My Mom's 50th and my 25th Birthday Celebration in St. Lucia

My mom and I had talked for many years that on our big birthday's we would go somewhere fun. Due to circumstances, we have been unable to do so for our earlier birthdays. For my mom's 50th and my 25th birthday we deceided to celebrate in St. Lucia. Our birthday was on the Saturday we were there! It was an absolute blast! Loved every minute of it! Steve, my step-dad, Sam, my step sister, Amanda, my sister, my mom, Joshua and I went to St. Lucia the week of our birthday. We left on a Tuesday and got there early afternoon. Josh and I arrived just a few minutes earlier than the rest of the family so it worked out perfectly. We had a driver, Terry, pick us up from the airport. We thought we might rent a car for the week but as soon as we got on the road we realized there was no way we would ever find our way around this island. There were no street signs. Our house we rented for the week was at the north point of the island and we came in from the airport in the south point of the island. So we deceided to hire Terry to be our driver for the week. We could have just taken taxi's (which Terry and his father run the company) but then we wouldn't have to wait and we got to get to know him really well.


St. Lucia was awesome. When we got to our house(Cap Estates), we had the ladies in advance prepare a meal bc we all missed lunch due to flying times. We asked them to have a true authentic meal prepared for us. We had a cabbage and other mixed stuff type salad, dark rice mixed vegatables and green chicken. All I have to say is Wow! It was absolutely delicious! We then took the rest of the night (it took 2 hours from the airport to get to our house..but i mean we got an awesome veiw the entire time and stopped at one spot to take pictures) We settled into our rooms and enjoyed the amazing view( we could see the Carribean and Atalantic ocean from our house), relaxed in the pool and hottub for the rest of the night.


Tuesday we had the woman who was in charge of the home to come so we could set up all of our tours for the week. Then we had Terry to take us to breakfast on Rodney Bay(10 min drive). We had no idea so we had Terry pick out his favorite resturant for us to eat at. We enjoyed Spinker's. It was right on the beach..just a few feet from the ocean water on the Carribean side. The water was crystal clear blue. Then we went to the local grocery store and bought our food and snacks for the week. We had two ladies who cleaned the house each day and cook some of our meals. It was really neat to see how their grocery stores are. Prices are a little higher bc they have to ship in the goods and all of their prices are in EC (Eastern Carribean Dollars). We also looked at some local stands to see their creativity. By this time it was in the afternoon so we hung out around the house for a little while before getting ready to go back to Rodney Bay for dinner and great music. We had an amazing dinner. Josh had rack of lamb and I had some amazing Mahi Mahi. After dinner we walked around Rodney Bay and enjoyed the music at the different resturants and clubs. At all of the resturants and "clubs"-not like what we have in the States, were built to enjoy the amazing weather and breeze.


Wednesday we slept in of course bc the next two days were packed full with adventure. We deceided to relax one of the days on our trip so we hung out in our pool and hottub and enjoyed the amazing view. We took some "nature" walks around the Estates and found some beautiful areas. We soaked up sun, had a great breakfast and lunch and had a blast enjoying the Carribean music. We also had a property manager on duty during the day who did the upkeep of the property. We had him and one the ladies teach us about all of the local fruits they have growing on the property. So many interesting fruits and some fruits we get in the states too. They had some kind of pinapple/orange tasting fruit (i am posting this blog almost a month and half after the trip so i dont remember all the details and names of things) that they made a drink for breakfast and just to enjoy everyday and oh my goodness, it was delicious! To say this, we had huge Cocunut tree's growing on the property and josh, of course, found a ladder hidden on the property and deceided to get some cocunuts down to enjoy. Then he broke them open, to say the lest they weren't quite ready to enjoy! Later on that night we went to Rodney Bay for a delicious dinner and fun music.


Thursday we had a great breakfast at the house and then had another great adventure planned. We headed to the St. Lucia's Rainforest. We got all geared up with our hairnets :) and everything and took a mile high ride into the Rainforest in the Tranopy. It's and open air tram and then when we got to the top we got to go down 10 ziplines one as long as 365 feet. We were up around 50 feet high in the trees. We had so much fun! The guides even put us on with them and had us let go and spun us around as fast as we could go until we got to the end...such a rush! My mom accomplished it wonderfully. She conqured her fear of heights. Each group takes 8 people so we had two other men with us. One man was about to be moving to St. Lucia in a month for business and he was there having fun and looking for a house. He was really nice and he had brought his nephew along for the trip. Our guides were absolutely histerical and we kept them entertained as well :) Then after that we hiked back up through the rainforest..quite tired i might add. you have no idea how many muscles you are using during the zipline until you are finished! Wow, we were all sore. I have done some ziplines in the states and i wasn't sore so i don't know what the difference was other than maybe how high they wanted us to keep our feet up so we could go even faster. Then we got to go back down through the rainforest. I mean we were dead smack in the middle of it, reach out touch the plants/flowers and reach for the birds and animals in the middle of it. The flowers were absolutely beautiful! Oh and what a view we had going down. Not only the beautiful rainforest but much of the island. We got to rest and cool down on the way down and enjoyed the shop. it's where i got my mom's birthday gift and my mom got Kaylee the cutest t-shirt that she has already worn as pj's :) Afterwards we headed back to the house to get ready to go out for dinner that night at Rodney Bay. We ate at another amzing and wonderful resturant and enjoyed the music.


Friday we actually got up early, had breakfast and headed to an resort bc that was where the catermarn boat was taking off from that day. We soaked up the rays while relaxing on the catermarn. We stayed on the front part of the boat the entire time where there is rope twisted as the floor to where the ocean water splashes upon you to cool you down..so refreshing. We boat went all the way to the south end of the island where we went to see the Mt. Ptions. After two hours out at sea we arrived at Sourjfre. We got off and had taxi buses waiting for us to take us to the different areas. First we got to see the heart of Sourjfre, the colorful buildings and a beautiful church. Then we headed to their waterfall where they believe that the water has "speical powers". It was freezing cold but so much fun to had the water hitting you so hard. We finally convinced my mom and steve to get in and to actually go all the way under the waterfall. It helps having us four around to pick on them and push themselves to try new things...even if it is fridge freezing water! Then we headed to the only drive in volcano in the Carribean. Basically it was very ugly..a pile of dirt with sulfer coming out of it. It smelt terrible! But still neat to see. Then we got to see the Mt. Piton's and then headed to a plantation for lunch. We got to see how they make chocolate. We even ate fresh coco..right out of it's shell..bitter but hey I wasn't going to miss out on any opportunity to try something new! Then we had a great lunch and beautiful view. Then we headed back to the Catermarn. when we were getting back on there were a ton of kids begging for money..the silver stuff. They would say "hey you throw coin in ocean and i will jump in and get it". Josh saw this couple take a picture of some kids. The young boys grouped together and smiled and when they were done one of the boys held out his hand, smiled and said "$5 dollars". Too funny. Then after everyone boarded we headed back. On the way we made a cuople of stops to see the different bays and one bay we got to snorkle in. So many reefs and fish to see. Josh and I found an eel too!! Ahhhh. It was yellow and about a foot long. We would swim below and chase after schools of beautiful fish, small and large and had an absolute blast!! We also got to see the ship (The Pearl) that was in the Pirates of the Carribean. You can take a ship ride on it and if we would have found a place to sign up for it, the rest of the family would have been in trouble bc my sister, Amanda is in love with the movies and the actor. That is where they keep the ship now! We snorkled for about an hour and then got back on and started heading back to the north part of the island. We had unlimited drinks and snacks on the boat which was good bc the water sure does make me hungry! It was late by the time we got back and once we got off we realized how exhausted we were from the sun and adventures. We went home to get ready bc the locals throw a huge street party on Friday nights. They put out table and chairs in the streets have these huge speakers in the middle of the road- about a block surrounding- and cops everywhere. That was one of the first times I had really seen cops. I saw one patrolling up and down Rodney Bay late at night but they dont have a speed limit, the bigger and faster you car is the quicker you will get somewhere! When we got there people were just starting to get there. These people are the chefs in the resturants but the food looked amazing...well almost all of it. I wasn't hungry for dinner but I didn't want to miss out on trying some of the food so i got a kababab. I tried it and it wasn't good and josh tried it and thought the same thing. Then the story i will never be able to forget was josh feed the rest of the meat to these starving dogs on the street..i mean you could see all of their bones type starving! They came over and sniffed it, licked it and spit it out and josh says that only "dogs dont eat dogs!" So now he tells everyone that I, Misty ate dog! they had these huge speakers, taller than me all over the streets playing the music with a live dj. It was so much fun! People were everywhere dancing and enjoying the music. Josh wasn't feeling the greatest so we left early. While steve went to find a payphone to call Terry to pick us up early he was propositioned by a prositiute!!! Oh yeah and Josh was proposition to buy some Cocaine the first morning we were there at Spinkers while enjoying the ocean after breakfast and then once again while snorking!! Who would have ever thought! Crazy huh! They are very bold in some ways but overall the people are so kind and friendly.


Saturday My mom's 50th and my 25th Birthday! We slept in and enjoyed a great breakfast. We had planned on having a type of picnic at Pigeon Point but ended up sleeping in later so we just had the meal that was prepared at the house before leaving. Pigeon Point was awesome! It was where the British fought for the island. It still had remains of the bunkards that the soldiers slept in and lookout spots and places they praciticed shooting their cannons at this large ( i mean truely large) rock in the ocean. We hiked all the way up to the top for a spectacular view and enjoyed every moment of it. We learned so much here and had a blast while doing it. Amanda found a beaten path and deceided to follow it after coming back down and we found this resturant tucked under the tree's on the ocean's line. We stopped to enjoy some snacks before leaving Pigeon Point. After spending a couple of hours there, we headed over and did some local shopping for gifts and then went to rent jet ski's. Josh and I raced Sam and Amanda in the Carribean Ocean. it was so much fun! then we deceided to get cleaned up and head back to Rodney Bay. We went and did some more looking around in the shops-kinda like their mall- and then went out for Birthday dinner which was absolutely amazing and enjoyed the night. This was our last night here sadly to say! Sunday josh and I had to get up at 4 am to have Terry's father take us to the airport..a 2 hour drive that we made it in a hour and half! Then we were suppose to have a 5 hour layover in Maimi but Drew Day and Mike -two of Josh's best friends and accountability guys deceided to pick us up at Maimi and we went out to lunch there and then headed back to Naples. We had so much fun with them and greatly appricated not having to wait for 5 hours in the airport!! They were so kind and generous!! We ran into quite a few people who were there and had horrible times at their resorts..including Sandals!! I know 6 people, including myself who highly reccomend St. Lucia but rent a house instead!! I will post pictures soon!