both the Caribbean and Atlantic sides of the island from the property in Fond Doux Estate and get your picking of all kinds of  fresh fruit! What can really beat that truly local experience?

To make sure your adventure is complete, you’re invited to unwind and relax at the waterfall, where a swim and/or bathing is allowed. After the hike a cool dip in the waterfall will feel like the best thing you’ve ever experienced, guaranteed! Call 455-3245 for more information.

The Anse Chastanet Reef makes for an amazing dive day or night. Just 15 yards beyond the water’s edge, the reef’s remarkable ecosystem offers an amazing wealth of unusual tropical marine life in 20 to 140 feet of calm clear water. In the shallow areas be sure to keep your eyes open for peacock flounders, octopus, needle fish and turtles. Or drop down a little deeper over dense coral growth to see puffers, moray eels, parrot fish, lobsters and even sea horses. The Anse Chastanet Reef is a unique dive site for all abilities and is especially good for macro photography.

The Dive N’ Discover course (Resort Course) is offered every day of the week. The course begins with a 45-minute on-shore learning session in which an instructor will introduce you to scuba diving theory, the basic skills and the equipment. You then don the gear for a shallow water training session followed by a dive on the Anse Chastanet Reef to a maximum depth of 30 feet. The Anse Chastanet reef, which is home to more than 150 different species of fish, is comprised of a marine plateau and dramatic slopes that fall away to a depth of more than 140ft.

Looking for more adventure? Then join Scuba St Lucia for a night dive. After a briefing at dusk you enter the warm, clear water in search of eels, octopus, lobsters, sleeping parrot fish and even ‘The Thing’. Our guides are experts in finding all those little creatures you don’t see during the day.

Contact: 459-7755

If you’re reading this perhaps you’re considering getting on an ATV for the first time. Have no fear; it’s just as easy as riding a bicycle! Well, maybe not that simple, but easy enough to learn in a few minutes before setting out on the thrilling trail! When you’re done you’re going to want to do this ATV tour over and over again because lets face it, the Paradise ATV Tour is more than just a typical ride along a trail on a four wheeler; there’s the whole historical side of things where you pass through working plantations, see all types of St Lucian greenery and topography and other nature oriented sites that remain relatively untouched by the rest of the world.

For most people, the best part of the tour is the point where you arrive to a clear flowing river that you can bathe in if you’d like. Or perhaps you’d prefer to do things Tarzan style and just grab tightly onto a rope, hang on for your life, swing over the river then make a clean landing in the pure waters. After exerting so much of your energy riding to that spot, the cool water will be the best thing you’ve ever felt in your life!
While the river stop is one of the best parts of the tour there’s much more good times to be had.

The tour includes driving through different plantations, the rainforest and a visit to the beach. The Micoud Estate overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and the Fond Beach is accessible from the property. Be prepared to see anything from wild goats grazing to rare parrots flying overhead in the early morning or late afternoon.
Along the windy route riders get to make stops along the way to sample local fruit, take pictures, and take in some of the islands history from the hilltops, riversides and forests!

Tour guides ensure you’re comfortable every step of the way. This tour is worth every dollar and the duration is about three hours.
Call 455-3245 for more information.

The island then received its first constitution, the Premier John Compton became Prime Minister and the Governor became the Governor General.The national anthem Sons and Daughters of St Lucia, written by Charles Jesse FMI, a priest, teacher, writer and archaeologist and a founding member of the St Lucia Archaeological society, was sung with fervor during the occasion, observed with great fanfare, cultural dancing, singing and military parades. The island embarked on a new path, entirely in control of its own affairs, after changing hands between the British and the French 14 times in its tumultuous history.

St Lucia still maintains its links to the British monarch through its membership in the British Commonwealth of which Queen Elizabeth II is the official head.The island comes to life during the celebration of Independence and this year’s 33rd anniversary is no exception. The activities climax with a youth rally, which attracts schools from all over the island.

mfvkvfm3857

The red peas in an apple smoked bacon bouillon infused with coconut is the St Lucian version of comfort food; it’s homely and gives that warm fuzzy touch only love can.  The Entrees make it difficult to pick just one. TT’s top picks are Rodney’s Marina Seared Red Snapper which is freshly caught red snapper marinated in teriyaki sauce and sesame oil with Ortanique orange liquor and Bacardi lemon butter sauce over coconut scented rice (yum!) and La Clery Surf and Turf; Chairman’s special marinated grill jumbo shrimp and USDA Choice rib eye steak combo with citrus garlic butter, ripe plantain fu-fu and chef’s choice of starch.

At this point, there’s a healthy fullness to the meal. But what’s dinner without dessert? All the desserts will make you go “mmmmmmhhhmmm.” Go with the Authentic Caribbean Papaya Crème Brule. It’s a mixture of heavy cream, egg yolk, sugar, Caribbean spices and candied papaya.  It’s the perfect topping to an exquisite meal. The food, the atmosphere, the service and the venue all create a fantastic dreamland for any occasion.
This uniquely exotic spot delivers all of the spice, warmth and taste that make the islands so beloved.
Contact: 452-3081

Sitting on the deck, visitors have a full view of the main street in Rodney Bay.  The cool breeze whispers sweet nothings in your ear while pleasant staff answer all inquires about the menu.  The dimly lit room is ideal for laughter and chatter, and the wonderful selection of wines certainly helps to make the evening even more enjoyable.  The carefully selected wines are kept in an air conditioned wine room to ensure the best drinking temperature for both red and white wines.

The culinary concept at Fire Grill is a modern twist on “food over fire” with an emphasis on local ingredients combined with classic European techniques.  The menu is delightful and difficult to choose rom course to course.  For a starter, the Carpaccio of Mahi Mahi with grilled asparagus, roast corn and Chardon-beni cream has a wonderful blend of flavors to make any mouth water for more.  For those who are more soup inclined for an appetizer, the Vichyssoise soup is delectable.  Served either hot or cold, this dish comes with smoked salmon and a grapefruit salad.  The smokey flavor mixed with the citrus of the grapefruit and the creamy soup have patrons wishing this was a main course.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing characteristics of Fire Grill is its main menu which allows you to mix and match its Surf, Turf and Sides.  Surf from the grill is finest seafood from the Caribbean waters whereas Turf is the tenderest Certified Black Angus quality char-grilled beef.  The Queen Surf and Turf leaves nothing to be desired.  Patrons can choose between a 6oz or 8oz beef tenderloin and have it grilled to your liking.  What would that tenderloin be if it didn’t have succulent jumbo shrimp to accompany  it?!  The Sides are mind blowing and choosing one may be easier said than done.  Potato gratin, blue cheese, sautéed mushrooms, pommes maxim with bacon and grilled vegetables are just some of the eye catching dishes on under this category.
It only takes one meal at Fire Grill to make you into a regular customer. Contact:  451-4745

St. Lucia's Rob Taylor

Every year November 22 is celebrated as the feast of St Cecilia.  St Cecilia, according to history was a Roman maiden of a noble family, devoted to prayer, she was given in marriage against her will to a pagan youth named Valerian. On the wedding day “while the pipes (organs) were praying” for the festivities, she sang in her heart to Christ, praying that her virginity might be preserved intact. A misunderstanding of these words as meaning that she sang to the accompaniment of an organ has made Cecilia the patroness of music. St Cecilia’s Day is celebrated with church services throughout the island.