Christmas 2011 at Pigeon Island, St Lucia
Austins' Travels
Chris & Lynn Austin
Mon 26 Dec 2011 17:30
Christmas Eve then we opened Christmas crackers just to get into the mood.
Shopping on Christmas Eve didn't resemble the UK at all - a few of festive
decorations and some music but not the overwhelming retail experience we are
used to.
On Christmas day Oliver was delighted to find that Santa had been (through
the hatch in the saloon that we had to leave open for him) and left some
presents. He had been a bit concerned that Santa wouldn't find him due to
Oliver's recent travels!
At about 1100 we took a water taxi run, by a local Rastafarian, over to
Pigeon Island beach where we had booked a table for the buffet lunch. He took us on
a little tour round the coast of the island and then dropped us literally on
the beach so we waded ashore. The buffet lunch was incredibly nice and very
extensive. Everyone agreed that the food was excellent. This was accompanied
by some live music in the background and some very friendly and happy staff.
The restaurant is right on the beach so we were able to swim after lunch
build sandcastles and sit on sunbeds. Then Santa arrived by a catamaran
dinghy (see pictures) although Oliver was actually more interested in
swimming by then. About 1700 the water taxi arrived to take us back. Oliver
was exhausted after about 3 hours swimming (and so was everyone else). Chris
caused groans of pain and clutching of stomachs by the others by eating a
roti (a kind of Caribbean pasty) for dinner, as everyone else claimed they
wouldn't be able to eat again for a week.
Overall it was a great day with blue skies, very blue warm seas, a cooling
breeze, a beautiful white palm fringed beach, great food, friendly
people.......actually that pretty much describes most days here!
