I headed to St. Lucia in the South Caribbean for the first time in the fall of 2007 for a friend’s wedding. St. Lucia was, for the longest time, a haven for locals as well as those searching for an island destination that didn’t feel so touristy because of it’s location (St Vincent, Grenada, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago are the only island countries further south). It’s hard to believe that before that flight, I didn’t like flying. Bright blue sky, cotton candy clouds and smooth winds made a believer out of me! We stepped onto the airport tarmac on a breezy Thursday night. The day before the wedding was dedicated to a chartered sail around the island with friends complete with rum punch and snacks. Would you believe a light drizzle made it even better?! Brightly colored homes dot the hills and a stop over in the city of Soufriere to eat, explore and chat with folks at port was a brilliant way to see the country.

  The next day, the wedding was a hit! And as a result of the previous day’s jaunt, everyone was already best friends; celebrating was second nature. After the wedding the bride arranged for us to take a bus around the island to celebrate Jounen Kewyol, the country’s national celebration. A combination of bacchanal and cultural festival, Jounen Kewyol brings the whole nation out in brightly colored plaid clothes. Food, music, dancing, mischief making and general joy can be found everywhere and continues deep into the night. Even a canceled flight the next day couldn’t ruin the fun. We got an extra day to climb up into the famous Pitons and soak in the hot springs. If you’re in a hurry to get home I don’t recommend the trip as actually getting on a plane and getting back to homebase was a challenge (canceled flight, eminent hurricanes, connecting flights way too close together to actually make). But if you’re willing to be flexible, take deep breaths and roll with it, it might just be the best time of your life!