Onboard the Caledonian Star with Lindblad Expeditions one travels around the world and has many learning opportunities. To be 11 years old and travel in the Lower Caribbean, as Linda in this photo, new impressions every day can be life-long learning experiences. Our Expedition Leader Tom Ritchie explains the "lobster claw", a Heliconia a plant related to the much-appreciated banana.
Today we all had the chance to visit St. Lucia, the second island in the Windward Islands in the eastern Caribbean. We are now on the edge of the Caribbean plate, which maybe we should regard as another continent that smashed into South America long ago. Here we encountered volcanic activity, although the volcano itself is dormant, and saw very active sulfurous mud pits. As Alfred Wegener presented his continental drift theory in the beginning of the 20th century he got very little support from the scientific community, but at the same time Antarctic explorers were finding fossils of plants and animals in Antarctica which could not exist there today. The Continental drift theory was finally accepted after 70 years and nicely explains the volcanism found here.
This morning, we were also able to explore and admire the beauty of tropical plants in the Botanical Garden and at a couple of displays we were educated in tropical fruits, most of which do not occur in our latitudes. The tour ended with a visit to a big plantation and the manor house where we enjoyed well-chilled tropical juice, new baked banana cake, candy made from coconut… and also a chance to walk around in the house. The furniture was made from nice wood, which today is very threatened. Outside we also saw how a plantation produced sugar cane and cacao in the early days.
As the Caledonian Star was anchored in the Soufriere Bay under the Pitons all afternoon, we used the opportunity to enjoy water activities. Some went to the beach, others preferred snorkeling or kayaking. In a big cave we were also able to find thousands of sleeping bats and as the last Zodiac came back and watched the bats, a peregrine falcon perched above, waiting for them to emerge in order to get a bite of food.
Before dinner, Alleyne Regis from RARE, a conservation organization long sponsored by Lindblad Expeditions, came onboard and gave a slide illustrated presentation about the job they have made and the great success they have achieved. The conservation project started with parrots, which are found as endemic species on several islands, but has now expanded into health, schooling and an ever-increasing population problem. Yes, this was a joyful day in the Caribbean but also a day with lots of education.
