Golden sunlight filters through the jungle’s leaves. We are eye-level with the clouds, gently driving through the day’s first hours. We pass a banana plantation, giant violet flowers dropping to the ground. From a break in the trees, jungle stretches graciously along the rolling hills. Our line of sight ends at our destination for the morning: the towering mount Pelé.

Christmas has always been an important time for my family. Usually spent siblings and parents together, it’s a time that has long been spent travelling to foreign lands. A means of escape of the dreary canadian winter or simply appreciating one another fully immersed in a new culture, it’s hard to tell. But so was it that we packed our bags anew, and left for Martinique and Saint Lucia on Christmas day.

Right after my busy summer in the Caribbean, I had jumped directly back into Law school. Studying, exams, catching up with friends, taking time to settle myself back into city life, the last few months were busy, and quite frankly, exhausting. So the idea of visiting sandy beaches, pristine coral reefs, and easy-living cultures was a dream. One that long sustained me amidst endless library sessions. And dreams of sleep. Endless sleep. That sustained me till the very day of our departure

Our first stop was in Martinique. Home to a Creole-French culture, we had settled on this sunny destination for its postcard beaches, numerous hikes and big-enough size for exploring. Much to my mother’s dismay — who appreciates beach time like any other normal human being — my dad, siblings and I are explorers and doers at heart. We have to keep moving, feeling the world through our five senses.

So commenced our week in Martinique. We hiked the Presqu’ile Caravelle, visited the island’s botanical gardens, ate lots of fish accras too. As well, I finally managed to convince my dad and sister to try diving. My mother hadn’t dove since we’d done our Open Water certification together in Belize. All three jumped in the water together and (re)discovered the ocean’s marvels.

We saw trumpet fish, parrot fish, cow fish, squirrel fish, angel fish, morays, turtles, and I even saw an octopus! In broad daylight! (If, like my sister, you dare doubt the existence of the named fish, I invite you to look them up using your favourite browser. They’re all pretty interesting). It was the perfect opportunity for me to share cool ocean facts which the family dutifully listened to, if not, even appreciated.

Mid-way through the week, we tackled the famed Mount Pelée, Martinique’s tallest peak and tenth in the Caribbean, sitting at 1397 meters. The most daunting part had to be the two almost-straight-up climbs to reach the caldeira and then the summit. As my dad says, « a hike is like a shitty walk ». With views reaching from the Atlantic ocean to the Caribbean sea, the vistas were breathtaking indeed.

With days filled with adventuring, the week rolled to an end, and we renewed with our love of packing to set off to Saint Lucia. As neighbouring islands, one could think both very alike. Having become independent from the British in 1979, Saint Lucia still holds relics of its colonization : English notably being the main language taught in schools and left-sided driving. Definitely not like Martinique.

You can quite imagine our hilarity then when — after having spent all day exploring in Martinique, taking the 7:30 pm ferry over to Saint Lucia and then seeing our dad reacquaint himself with a left-sided suited car, wipers flailing, lights getting turned on/off, the nighttime orientation along dark roads — we first appreciated the country’s quirks.

Saint Lucia is all towering peaks and winding roads, with the two most famous mountains being the Petit and Gros Piton. We were staying in Soufrière, directly in line with both. It was a perfect spot for our exploration, but also to witness the stark separation between tourists and locals. Life in our resorts and hotels was opulence and westernized while local life was definitely not that, differing notably from life in Martinique.

Old classics die hard in our family, we (of course) set ourselves the challenge of climbing the Gros Piton. Success was had and bountiful views too.

We instead opted to discover the Petit Piton by its underwater life with a half-day snorkelling trip. Alas I do not have an underwater camera to share the incredible sights that were beneath us. Superman’s landing as it is known was like an aquarium, brilliant blue waters and boundless with life. #AnyOceanDocumentaryByTheBBC

Our short five-day stay was already over (contrary to our lengthy conversation on the merits of switching from left- to right-sided driving). Happy to have spent time together as a family, we’re also happy to be going back home, our luggage filled with memories to boot.

Thanks for reading along, and may 2024 bring you many chances to discover. Cheers, Bee