Monday, January 26, 2009
Zipping Through The Air
Zip Lining is one of those travel activities that intimidates a lot of people. I guess pairing sky-scraping heights with jungles and a single rope to hang from does sound scary. But it doesn't have to be. I sailed through the St.Lucian rain forest with not a flicker of fear. I glanced at the tops of palm trees and touched oversize ferns. A light sprinkle of rain started to fall and the experience was even more magical, even though it was hard to see after awhile. It was exhilarating because I'm tall and I could see the floor of the forest just a few feet beneath my legs. It's not so upsetting when you can imagine jumping from the rope and safely to the ground. St. Lucia is a small island and accordingly, it's zip line tour is relatively small.
On the other hand, I have known the gripping fear that comes from facing a true zip line. By true, I mean a zip line strung atop tree canopies of at least 20 feet. A few years ago in Costa Rica, I forced myself to do the zip line as a way of forcing myself out of my comfort zone. I don't typically gravitate toward many things that require athletic shoes and special equipment. But there I was, trudging through the yawning Costa Rican rain forest and climbing tower after tower of mind-numbingly high platforms, which I was pushed across. I was petrified. I vowed never to do it again but the thing about zip lines is that you can't turn back. You're in the middle of the jungle and the platforms are placed so that only the very last one is near the exit. So I didn't have much of a choice but I have to admit, I didn't love it. Especially when I got stuck hanging in the middle of the next to last platform. The velocity wasn't great enough and I hadn't listened when the guides said I'd have to use my hands to move the rest of the way. Right. A guide had to swing out on his arms and guide me back. So I was thrilling and brave on the St.Lucia zip line only because I'd already lived through the horrors of Costa Rica's. But I would recommend the zip line experience anyway. It's a great way to face your fears.
Labels: Adventure Travel, Caribbean Travel, St. Lucia, travel adventure, Zip Lining
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Paradise Found
I've explored some lovely islands, from the pearly pink sands of Barbuda, to the hibiscus topped hills of Tobago. But when it comes to jaw-dropping beauty, nothing comes close to St. Lucia. The island's attractions are so legendary that it's almost a cliche to highlight it's sweeping twin mountains or it's lush rain forest. So my travel story in this week's Chicago Sun Times focuses instead on all the adventures I had there in a feature here. I think that St. Lucia captures the original concept of paradise. Not only is the landscape gorgeous but the people I met were gentle and kind. Pondering all the wonders I experienced, from the famed Gros Islet jump up to Soufriere's drive-in volcano, I think the most memorable time for me was in the tiny fishing village of Virgie. After driving over hills for an hour in an ATV (all terrain vehicle) some villagers set out plates of fresh sugar cane, star fruit, golden apple and coconut pie candy. I took in the countryside with small houses perched on hills, goats roaming and breezes scented with bougainvillea. Paradise indeed.
Labels: Caribbean Travel, St. Lucia, Virgie
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