Reduit Beach: Part 2

Check out this shell salesman. He certainly gets your attention.





After walking the length of the beach and back, it started to drizzle. We decided to walk back to the bus a different way, and as we left the beach, I turned around for this photo. This quieter end of the beach is where we'll go next time we're here.

Reduit Beach

The beach was gorgeous, although a bit crowded for my taste. But there was certainly a lot to do there: jet skies, banana rides, sailboats...you name it. In the distance is Pigeon Island, which is actually now connected to mainland St. Lucia, and on top of that is Fort Rodney. A few years ago we kayaked across Rodney Bay and climbed up to Fort Rodney. (Do you see a common thread here? Forts, hills and hikes?). The views were spectacular.  We sat down at a table at a beach bar and enjoyed some drinks in the sun.

Rodney Bay, St. Lucia

We took a bus (aka a minivan) up to the Reduit Beach/ Rodney Bay area north of Castries, about a 30 minute ride. We've just figured out the St. Lucia bus system this year. It's privately run, and as on many of the other islands, the minivans don't leave until they're filled. Luckily, going from Castries to Rodney Bay, a minivan fills and leaves every 5 minutes.

As we walked the 15 minutes or so to the beach after getting off the bus, we passed the Segway tour operator. Of course, we had to try them out. I've included the first photo simply because of the puppy in the owner's hand. He had just gotten him 10 minutes earlier and hadn't yet named him. I suggested Segway, of course.


G did great. It's tricky at first until you learn that you simply lean forward, you don't push the handle forward.


Afterward, I had my turn. Let's just say no one got hurt.

Lifting the rescue boat back onto the ship

This must be quite a ride. I think I'd love it. You can see the launch area that comes out of the ship on Deck 3. This is where passengers board the tenders in ports without adequate docking facilities.
The crew members then step from the rescue craft onto the Promenade Deck.

Day 95: St. Lucia

Before we left the ship today, we went out on the Promenade Deck to watch a rescue drill from our ship that was taking place. Look closely in the first photo and you'll see the Emerald Princess's rescue boat speeding over toward the Carnival Miracle.







In the second photo, the rescue craft approaches the life buoy. The rescuer in the front of the boat is giving directions to the pilot. He makes the first attempt to retrieve the buoy; if he misses, a second rescuer is ready to retrieve it.
They practice this over and over once a week. If we've been late leaving the ship for the day, we've gotten to see it. It's quite impressive...we have to look hard to even see the buoy in the water.