St Lucia Chill Day

What happens when against your better judgement you leave the planning of the Gros Piton hike to your brother who is busy running around for his wedding? Nothing. He didn't sort out our driver and the guide until we arrived the night before we planned to go hiking. See, hiking the Piton was firmly at the top of my things to do in St Lucia so I was gutted for all of five minutes when it dawned on me it wasn't going to happen. Well, no need getting angry when we had miles of Caribbean sandy beach and lots of activities at the hotel. 

Woke up early for breakfast and spent about 7 hours playing on the beach. It's been 5 weeks since that day and the bikini tan lines are visible.

After consuming copious amounts of Piton beers and rum on the beach, we decided to continue the party at the famous Gros Islet Jump Up. This is a long-running street party in Gros Islet that happens every Friday drawing crowds of partygoers for pulsing soca, afrobeats, calypso, reggae and popular music. The streets are lined with vendors selling everything from the most potent bush rum to the best jerk pork, fish, ribs and even home-made soaps.

As always, blame the hazy photos below on rum/rum punch/beer/not sure. The party really gets going around 11 pm but since I was going with a group of people who treasure their early nights, w got there around 9 when nothing was happening, downed some shots of bush rum and started dancing. People started dancing next to us and that's how the party for the night got started. 

Years ago my brothers went away to St Lucia and returned battered and bruised from partying. They literally "used enjoyment to kill themselves" and I always said to myself that's the sort of vacation I'd like to have when I visit. All I can say is, St Lucians can party!!!