Position: 13:51:50N 61:03:8W

Another short hop down the coast of St Lucia to the town of Soufriere.  We were met by a welcoming committee of local boats, all keen to help take your lines, sell you bananas, whatever, all for a few EC dollars.  Our assigned helper guided us into where we wanted to go, which was to anchor off the Hummingbird restaurant. 

Approaching Hummingbird anchorage

Under instruction, we dropped 25 metres of chain which appeared to drop straight down without touching the bottom, then motored backwards towards a rough concrete dock.  The bottom obviously came up towards us rapidly as the anchor set and we moored stern-to with a line to the shore.

Nutmeg anchored next to Saeftinghe, Soufriere, St Lucia

This place is close to paradise (this phrase is going to become well worn I can tell).  The beach is lovely soft warm sand, the sea is as warm as a bath, the view is stunning – the Pitons, two steep conical mountains – are right next to us.

The Pitons

The Hummingbird reataurant has everything one could wish for – great food, cold beers, incredible views, and a lovely pool.  It is named after the hummingbirds that flit around the frangipani blossom in the gardens around the pool.  We admired the view of the Pitons whilst drinking Piton beer!  Whilst the kids swam in the pool, we waited to see if we could see the green flash when the sun went down – the waitress swore she saw it regularly but funnily enough we couldn’t see it.  Perhaps more alcohol is required.

Paradise

Sunset

Sorry, I know there is a credit crisis and Europe is in the depths of winter and it’s back to work and its January and the trains are probably late.  But this little corner of the world is blissfully isolated from the worst of the doom and gloom, and long may it last.  If its any consolation, sterling is so weak that it’s more expensive here than in the UK.  But who cares!