Tuesday 11th April

Up early, just in time to watch as we docked in Castries, St Lucia & very good it looked too.

After breakfast we walked out at about 8.30 & had a coffee & wi-fi break in the little terminal building before booking a 2 hour, short tour of the north of the island in a minibus, for $US 25 a head.

Joseph, our driver, took us & 2 other Aurora people, on the tour & patiently explained how people live with 25% unemployment there. The little town of Castries is on the north western side of the island & climbs steeply up the wooded slopes around the little harbour. The house looked more substantial than those on the other Caribbean islands we had visited & the gardens for the most part were neat & well kept. Its vegetation is mostly pretty lush & the roads are narrow & winding with many small settlements but very little signs of agriculture. He took us past his mother's house & pointed out a cacao tree in the yard, then on to the most northerly point of the island where the Caribbean Sea is to the east & the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

We returned to Castries & walked around the covered markets & the RC Cathedral, where a service was in progress. It was interesting to hear the singing at the end of the service. We then we walked around the interior of the cathedral, built in 1899 & with fascinating murals all around the interior done by a local artist. On our return d*** had a haircut, an amazing experience as the barber's interpretation of a No 1 was far more comprehensive than normal & included some trimming of all other facial hair & a shave with an electric razor.

The ship left harbour at about 6pm & Jane took some fine photos of the sunset.