ART OF CRUISING THE CARIBBEAN - 4

"The landscape with its bold, intense colours, dazzled and blinded me." - Paul Gauguin

WELCOME TO SANTA LUCIA This is a very lovely and peaceful island. The first European who settled in Sta. Lucia are the French. Today, there are still many traces of French influence in this island. I am sure if the famous French painter, Paul Gauguin had been to this island, he would have immortalized it on his masterpieces. I know he lived in Martinique Island for a while before settling in Tahiti. When scouting for a movie set as stand-in for Tahiti, the island of St. Lucia is a close choice. They look like twin sisters. I have not been to Tahiti, but after gazing at many Gauguin's paintings of Tahiti, I can say I had seen it.PAUL GAUGUIN Is one of my favorite artists. Early in 1891, when French post-impressionist painter Gauguin left France for Tahiti, his home for the reminder of his life, he began a series of paintings depicting the beauty of island life in the South Pacific Seas. He was enchanted with this magical place. One of my favorite paintings of his is the above painting entitled "Tahitian Mountains." When he painted it, he said...." the landscape dazzled and blinded me." It's a stunning scenery with spectacular mountains and lush vegetation. He painted the mountains in deep brown and orange, palm trees in deep yellow and ochre, and trees in verdant green.

LOVELY SANTA LUCIA! This is like discovering Paul Gauguin's "earthly paradise (Tahiti)." But this other "earthly paradise" is (Sta. Lucia) located in the Southern Caribbean. You don't have to travel the distance to appreciate this island. Just look at the many paintings of Paul Gauguin about Tahiti, and you have a dream-like vision of this paradise. Well, I couldn't think of any artist who is more qualified to paint Sta. Lucia's landscapes/seascapes and guide us around the island than Paul Gauguin. He left us many of his dramatic imprints and colorful brushstrokes on many of the worlds most beautiful paintings of paradises. Let's look and savor this island with his delicious and inspiring brushstrokes.

S................................STUNNING, SINCERE

A...............................ADORABLE

N...............................NATURAL

T...............................TWINKLING

A...............................AGELESS

L...............................LOVELY
U...............................UNIQUE,UNUSUAL

C................................CHARMING, CREATIVE, COOL

I.................................INTERESTING

A................................AMAZING

STUNNING WELCOME AND VIEW This island is as lovely and stunning as a sincere saint named Lucia. Here's a stunning view of the island and our cruise ship from a photo stop. Everybody will be inspired to be an artist even if you had only done paint by numbers or did coloring books. This dreamy paradise will inspire you where ever you go around the island.
ADORABLE ISLAND AND COUPLE Enjoyable royal breakfast at our cruise ship (Crown Princess) before the 7 1/2 hours tour of Sta. Lucia island. The view is also adorable from this spot. NATURAL BEAUTY ON EVERY SIDE Sta. Lucia is a natural beauty inside and outside. The tour was a leisurely drive around the island, feasting our eyes with awesome views of the crystalline and colorful ocean. This natural setting will surely be a life changing experience for everybody. You don't have to be an artist, poet or musician to be awestruck by the natural beauty of Sta. Lucia. TWINKLING AND SPARKLING OCEAN VIEW AROUND THE ISLAND This scenic east coast took our breath away. We had a photo stop on this rugged but picturesque Atlantic coastline. Just being here, and the mixture of the ocean and the rocks come together, it's really a spiritual experience. To be around a place that the Master Designer (God) created that is this huge, it's a little bit humbling. A new sparkling view can change your perspective in life and put twinkle in your eyes.
AGELESS This awesome view is ageless and will transport you to a Paradise. Who said, there is no paradise on earth? This earthly paradise is a real place where time and age do not exists. Once you saw this place and reached the peak, your worry will disappear, smile will be sweeter, and outlook brighter. That's why you'll feel........ ageless.

LOVELY TOGETHER This is a lovely view from the top of an electric power house. The lovely view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea merging together will remain in our memories and hearts forever. Traveling two by two is the best way I know to climb the mountains of life. Each plateau is special, and when you and your mate stand together, each achievement is doubled in joy.
UNIQUE Ever seen a drive - in volcano? We did! We journeyed to Sulphur Springs, the world's only drive in volcano. Only in Sta. Lucia could you drive a car through a dormant volcano.

Real life is not always mountain -top experience. Sometimes life is flat like going through a dormant volcano. In art variety and texture make a painting more interesting. So is it in real life. Variety is the spice of life.
UNUSUAL We're not so far away from the volcano. A close up of the unusual volcano. The sulphur smelled........... awful but the different textures are worth a peek.
CHARMING BALENBOUCHE ESTATE This French estate is one of the few surviving original plantation in Sta. Lucia. It is surrounded with sprawling tropical gardens with colorful flowers and fruit trees. A charming place for an artist studio but not easy to maintain. It's versus painting or owning a huge estate that's burdensome to maintain. I'd chose a small loft or space, where, I'd be free to paint and do whatever I like to do.

CHARMING ESTATE PLANTATION HOUSE Its colonial architecture dates back to the early 19th century and rooms are furnished with antiques from around the same period. Traces of a pre-Columbian presence are also evident at the estate and include rock basins, petroglyphs, and a collection of artifacts.
CHARMING TROPICAL MANGOES Reminded me of Gauguin's mango paintings. When he lived in Tahiti, he painted lots of juicy mangoes plucked off the tree - in deep yellow, orange and red. What fruit has the combined flavor of very ripe peaches, apricots and pineapples? Why, the mango, of course. The green mangoes will turn yellow or orange when ripe. If you've never tried one, you're in for a tropical treat. Varying in size, shape and color, mangoes offer a juicy yellow-orange flesh with a rich taste and spicy aroma.
CHARMING AND COLORFUL PAPAYA TREE Gauguin loved to paint the papaya tree too. Many of his landscapes are dotted with papaya trees. I love to eat papaya but never painted one. Someday???????????? COOL TAMARIND TREE AND FRUIT The color of tamarind is brown -from light to dark brown. Not very colorful to paint but very delicious fruit to eat especially for conceiving women.

COOL THATCHED HUT Americans call this type of house "thatched hut." But in my heart and mind, it will always be my small "nipa hut." Seeing this nipa hut transported me back to my roots, to our small town and province in Victoria, Tarlac (Philippines). It also reminded me of many Filipino paintings. Gauguin painted this hut too. Usually this cool nipa hut is a popular subject in tropical places.

COOL AND CHARMING VILLAGE Love this charming setting. Reminded me of a Philippine village or Hawaiian village. The village is a colorful riot of tropical flowers and trees. It makes you want to take off and play like little kid again. Let's start doing finger-painting, huh?

COOL AND CUTE NIPA HUT. Reminded me of my birth place. I was born during World War II and hospitals were closed. One day, my mother told me..."All of my children were born in the hospital except you. You were born inside a simple nipa hut." During that time, I felt sorry for myself. But after traveling so many Paradises, I discovered that the thatched hut is a symbol of paradise. Isn't a nipa hut more charming than a sterile, white hospital? A nipa hut is surrounded with whispering palm trees, swaying mango trees, breezy bamboos and pretty papaya trees. Wow! It's a humble dwelling and birth place, but you know what, I would never exchange it for a high-tech hospital. This is as close to paradise as you can get.
INTERESTING The magnificent Pitons (twin peaks) rising over 2,600 feet above the azure waters of the Caribbean. This is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

IMPRESSIVE The Pitons are impressive site and here's a photo taken during one stop......."Wish You're Here!" With travel, our minds become more curious and creative, our hearts more powerful and our spirits more joyous.

P.S. The peaks reminded us of a famous landmark. Bora-Bora? Bali-Hai? Nope! Wake up! This is Sta. Lucia. AMAZING OCEAN COLORS You'll never get depressed here even if you're surrounded with many different kinds of blue colors. Let me count the blues-aqua, aquamarine, azure, blueberry, cerulean, cobalt blue, cobalt, indigo, lapis lazuli, dark blue, light blue, medium blue, navy, navy blue, Prussian blue, powder blue, robin's-egg blue, ultramarine, sapphire, sky blue, turquoise. Now you know as many kinds of blues, you can start painting your room blue. It's a calming and relaxing color. You'll have a good night sleep and dream of many more "Paradises" to come.

FAREWELL THOUGHT: When you come to Paradise, leave your laptop, alarm clock and cell phone at home. When you return, everything will be recharged, especially YOU! Just once in a life time, everyone should have the opportunity to taste Paradise. Till our next tour!