St. Lucia, Cuba

[Reggae plus]

In addition to returning to Jamaica 2 winters ago Lucy and I have also been to St Lucia and Cuba in recent years. First time to St. Lucia. Very nice, laid back, friendly, relaxed. The place we stayed had a sound system running all day and well into the night. They played WAY more Jamaican music...especially classic Reggae...than ANY place I've stayed in JA over these past 20 years or so. In St. Lucia it's as if you're visiting the West Indies. In Jamaica tourists are fed WAY more T and T than Yard when it comes to music. I even took over the PA in St. Lucia and spun chunes until they needed the mic back to make announcements about the evening programs they had on tap for the guests. Good fun. Nice people.

Cuba was last year...first time back since the early 90s. BIG changes. Loads of growth and improvements for the guests. The food still has a ways to go to reach the standards set by other tourist destinations. Again NICE people. Very warm and friendly. Amazing the work they've done and the plans they have to refurbish Havana. Just don't stand around any of the vintage cars which line the downtown streets and the boulevard. The owners will expect money.

As I am now a golfer [just starting my 7th year at it] I can tell you that golf in Cuba and Jamaica was better than in St Lucia but still it was worth it to take the clubs and play.

If it's hotel stays you're looking for...I'd say you'll get more Jamaica elsewhere than on the rock itself...until you walk out the front gates. THIS is where Jamaica needs to refresh its 'welcoming' committee. The good people in JA are all too often being misrepresented to the guests who come to visit.

Jamaican hotels have sold the country out.

[RichD]

where did you stay in st Lucia?

[Reggae plus]

Gros Islet Rich. Way up in the northern tip. A VERY long taxi ride there from the airport which is inconveniently situated at the opposite end of the island. Still...it gave us a quick look at LOADS of St. Luica. They seem to have a 'plan' there...and...it seems to be working.

[RichD]

Gros Islet Rich. Way up in the northern tip. A VERY long taxi ride there from the airport which is inconveniently situated at the opposite end of the island. Still...it gave us a quick look at LOADS of St. Luica. They seem to have a 'plan' there...and...it seems to be working.

ok ..My wife is from St lucia...they live half way between Castries and Gros Islet

When i go i prefer to Connect in Barbados and land in Castries

[Reggae plus]

Good tip.

[RichD]

so how is the golf game? the course at Cap estate is tough

[Xavier]

Where are the photos?

[Reggae plus]

I played the 9 holer next to one of the Sandals properties there Rich. Pretty soggy course. No pics X-Man. That's Lucy's area of expertise. [except in Cuba where her camera battery died the 2nd day we were there...and she fogot her charger]

[My Looh]

Nice report R+.

Sorry to hear that you don't have photos to share.

I have never been to St. Lucia but it is on my list.

My last visit to Cuba took me to the place of my mother's birth. Not a place tourist would venture to. I came away a very dissapointed. Sometimes you are better to leave things to the imagination! Not a place I would want to return to.

Love Cuba on the whole though. Love the Vinales Valley and Pinar Del Rio area.

[Xavier]

My Looh, do you still have family in Cuba? Did you visit Havana. Visited there and it is a photographers dream however when you hear the stories from the people...

[My Looh]

Xavier, as far as my siblings and I know we have no relatives left in Cuba. My mother passed away over twenty years ago so we have lost touch of much of her extended family that were there but to the best of my knowledge there are none. Some have passed on while most of her family, including she herself left before the revolusion.

Yes, I have been to Havana and the coutry in genarl many times. Havana is, like you say a photographers dream. However, for me, I enjoy rural Cuba.

It's a great place to visit, even for extended periods, but for the average Cuban, as you mentioned, life is very difficult.

Things in Cuba are changing rapidly and the population is on edge, namely over how the government is going to unify the dual currency issue.

Es Cuba!

[Pepper]

Just don't stand around any of the vintage cars which line the downtown streets and the boulevard. The owners will expect money.

So if you admire a vintage car, the owner asks for cash? I assume that means taking a picture also comes at a price.

[Reggae plus]

"Admiring" should best be done from SOME degree of a distance. A Pic? For free? Better have some mighty effective running shoes. [and abilities that'll put those A+ shoes to the test]