The true hidden gem of Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia: let her beauty inspire you — and it inspire you it will.

Surprisingly, the beauty of Saint Lucia doesn’t lie solely in the stupendous views of the Gros Piton or the iconic black sand beaches, the true beauty of this majestic but in the heart of it’s people.

I went to Saint Lucia in 2022 as part of a large family trip and beyond obsessively videotaping every car ride, what stayed with me was how safe I felt there amongst the people. Living in metropolitan cities can numb you of the core essence of human nature — to discover true love via community with others.

The Mbyá Guaraní people of Uruguay have a custom where a child is only considered to have acquired personhood after they learn how to be amongst others in harmony, to break bed with others, and to uphold kin relations.

I remember my cousin and I, on a public beach, having met a Lucian man there, and leaving all our belongings with him including our phones and jewelry, swimming in the sea for hours using the snorkels he gave us (for free!), and coming back to find him waiting patiently for us, and doing this for days on end.

I remember my aunts laughing and dancing with warm strangers in the middle of the streets of Castries, and me being offered to try different Lucian foods whilst deep in conversation with the stall owners.

This is the essence of travel, not only to be in awe of beautiful backdrops, but also to understand the mindset, customs, and traditions of other people of the world.

Although comfort will always be a priority to me, and luxury hotels and restaurants will remain a preference, its important to remember that travel is a blessing for everyone participating, and to cherish the opportunity to expand your worldview via learning about the people of a country is what will bring us together.