Bay Gardens Hotel provides the ideal vacation experience for the business or leisure traveler. Rooms range from standard to executive suites. Choices include standard and superior rooms, or executive suites with kitchenette and options of interconnecting if need be. All rooms are air-conditioned with 24-hour cable television; direct dial telephone with port phone and voice mail; clock radio; in-room safe; electric kettle with complimentary coffee or tea.

Within the last few months, Bay Gardens has grown to include the new and improved Bay Gardens Inn – it's so perfect, it's unimaginable!

Bay Gardens Inn, your ultimate haven of Privacy, Intimacy and Relaxation. This 20 room Tropical Gem is ideally nestled 20 minutes north of George FL Charles Airport and the capital Castries, and just minutes from the many treasures of Rodney Bay, The National Cricket Stadium, International Dining, Shopping, Nightlife, Day Tours, and Sporting Activities.

The Inn is your perfect escape, particularly if you are looking for an idyllic spot in which to say "I Do!" Wedding and honeymoon packages are designed to meet every budget. The new Bay Gardens Inn caters to the vacationer looking for more than just a wedding. Businesspersons are very welcome at the Inn. Rates are very affordable and packages are designed to satisfy.

When you ask about Bay Gardens Hotel, remember now you have two excellent choices. Ask about Bay Gardens Inn as well. Either way, whether you choose the Bay Gardens Hotel or the Bay Gardens Inn, you are in for a simply beautiful time in simply beautiful St. Lucia.
 

In a fascinating Rodney Bay Marina Waterfront property he and his partner have opened the CULINARY INSTITUTE SAINT LUCIA. It is decorated in total local Creole Style with local furniture, tasteful interior design, colorful Creole madras colors, local clay pots and enchanting local motifs captured on hand painted local batiks.

The Institute is offering lively, entertaining and educational Cooking Sessions focused on Saint Lucian & Caribbean Cuisine. Everybody is welcomed with fresh local coconuts, rum punch, and fresh local juices and if something more solid is instantly required you can always grab a banana from the bunch hanging from the ceiling. After the introductions BIG CHEF himself will start the cooking, explaining the steps and techniques pertaining to Caribbean Cuisine. You can be sure there will be a lot of action and fun in the process.

BIG Chef is only creating a few dishes, but he has a back up kitchen, making sure that everybody gets full portions to taste and enjoy the creations. You can also be sure that in BIG CHEF'S usual style, wine, rum, rum punch, champagne, punch and fresh local juice will flow unlimited during the entire visit.

The Culinary Institute Saint Lucia's special local seasonings and extracts will also be on sale together with souvenir packages, batik and local art. An impressive certificate of participation will be issued after the show. Contact your rep for further information.

Cara Suites St. Lucia, situated on the hillside of La Pansee, commands the most panoramic view of the city of Castries and the Castries Harbour. This hotel offers 40 rooms furnished with all the modern amenities, including mini-bars and complimentary coffee and tea making facilities. Cara Suites boasts state of the art conference and banqueting facilities that can accommodate up to 250 people. The proximity of the hotel to the George Charles Airport, and to the city of Castries, makes it an incredibly attractive location for business travelers and local business conferences. The beautiful gardens are an ideal setting for weddings and other social gatherings.

The two restaurants offer local and international cuisine featuring a fusion of Creole with modern British and classical French influences. The two bars offer an extensive beverage menu featuring wines and champagne from around the world.

Cara Suites will soon introduce a new business center offering complimentary services to in-house guests and conference clients- the latest business software, laser printer, email access. These services are all aimed at meeting the needs of today's clientele.

With the improvement in the product/service mix and the flexible execution of these services, Cara Suites, St. Lucia is expected to live up to the company slogan and become "a Caribbean tradition in the making."

Chic is exquisite, fully air-conditioned with an eclectic collection of art. Upon arrival you are greeted with a complimentary glass of Taittinger Champagne, while you relax in comfortable deep sofas to make your selection from Chic's varying menu, consisting of dishes from Europe, Asia and the Caribbean, using the best of St. Lucian and International ingredients.

The menu has been created by Head Chef, Craig Jones, who has provided us with a fusion of flavours, style and presentation, forming the most innovative menu on the island, allowing you to sample dishes such as Sashimi of Yellow Fin Tuna, Jerked Suckling Pig, Tempura of Jumbo Shrimp, Roulade of Chicken, Cappuccino of Pear.

Most popular, vegetarian or not, the Warm Tart of Vine Tomatoes is a wonderful way to commence the evening, with it's Goat's Cheese topping melting in your mouth. To continue, the Study on Duck is an interesting combination of mille feuille of confit leg, with fondant potato and golden apple puree. Concluding, the ultimate for any chocoholic is the Chocolate Tamboo, in which you will find yourself indulging into a rich dessert, perfectly complimented by a vanilla anglaise.

After a memorable evening and immaculate service, fine cuisine and great entertainment, there is an extensive selection of liquors, cognac's and malts, which marry beautifully with a fresh espresso.

For reservations please contact The Royal St. Lucian Resort & Spa (452-9999)

The twelfth annual St. Lucia Jazz Festival did it again. With the likes of Boo Hinkson and Luther Francois, they did it again. The atmosphere was electric. And when India Arie came on, um! And the rain came down… 

So if you have not yet experienced St. Lucia Jazz, you have been missing out on a good thing. The music alone is great, but the atmosphere at each location adds a certain euphoria to the event. The blend of music and Pigeon Island can do wonders for your soul. Fond D'Or is just as alluring. The Cultural Centre and Hotel venues lend a distinct romance to beautiful evenings of sweet Jazz.

Do yourself a favour. Plan your next vacation to coincide with the Thirteenth St. Lucia Jazz Festival, first two weeks in May 2003. Make it an event for the entire family. Bring your friends along, for what promises to be a once in a lifetime celebration of glorious music and island life for seven or fourteen of the best days of your life. 

Your whole body will thank you for this, as you will taste, see, smell, touch and hear all the things that make us truly St. Lucian. This experience will stay with you for a long time after the jazz has come and gone, and you will join the ranks of the converted, coming again and again, for more St. Lucia Jazz! 
 

 This is part of a long-term plan by the Ministry of Sports on the island to ensure that the sport of cricket is allowed to develop at the highest level. Ultimately, the goal is to produce St. Lucian players of the calibre necessary to become members of the West Indies male team. Already, the female West Indies Team, captained by St. Lucian Verena Felicien, is dominated by a strong St. Lucian contingent.

But certainly in St. Lucia at this time, the sport of cricket is well placed to record successes, and St. Lucia will claim its place alongside other first class cricket destinations, and play its part in unifying people, in a sport that encompasses the world. So what's in this for you? If you are a cricket fan, the next time you plan your vacation, before you confirm dates, keep your ears to the ground and find out when the next round of matches come to St. Lucia. This would be your best chance to combine a great getaway with a great game of cricket. You can enjoy the best of both worlds. "Howzat"? You play hard, and invest time watching professional Cricketers, as they play just as hard!

No longer just the traditional centre of town, or just a casual place for recreation, the Derek Walcott Square has received a well-deserved face-lift, and now, it houses a visible reminder of its namesake, in the form of a handsome bust. A second bust has also been laid in the Square as a tribute to St. Lucia's first Nobel Laureatte, Sir Arthur Lewis, after whom the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College has been named, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1979.

The busts of these two Nobel men adorn the Square, which remains fenced with iron railings, just as it was in the 1800's. Today the Derek Walcott Square remains the centre for history, not only because of the vivid references to our laureates, but because it remains home to the Saman also called "Massave" tree, which is over 400 years old.  On your next visit, make it a point to drop by the Derek Walcott Square and read up about St. Lucia's unique history.

Along the east coast you can stop off at Dennery on any weekend night and ask about the seafood business. Or down south, you can ask about Swaré Vieux Fort. This offers a number of choices if you want to experiment with island style seafood. Along the west coast, is another quaint little fishing village, which has established its own seafood siesta. You can sit around tables or you can walk through the well-lit street and savour the taste of your delight in fish, done as you like it.

Whether you choose to go to Dennery, Anse La Raye or Vieux Fort, each of these areas has a rich history, and you will find plenty of interest to you. What ever you do though, these activities are always better enjoyed in a group, so choose your company before you choose your venue. And happy fishing…

Ginger Lily was designed to capture a truly Caribbean home away from home atmosphere, which is achieved by the tropical tranquil ambience and friendly staff.

Ginger Lily cushion's the seafront of one of the island's most exotic beaches and is situated directly opposite the Royal St. Lucia Hotel, and minutes away from an array of charming shops, fine boutiques, supermarkets, restaurants, night clubs, banks and other amenities. Golf, Tennis, Horseback riding and the Pigeon Island National Landmark are all located nearby.

The Hotel is owned by St. Lucian Mr. Robert Joseph and Englishman Mr. Robert Kisson and is managed by Ms. Cheryl Gustave, who has been in the industry for over 25 years. Ms. Gustave brings into this unique setting a wealth of knowledge and a high level of professionalism, creating the perfect atmosphere for a truly unique experience for our valued clients.

There are (11) eleven rooms, in the 3 categories, Superior Deluxe, Sea View and Executive Suites. The Executive Suites are fully equipped apartments. Latest competitive prices are available from our reception or website  (Phone: 1-758-458-0300, Website: www.RodneyBay.com)

For recreation we have a large fresh water swimming pool, high-speed Internet café, Car hire desk and Tour desk. The beautiful Reduit beach is just a 1-minute walkway in front of the hotel.

Now, you can enjoy a more contemporary setting in the extension to La Place Carenage. While the shops feature huge frame-less glass fronts with modern tones and textures, you can sample a unique experience of St. Lucia's heritage with a walk-in Animation Centre, a Promenade of local Artisans and a Vendor's Arcade of Indigenous products.

The Animation Centre is the only one of its kind in the Southern Caribbean, and is the most thrilling feature reproducing the island's very colourful history through state of the art animation technology. Using a terrain model of St. Lucia, key factors of the island's history are brought to life.

Browse through the Promenade of Artisans, and purchase great pieces of locally made arts and craft items. You will also have the exciting opportunity to see local artists working on a wide range of pieces from self-portraits to pottery.

Finally, the Arcade of Indigenous Products will feature items from the local cottage industry such as jams, jellies, sauces, local confectionary and pure chocolate sticks. Here you can sample such delights before buying and perhaps take home a secret recipe!

The Meeting Centre is located on the top floor of its newly renovated main office in Sans Souci just minutes from Castries. This service is primarily for Companies seeking modern, comfortable and affordable facilities for Meetings, Seminars, Training, Conferences, and other activities that require accommodation for up to 60 persons.

The Meeting Centre with its Conference and Meeting Facilities is new to St. Lucia, and finally provides the perfect opportunity where you can play hard and work hard at the same time. Email us at tos@candwl.c and tci@candw.lc for more information.

Le Pavillion Royal is home to many historical pieces as well as interactive displays, artifacts, photographs and documents. A number of items especially the crockery, and silverware date back to the beginning of the house from Queen Victoria's reign. There are a variety of prints and the original architectural drawings of Government House are on the walls.

A tour through the Museum will reveal the Public Seal of St. Lucia prior to independence with the motto: "A Safe Anchorage for Ships" which was the motto of St. Lucia prior to Associated Statehood in 1967. There are also medals, and national awards, national symbols and the actual copy of the original painting of the national coat of arms with the exact colours as depicted by the Royal School of Heraldry where Coats of Arms come from.

If you have not yet visited Le Pavillion Royal, call Government House and ask about the possibilities for an appointment.

In a world where so much news is bad news, Living Today strives to present the good news that reflects our hard work and labour and the corresponding success we reap as a people because of this. Produced through collaborating between Julian's and Island Visions Ltd., this is a quarterly publication, which is truly a positive reflection of "Living Today."

Living Today, with a circulation of 10,000 copies, is a veritable reservoir of current island information useful to a wide cross-section of persons, is distributed locally by Julian's Supermarkets. If you are interested in getting copies, you can email us at livingtoday@candw.lc.  

Living Today is the magazine dedicated to providing positive reading and information to our family of readers in St. Lucia. Available on island free of charge.

Michelle, a Native of St. Lucia, resides on the Island, where she paints from her home in the quaint Vigie Cove tucked away in the heart of the Castries harbour. Here, she and her French husband run the popular Coal Pot Restaurant where her artistic style and original art works add a strong personal touch to this charming establishment, well known for its exciting food and water-side ambiance.

Michelle has also ventured recently into beautiful fun and exciting fabrics and hand painted pottery, all of which are available exclusively at: Clearblue Stores & The Coal Pot Restaurant. At Duty Free Point Seraphine & Duty Free La Place Caranage St. Lucia, Tel: (758) 451 9746 Email: ClearBlue@candw.lc

The Coal Pot Restaurant
P.O. Box 412, Vigie Cove, Castries
St. Lucia  Tel: 452-5566

With the smell of molasses and raw spirit pervading the air, climb to a viewing platform to see the distilling columns and fermentation tanks and a pot still, as the whole distillation process is explained to you. Immerse yourself in the music and colour of the Carnival experience. Sample rums and liquers and take the opportunity to purchase a bottle or two to take home.

For more information and bookings, please contact your rep or contact us on: Tel - (758) 451 4315/4258; Fax  - (758) 451 4221; email: tour@sludistillers.com

Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort is located approximately 6 miles northwest of the town of Castries on a causeway between Pigeon Island (National Landmark) and Rodney Bay. There are two airports located on island. The hotel will provide transfers from both the Hewanorra International Airport 40 miles (1 hr. 30 min) away, and the George F.L. Charles Airport, 6 miles (20 minutes) from the resort.

Come home to beautiful parks and historic monuments like Pigeon Island and Fort Rodney within walking distance. Add the Sandals world-class brand renowned for every exclusive amenity from golf to scuba diving, an elaborate spa, sumptuous gourmet dining, and you have a recipe for a perfect vacation. Visit Sandals at www.sandals.com for more information.

Marigot Bay has for a long time been a major landmark on the St Lucia tourist map. Lovely and largely unspoiled, it is well known to yachtsmen throughout the world as one of the best natural harbours in the Caribbean and the elegant new marina will provide a safe environment for yachts all year round. With St. Vincent and the Grenadines only a days sail to the south and Martinique thirty miles to the North, St. Lucia is the perfect starting point for exploring the whole Caribbean archipelago.

Of course, there has always been more to Marigot Bay than simply a safe haven for boats. The scene of a famous sea battle many years ago, it was also a favourite haunt of pirates who slipped into the deep harbour under cover of night. More recently its dramatic scenery has made it a popular film location and the lively local cafes draw tourists and St. Lucians alike to eat, drink and listen to live music as they watch the fabulous sunset views.

The new development will be a luxury, eco-friendly, apartment hotel with fine dining, elegant bars and a world class spa for the ultimate in relaxation and barefoot elegance.

Cathy sees this as her latest challenge. Quick with recognizing scents, and a love of perfume, it was only a matter of time before she finally followed her nose to Caribbean Perfumes and the delights of the art of perfume making.  

Ladies fragrances are available in a 50ml Eau de Toilette and a 75ml Eau de Parfum natural spray in an attractive frosted bottle. You can select from a number of fragrances including Ile d'Or; Frangipani; Le Bleu; Marigot; Pink Orchid; and Soleil. Tropique or Periquito for men are available in 75ml aftershave or 50ml cologne spray.

So you can enjoy lunch or dinner, but leave extra time on the menu to browse through Caribbean Perfumes, and "capture the romance forever!"