We did a tour of the island with Eddie, the LLL's most competent and pleasant driver. St Lucia is an interesting place. It has changed hands between the French and English 14 times, but who is counting. The local creole language naturally includes both French and English - reminds me of the poor Vanuatuans. There were a wartime US naval base and an air base here, the UK gave it independence in 1979, and now the Chinese have built an Olympic sports stadium for St Lucia. We saw the volcano, the old British/French Fort Charlotte where the Irish Inniskilling Fusiliers beat the French and locals in 1796, the Pitons (as in the photo taken into the sun), the gardens, the waterfall - all starting now to be a bit difficult to differentiate in memory one tropical island from the other.

The island's other claim to fame is that Josephine Bonaparte lived here as well. Her family had sugar plantations in both Martinique and St Lucia. Their plantation here was called Malmaison, which explains the name of her house and land outside of Paris.

We left amidst the World Atlantic Rally departure, so one of 27 boats exiting the marina. I was rather pleased we weren't joining them on their trip across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They will arrive in Mackay in July! The Swedes next to us on Bijou are very excited at the prospect.