signs

I've come across in my travels...

Lots of bears--both black and grizzly--roam the Canadian wilderness in Jasper and Banff National Parks.  This sign is on a large trash bin.

sign in Castries Market in the Caribbean island of St. Lucia.  I wrote about this market HERE. Of note is that this market made National Geographic's "World's Best Top Ten Food Markets" list at #3!

more Castries Market

This bear sign is in Glacier National Park in the US.  I saw 13 bears on my last trip here, some of them fairly close.

 

I'm including this just because I like the photo and this path.  This walking/bike trail is 75 miles long and goes through 5 counties and 11 cities/towns.  There are a number of connector trails and more are planned.  It's not far away from where I live.The slippery bridges have now been paved over and so are much safer.

parking lot at the post office/gift shop in the tiny town of Hell in Grand Cayman


LINKS:
past post on signs 
past post on the bike trail
Little Miami Scenic Trail
Loveland Bike Trail
National Geographic Top Ten Food Markets 

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is "S." Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun! 



photos by me © 2010, 2011, 2013   all rights reserved

quiet

Balenbouche Creek at Balenbouche Estate, St Lucia.  The ocean is just a few steps behind you.

lush greeness surrounds

beckoning souls' calm retreat

tranquil peace abounds

LINKS:
Balenbouche 
Water Lilies on Balenbouche Estate

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is "Q." Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun! 



photo and haiku by me © 2013   all rights reserved

Castries Market: St Lucia

Castries Market in the Caribbean island of St. Lucia is bustling with vendors selling local produce, art, craft items, spices, clothing, gifts, and more! 

This is where locals come to shop. Opened in 1894, there are about 300 permanent vendors housed inside buildings, and more who set up outside.  There are even a few small restaurants.

cutting bananas off a tree branch

interesting produce  (The green fruit is probably soursop.   Duni says the pink fruit is jambu fruit.)

We visited on a Saturday, supposedly the liveliest and most vibrant day of the week.  The market is open every day except Sunday.

more interesting produce

I bought some soap and spices such as whole nutmeg with its mace intact, and a block of cocoa.

A favorite drink is fresh coconut juice.  This vendor is slicing the top off a coconut for the customer.

more produce

 a street view

This man watched me taking photos and wanted me to photograph him.  Of course I obliged!  He was quite happy with his portrait!


LINKS:
National Geographic--  Castries Market made the "World's Best Top Ten Food Markets" list at #3! 
a brief history of the market and a few photos 
MAP of Castries, the capital of St. Lucia

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is "M." Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun! 




photos by me © 2013   all rights reserved

far away on a Caribbean isle... (number 2)

Anse des Sables, St. Lucia

lazy sky and sea

lulls my spirit to rest now

oh so soft, serene! 

LINK:

far away on a Caribbean isle...  another post on Anse des Sables

Come join this awesome meme SkyWatch Friday and link up! Meet folks from all over the globe!  SkyWatch Friday is hosted by Yogi, Sylvia, and Sandy.

 

photo and haiku by me © 2013

vacation vignettes

vignette:  a short impressionistic scene that focuses on one moment or gives a trenchant impression ...


celebrating the quieter, more contemplative moments of vacation...

The iconic Pitons are viewed through the trees as we climb the hill (by car) to snorkel at beautiful Anse Chastenet in St. Lucia.

Pyramid Lake, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

Lake Tahoe, California, USA

Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

 Grand Cayman, Caribbean


LINKS:
Anse Chastanet 
many photos of Pyramid Lake
facts about Lake Tahoe (2nd deepest lake in the US, 10th in the world)
Glacier National Park 
Glacier National Park webcams

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is "V."  Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun!
 


 


photos by me © 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013  all rights reserved

sea

The sea I love!  It calls and sings and revives my spirit.  I long for its clear fresh waters, its toe-squishy shores.

wind sways leafy palms

foam like milk bubbles on shore

capturing my heart

 

Mandele Point, St. Lucia

(Man' da lay)

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is "S."  Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun!
 


 
photos and haiku by me © 2013  all rights reserved

round

drive-by-shooting of round pizza truck

We followed this strange round truck while driving through the rainforests of St. Lucia.  (I intensified the contrast just for fun.)  Do note that it is driving on the LEFT side of the road.  Right hand drive vehicles drive on the left side in St. Lucia.

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is "R."  Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun!
 


 
photos by me © 2013  all rights reserved

Quiddity of St. Lucia

quid' di ty
noun
1.  the inherent nature or essence of something; the essence that makes something the kind of thing it is and makes it different from any other 
2.  a distinctive feature; a peculiarity: "its quirks and quiddities"

the Pitons, St. Lucia

"Un piton" is sort of a small, steep peak rising above the surrounding area.

St. Lucia is a Caribbean jewel.  mountainous, lush, and rugged.  Twin volcanic peaks, the Pitons, rise from the Caribbean Sea on the southwestern coast, symbolizing the uniqueness of St. Lucia.  Below the Pitons, the sea teams with coral and brightly colored fish. 
Gros Piton: 2,619 feet / 786m
Petit Piton 2,461 feet / 739m

The iconic forested peaks can be seen towering over the landscape throughout most of the island.  The area is an UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 2004).  The Pitons contain 8 rare tree species, 5 endemic bird species, and 3 indigenous rodents along with a large variety of plant and animal life.

LINKS:
Natural Born Hikers  hiking Gros Piton

UNESCO  Pitons Management Area

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is "Q."  Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun!
 


 
photo by me © 2013  all rights reserved

PS:  Last week, I wrote about the letter P HERE.  I didn't get to actually link up with Alphabe-Thursday because I was on vacation at the above location.  See more links to the letter P HERE. 
I will be visiting all your blogs to catch up.  Thanks for your patience!

far away on a Caribbean isle...

hues of blue and green

warm sand and cool ocean waves

soothe my restlessness 

Anse des Sables, St Lucia

Wordless Wednesday--where I linked up:

The Art and Tree Chatter of Aquariann

Create with Joy

 

 Pictimilitude





photo and haiku by me © 2013  all rights reserved