St. Lucia crafts colorful culture

By FYLLIS HOCKMAN Mature Life Features

There I was, being smeared with green mud all over my body in St. Lucia’s Sulphur Springs Mud Bath.

Two layers first to exfoliate. Then I was sprinkled with black mud while a guide crafted designs in stripes and handprints as if my arms, face and chest were a canvas. I felt like I was in a pool full of zebras — zebras with black handprints all over dotting the mud masterpieces.

The mineral waters in which we were submerged allegedly washed away 10 years along with the mud palette. I’m pretty sure my husband didn’t notice any difference.

This beginning of our all-day Carnival Sailing outing was followed by a “refreshing” dip in the Toraille Waterfall. The only reason anyone would do this is for brag- ging rights, after recovering from the chill and proclaiming, “I did it!

I did it!”

Then we snorkeled after a lovely buffet and some more rum punch, lolling with colorful fish in much warmer waters.

After the various exertions, sailing lazily by the lengthy, looming twin peaks of the Pitons — the iconic symbols of St. Lucia majestically claiming their dominance of the horizon — I thought, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” But this was St. Lucia, so it did.

It followed at another island landmark. The every Saturday Castries Market is crammed with colorful fruit, fish, flowers, hats, handbags, hot sauce, houseware and bustling crowds. People flood the rows of stalls inside a huge warehouse-type building and then street after street with volumes of vendors plying their trade while loud music from multiple speakers vie for attention. There’s bedding, bangles and baked goods as well as T-shirts, trinkets and toys along with clothes, condiments, crafts and candy.

There’s everything you could possibly ever consider buying and a wide variety of items you never would. Many, mostly edible, are not even recognizable.

When we stopped at a stall to buy some hot sauce, the owner offered us a taste of some spiced rum she makes. After one delicious sip, I was having trouble putting one foot in front of the other.

Many similar alcoholic options are available at yet another of St. Lucia’s must-do’s. Friday night Jump-Up in Gros Islet doles out generous servings of drinkin’, dancin’, jammin’ and jivin’ to tourists and locals alike.

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