Reasons To Be Cheerful.
The enigma amongst the jewels of St. Lucia. Reduit Beach Rodney Bay.
Dear Reader let me get straight to the point. I’ve endured a torrid relationship with Reduit Beach Rodney Bay. A kind of Richard Burton-Elizabeth Taylor, love and hate-thing (if you’re old enough to “get my drift.) For as long as I can remember, an on-off rapport, tempestuous, fractious, but never dull relationship with the place.
Reduit Beach shows enough ankle to keep me interested. I always have enough chivalry and courage to return one more time. Sadly this conundrum rages on. I’m torn between my love of the beach that draws me in, and the raging upsetting experiences telling me I should’ve known better.
Starting with the more unfortunate aspects. On cruise ship days when Castries Harbour is turned into a smorgasbord of ocean liners. Reduit Beach can turn into a very disappointing Benidorm.
The absence of a selection of decent bars and restaurants on the beach is a constant head-scratcher. No disrespect to either Spinnakers or the wonderful St. Lucia Yacht Club (they both do their manful best) but there should be a greater selection of places for – rest, recuperation and refreshment on what wants to be a Premier League Caribbean beach. Remember that Reduit Beach doesn’t just compete with other beaches in St. Lucia. It competes with beaches all over the Caribbean. It must up-its-game.
On the plus side the sand on the mile long beach is as soft and golden as Rapunzel’s hair, and the gentle waves are Bluer than Miles Davis on the cover of Columbia records. On good days there are few better places on nature’s beautiful earth than at sea level to watch the sun go down, delivering a world class sunset.
The main drawback of Reduit Beach is that here is very little natural shade apart from some trees at the extreme South end of the beach. So, to achieve protection from the dazzlingly brilliant tropical sun, you’ll need a parasol. And that my Dear Reader, is when you’re likely to come into contact with one of the most polarizing figures, known to man-kind, the “deck-chair attendant.”
The process of renting chairs and parasols should be a painless transaction apart from the blow to the purse. At Reduit Beach there is a completely unfathomable, impenetrable, and mystifying pricing structure which seems to me, depends on one’s accent, and the gradual state of your tan (signifing how long you have been on the island).
The sale is predominantly undertaken in the currency of the black market – the US dollar, which is very apt, as it does feel like there’s a cartel in operation.
There are good guys working on the beach distributing loungers and parasols. Ask for “Smiley” but, beware, he is a charmer, with a smile as wide as the beach, and little-boy-lost looks. Ladies you have been warned!
While on the beach. There was an older holidaying couple with an audio music device playing a 1980’s power ballad. You’re familiar with the type of music; big hair, huge shoulder pads, and watery eyes. Depending on one’s views the volume level wasn’t offensive, but the song content may have ruffled a few feathers.
One of the “lounger-sellers” a grizzly, tall, lanky, hard-back, Rastafarian looking guy, started singing at the top of his voice, in questionable harmony, but with the right movements to the song “My Heart Will Go On.” My dear reader! You had to be there for that one, I could not describe it and do the moment justice.
That’s one thing not generally appreciated by non-St. Lucians, is that ‘Lucian’ men love a power-ballad, and never give up a chance to bring out their inner Céline Dion. (thank you Joe Williams for that one.) Which is very surprising for a nation that doesn’t have any synonyms for “fluffy!”
Please visit Reduit Beach, and see for yourself. Stay late for the sunset vista, it will always be a beautiful book-end to your day.
After that exhausting day on the beach, swimming, reading and dozing off. I return to my balcony for my barbecue fish supper and a rewarding cold Piton. I’m shocked to learn of the death of Roy Ayers. The man was quite simply a musical genius. But what is more important than that, was the way he communicated with the audience. It was obvious that he was a thoroughly decent man, one of nature’s finest. Although in his mid 80s, he’s gone too soon, and is sorely missed.
Top Tip: Do yourself a favour, sit down with a glass of something you love and listen to Roy Ayers Ubiquity – “Everybody Loves The Sunshine.”
Acknowledgments:
- Kwéyòl Dictionary Ministry of Education
- Tony Nayager for corrective guidance. (He knows what I mean!)
- Marilyn St Rose for keeping me right.
End of Reasons to be Cheerful Part Fourteen
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