Fountains

Children playing in the Hemisphere Park fountains on a hot day in San Antonio, TX

Anse la Raye Falls

By this point we had been in St Lucia long enough to not believe the locals camped out at the trail head trying to convince us we needed to pay them to visit Anse la Raye Falls, or at least give them $5 EC to borrow a walking stick. After a short shady hike we reached the falls, populated by a couple of mid-sized tours and their enthusiastic guides.
We didn't chance diving in though--the water in the pools below was green!

Diamond Botantical Garden

The first day of our honeymoon we went to Diamond Botanical Gardens near Soufriere. It was just the start of a long journey on which Thomas became very tired of going to botanical gardens! Above, pretty heliconia.
Part of the estate was originally farmed as a plantation. However, large scale farming in the Caribbean is generally unprofitable now. The owners have planted instead dedicated the land to tourism and planted it with species important to Caribbean life. I think the variety of useful, beautiful plants that grow here so well is wonderful and amazing, but I'm a plant geek...
Nutmeg.
Helical Ginger.
Anthurium Lilly "Naughty Boy".
A very pretty Celosia growing in December. I got the feeling that many of our annuals and house plants are perennials kidnapped from the tropics.
More Heliconia.
Torch Ginger.
Red Ginger.
Pink Ginger.
It's been so long already I don't really remember what the rest of these are called. Just enjoy.
Hummingbird.

The Diamond River runs through the estate. It is fed from a volcanic gorge up-valley. The high mineral content gives the water it's black color, and gives the town of Soufriere it's name (Sulfur).
These mineral springs were thought to have healing benefits. In the 18th century a bath built just downstream from Diamond Falls (above) was quite popular. We didn't partake.

Another Great View of Tahoma

The view of moody Tahoma (Rainier), in its persistent cloud cover, from Narada Falls.

Narada Falls

Another beautiful stop along the road from Longmire to Paradise. Above, the top pool of Narada falls from a footbridge. You can see the end of the path at the bottom.
Heed our warning. Also, I had a funny feeling that Paradise was located near the restroom. For some reason.
Narada, Hindu for "pure."
Berries grow along side it.
A short, pleasant walk to a very peaceful place after our long climb.