St. Lucia meets Market Friday

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Saint Lucia. She is just so incredibly beautiful. She sits in the Caribbean Sea, all 27 miles (43 km) and approximately 14 miles (23 km) wide of her. The capital is Castries, known for palm-lined Vigie Beach and port of call for many cruise lines. The island nation gained independence in 1979, but remains a member of the Commonwealth.


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These are the Pitons Mountains, a major hike and attraction in Saint Lucia. They are located in the south of Saint Lucia near the towns of Soufriere and Choiseul, which are on the southwestern coast. They rise up with pride. It is about two hours, give or take a bit, I believe that was in its entirety. Nice view from there! Feel free to hike it, it's free! Welcome to #MarketFriday! We will find something that you can buy!


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Today is #MarketFriday initiated by @dswigle (Denise, that's me!!) Join me as we share our markets across the globe. I always look forward to seeing what you send me! It is amazing to see the different markets and cultures of our friends here on Hive.

As I said last week, I am away, so #MarketFriday is on vacation. While you are welcome to post in the challenge, I am away, and won't be back for about ten days. The post is a repost from before, so I am declining payment. I already got paid for it. I will be back, so keep the fires warm, and don't forget to check out any posts in the community for me! Thank you!!


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Saint Lucia has some of the prettiest beaches in the entire Caribbean, especially Anse Piton. Did I happen to mention that somewhere along the line, importing the fine grains of white sand from Guyana has probably helped it along the way? Is this cheating? The beaches in St. Lucia are open to the public for free!


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Lucia - Poverty and wealth. There is little drastic poverty in St. Lucia, but there are clear differences between a wealthy minority, a comfortable middle class, and a poor lower class. With per capita income estimated at approximately US $8790 in 2020, the island is at times, one of the more prosperous in the Eastern Caribbean. This is largely due to the success of the banana industry during the 1980s and the early 1990s and continues because of the tourism industry. Many rural villages in banana-growing areas have solid housing and expensive imported vehicles, signs of the banana industry's economic impact. But there are also many smaller farmers, some with as little as an acre or two, who have not shared in the benefits of the banana boom. source


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In contrast, the wealthy minority in St. Lucia are situated in the plush residential developments to the north of Castries, around which many tourist resorts are to be found. Here, shopping malls, golf courses, and marinas testify to a luxurious lifestyle. Those who are the richest in St. Lucia are white-collar professionals such as lawyers and doctors, local managers of foreign companies, and people connected with successful tourism ventures and private-sector construction. Included in this employment sector are a large number of European and American expatriates (citizens who moved from their native country to live in St. Lucia). The island's middle class is composed of urban professionals and those involved in traditional retail, while in the countryside there are many owners of large farms who have made enough money to consider themselves middle-class.


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Primary education is free and compulsory, but poor families often find it hard to afford uniforms and school books for their children. Medical care is available throughout the island, but doctors charge for visits and prescriptions are expensive. Housing conditions vary enormously, from the luxury villas of the island's northern tip to the ramshackle villages of the eastern coast.source


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This is where I stayed when I went to Saint Lucia. It is proper middle class, I rarely will stay in a resort... almost never. It has nothing to do with the affordability and everything to do with visiting a country that is not my own. How will you ever know the people, and the culture, and share anything with another human being? I haven't stayed at a resort since I was a teenager, maybe even 20. When I decided to see the real world, it wasn't at all like the travel brochures. So, I will never go back to the resorts, unless I am looking for that kind of pampering, but, I can do that back home. I feel like I am wasting time if I don't get out and glad-hand with the locals! How about YOU? Do you like to be pampered or do like to get out and see what it's like...or maybe even a mixture of both?


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Major shopping here, in Castries, the capital. Very many local farmers, at the side of the road selling their produce, coconuts, whatever they have.


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EC =The Eastern Caribbean dollar- the currency of all seven full members (and one associate member) of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. How much is the food in Saint Lucia? I had to use the expatistan prices to get the 2021 prices, about as current as I could get. I imagine they are higher now than they were at that time. I thought they were quite high now, just think that they are probably even higher now. Yikes!


Basic lunchtime menu, drink included in the business district EC$50 ($18)
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (Big Mac Meal or similar) EC$25 ($9)
500 gr (1 lb.) boneless chicken breast EC$16 ($5.93)
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole milk EC$10 ($3.83)
12 eggs, large EC$9 ($3.51)
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes EC$12 ($4.33)
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese EC$31 ($12)
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples EC$23 ($8)
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes EC$10 ($3.52)
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket EC$3.00 ($1.11)
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality EC$40 ($15)
2 liters of coca-cola EC$4.92 ($1.82)
Bread for 2 people for 1 day EC$2.46 ($0.91)


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In the front of your house, on the side of your street, any place that people will walk by. That is the best way to sell your market. In such a small island, you have to carve your niche early on or be left out.


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I rented a car and no surprise, British rules, and cars. I am okay with that, but, I did spot a couple of Yankees on the road some days. :) The island is very tiny and the gap is wide between the haves and have-nots. However, unlike some places, I never felt out of place, no matter which side of the fence I was on. There was proper respect for each. I don't want to feel guilty if I have money and I don't want to be made feel out of place when I don't.


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He made a comfortable living playing for the tourist who came to enjoy this scenic outlook. He was personable and interesting, giving history about the island and tips on what to see or avoid. He never asked for a penny, he just simply played and sang, enjoying the good life. People tipped him, some did not, but, he never said a word to guilt, anyone. Which was unusual.I have to wonder how he is surviving with the tourist trade gone.


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Another overlook into a neighborhood on the beach. Oh, the rough life, yes? It is a mixed neighborhood, meaning the less-than-rich were here first and others moved in but did not edge out the others. I liked the equality here. You are not better than me because you have more money. It works nicely for them. It is called respecting one another.


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Please remember, when you get to traveling again and stay somewhere for longer than a day. Bathe yourself in the richness of the culture. You won't find it in a hotel or resort, but, you may find it at an Airbnb. Do you want to know the real people and the real country? Get out of those places and you will find what is so magic about them!


Please leave the link to your post here so it can easily be found by others. It helps you and me to have them in one place. Where else can you take such a quick trip around the globe? Thank you so much for joining us!! ❤


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And just like that, this post is done. I hope you had a good time and learned a little something new. As always, I want to thank you for taking the time to visit, and just remember, #MarketFriday loves you! Thank you for supporting the challenge! Have a most fabulous day! Cheers!!



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As always, there must be flowers to color my world. #alwaysaflower


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Fridays are all about the #MarketFriday Challenge! Looking to take part in it? Here is how:


Rules of the Road to Join #MarketFriday!


  1. Go to the market, or anywhere that you pay money for a service.
    Take pictures! Be creative!
  2. Tell us a little bit about the market or the event. What brought you there? What did you buy? How much did it cost? Was it expensive? Did it go up or down? pictures are nice, but, we need words to go with them.
  3. Post the pictures. Of course, you should tell a little bit about the ones you post, it is too difficult to guess about some
  4. Use the MarketFriday Community Platform to post (#hive-196308) This is not required but appreciated.
    PLEASE Drop the link into the MarketFriday comment section so I can find it!!
  5. Following me and reblogging the post would be appreciated, but not a rule, more vision for more views on the #MarketFriday posts!
  6. You must put #MarketFriday by @dswigle somewhere on your post.
As always, please remember! #MarketFriday loves you!


#TeamUSA is a growing community of quality-content people from the United States or those living here. Check us out on Discord!

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This post has been previously posted, and used for #MarketFriday while I am away. Payment has been declined as I have already gotten paid for it. Thank you! #MarketFriday loves you!

marketfriday travel culture neoxian alwaysaflower
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38 comments
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You are doing a great work, even though you don't have time a great chance to make sure this contest keep going, weldone I really appreciate your efforts for keeping that ball rolling

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Hey lovely Denise (@dswigle), I recall admiring this fabulous post of yours a while ago and thought how much I would love to visit the Caribbean when reading your post and admiring all your photos. Always so nice to re-read a published post, a great idea to re-publish . It looks stunning, attractive and lots of fun. One day perhaps. The real positive is that the world is opened up again. We however are waiting for a little while longer. Lots of love from me.🌼🌼🌼

Here is my little Market Friday post that I wrote this afternoon. It was a pleasure and thoroughly enjoyable to be writing on Hive again. I missed it but had a more than good time doing lots of other things including lots of reading. I am a tad addicted to reading. Once I start a book I must finish. Good or bad I am not sure.🤩
https://hive.blog/hive-196308/@angiemitchell/the-avonmore-boutique-hotel-in-sydney

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Those colorful houses on the hill have a resemblance to houses in Baguio Philippines.
It looks tranquil there. A good place to have a walk 😊 happy Friday @dswigle

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Very interesting to read about the culture and how these people earn their living. It looks like a very colorful area!

I like the idea of mutual respect and not looking down upon others just because they have less money! Money doesn't make the man!

My post for this week can be found here.

In the meantime, enjoy the #MarketFriday vacation, even though you are clearly going to be busy...

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Have a safe and nice trip Denise 👋🏻😊 see you when you come back 😉

St Lucia is stunning in every way… what a great captures, they speak a lot and show you it’s character. I remember seeing about it before.

My post:
🌈 Let me show you a colourful market in the port of Sotogrande, Spain 🇪🇸 ~ “Market Friday”

I’m busy too the last days. We are finally getting more answers and next week will be decision time. It does mean hubby got to switch internally as his current role disappears…

Happy Friday! Soon it’s weekend @dswigle 🤗🤗 huggss

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Hello dear mam @dswigle awesome photographs as always but I wonder why this awesome blog Payment declined? Is this set by you when published this awesome #MarketFriday blog?

I loved the cityscape with beautiful and colorful houses. Banana tree with covered plantain flower. A complete blog with awesome photographs. I've something to share too and will publish before the end of the day! InshaAllah

Stay blessed my dear ❤️💖🌷🌹💓💗💖

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I love the colorful houses. What a beautiful place!

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I like the colorful signs, you last photo!
Have a good one, lovely @dswigle !
Enjoy yourself!!!

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(Edited)

Enjoy your vacation dear @dswigle :) This post of you is really beautiful, you have this grace to show things as they are, with honesty...

I'm not a resort guy either. In fact, it's even worse (or better^^) because I think I hate it frankly. I much prefer to live as close as possible to how the majority really live... of course, as a foreigner, this is almost always impossible, but between total immersion and the infinity pool, there must be a happy middle ground !

Thanks again for the refreshment, enjoy and take care of yourself 😘

Here's still a little window open on Paris.

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rainbow houses look like in fairytales for girls;)😍

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i also prefer to go my own way on vacation except for the 1st time we went to Miami but we wanted to do some sight seeing and the easy way is a tour, after that when you go back you can decide what you want to focus on and what you want to skip .

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(Edited)

A school post, I mean to learn from it. You chose very well what lesson to teach us. Thank you and glad you are enjoying the good and beautiful now. I know you'll let us see how it was...
My post, just to keep it in evidence: Fish Fair in the City Center...

A little update...

Ohoho, @dswigle! A real vacation, we miss you... not to say we miss you! The #marketfriday posts are piling up: Once Again, The Same Dilemma!

I hope you had and still have a great holiday, great pleasure, and all the best!

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Dear mam @dswigle miss you a lot. Hope you are fine over there. Please come back to us. 💖❤️💓💝🌹🌷💗

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I would love to visit this place too, and I am a mixture of both. To relax at the resort (but will be too expensive for me) as well as staying close to where the people are, to connect and to learn from them. Have a great holiday, Denise. I know you are away, but putting here the link of my #marketfriday this round to a badminton racquet shop. 😁💯 See you soon.

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