St Lucia Market Explorations

Capital city Castries has a huge bazaar market with fruit and vegetable sellers, an alley of local food, and some touristy handicrafts. It’s a Caribbean scene with loud arguments, locals visiting their regulars, and the lazy attitude that any proprietor of anything has down here. Mostly I loved this grandma’s shoes. She was nodding off.

I had been through Castries when we were in St Lucia last week but on a Sunday and it was a ghost town. I was instantly enamored with the hand painted signage. I love me some font types generally but being in places still employing hand lettering (not just hipster chalkboards) is enchanting and privileged. The drawing style in my pretentious art world would be considered “outsider art” but here I’m the outsider. We had been able to catch a local van to Castries that Sunday but had to hustle a private ride to get to the pitons & sulfur springs near Soufrier (my last post!) but I knew I wanted to return at least to font hunt and definitely to fruit shop. Also, random side note, they only play country music in St Lucia on Sundays!

And some sisters. Nothing needs to be said about this cuteness.

Earlier in the day I was searching for coconuts in Gros Islet and was pointed toward this “local market.” No coconuts were found among this randomness but I think it reflects Island life well. The Grandmas in blush & cowboy hats trying to work a mobile phone were photo worthy.

A little land to share from Caribbean sailing adventures. I’ve heaps of pictures from the last weeks of North to Guadeloupe and South again; we’re in Grenada. And! We're in Grenada with good WiFi so I’ll have some daily love and eye candy for you dear steemians!

Lastly and importantly, a due shout out to my captain @justinvagabond who after days of hand steering with sails up before the sunrise and anchors down just before sunset, still tiredly accompanied me in the Caribbean heat to resupply my fruit needs💖🙏🏼🛥🗺