Homeward bound

So I've been home for a week and I'm finally getting around to blogging about our return.....it almost took me as long to blog as the vacation lasted.  Yikes!

Our final day at Mango Cottage was Friday, January 25 - we didn't want to leave but we'd booked a hotel room in Soufriere for Saturday night.  We'd thought we'd spend the day in this small fishing village and perhaps tour the area around the Pitons.  By the time we realized we wouldn't have enough time (as the climb needs to start early in the day) it was too late to change our plans without incurring additional costs.

So at 9 a.m. we left in a taxi for Sourfriere.  The drive along the west coast was interesting, and extremely winding and hilly.  Our driver called it a roller coaster ride and he was accurate!  We were dropped off at our hotel an hour and a half later.  Now something they forgot to mention in their website is the fact the hotel lobby is located on the third floor of a plaza and the rooms are up an additional floor.  AND no elevator!  After schlepping our luggage up to the floor and getting signed in (though no access to the room as we were early) we headed out for a walk about.

 Soufriere is a small fishing village, close to the Petit Piton, sulphur springs, and several large resorts.

As all of the communities we visited there was a large Catholic church.  I love the touch of color on the church!

There was a park across from the church, filled with benches, monuments, and at the time of the picture, a street dog rolling about on the grass.

Just outside the plaza, there were a number street vendors selling everything from fresh fish to jewelry.  In the building across the way was a craft shop with a restaurant above.


Good to know these folks aren't selling liquor that's not intoxicating!




We were looking for a spot to have roti for lunch, and the desk clerk at the hotel suggested a place close by called Petit Peak.  I'll confess I'd not had roti before - yummy!  It went really well with my Piton beer.  AS we ate lunch we watched these youngster fish from the dock side.

While we were there they managed to catch an eel, which they immediately stoned to death.  (Not a particularly appetizing scene!)

We headed back to the hotel to check in and move our luggage up one floor.  The room itself was fine, but the bathroom reeked of urine and mothballs (not a pleasant combination but after a good airing out was tolerable)   On the other hand the view from our balcony was breathtaking.

This view shows the Petit Piton in the distance...I'm glad we chose not to climb it!




Sunset comes early in the Caribbean and happens very fast.  This was taken around 6 p.m.

The following morning we awoke to the view of this ship in the bay.  We were able to Google the name of the ship and determined it is a cruise ship (very expensive) out of Germany.  Now that would be a neat way to see the Caribbean!







The following morning, we took another taxi to Vieux Fort to the international airport.  We were off to Toronto on schedule and transferred to our hotel by 10 p.m. that evening.  The following morning, there was freezing rain in Toronto, and the shuttles were running behind.  Even so, we made it to the airport in plenty of time for our flight.

We were delayed getting out of Toronto, as one of the ramp attendants fell on the tarmac due the freezing rain, smacked his head, and had to be transported to hospital.  Our plane was waiting to get into the gate, when they went to move it back to another gate, it got stuck....so we were in a holding pattern until the EMT and ambulance arrived.

After an hour delay we were able to board the plane, and by the time we were de-iced and in the queue for take-off another hour had passed.  As a result, we missed our connection in Calgary. For some unknown reason, WestJet insists that anyone flying to Saskatchewan must fly first to Calgary and then back to Saskatchewan - they won't open the door to let one out as they pass overhead....I know because I asked.

We spent five hours in the terminal in Calgary waiting for the next flight home.  We did laps of the concourse,  visited every shop along the way, filled out a questionnaire for the Bank of Nova Scotia in order to spin the wheel to win a prize (15% off a purchase at a swee shop), and had lunch courtesy of WestJet.  It was a relief to finally board our plane destined for home.  No problems with our luggage and we both had family waiting to pick us up at the airport.  Of course, it was freezing but by this point, I don't think either of us cared!

I have to say, if there are going to glitches in my travel plans, I'd far rather have them happen on the way home from rather than on the way to my destination.  Not like the poor folks on the Sunwing flight to Cuba from Halifax.  If you haven't heard this story, check it out here.  Some knuckleheads (and I'm being polite) decided they couldn't wait for a cigarette and lit up on the aircraft.  It's been 20 years since smoking was allowed on flights in Canada...guess they don't get out much!

I loved being in Saint Lucia again and I hope this won't be my last adventure there.  But it's good to be home too, especially since the temperatures reached a high of 0C today (32F).  Have a good Monday everyone!