Greetings from the warm and lovely port of Castries, St. Lucia.  Most tourists come here to get “Castrated,” which in this case, means a relaxed Caribbean feeling.  (I hope!)  We arrived in port at 8:00 a.m., and the weather was perfect… Sunny and 83 degrees.  St. Lucia is a sovereign nation, but still part of the Commonwealth of England.  I suppose its most famous landmark would be the breathtaking mountain peaks on the west coast.  (Locally, these are known as the Gros and Petit Pitons, which are the rocky peaks that soar over a pristine beach.)

Being the insipid, I mean, intrepid explorers that we are, we hopped aboard a small motor boat and drove up the west coast, searching for the island’s most idyllic beach.  We actually found several idyllic beaches, and stopped for a marvelous lunch at Soufriere Bay.  After chowing down on some Caribbean rock lobsters, we drove up to the Morne Coubaril Estate, which is a wonderfully restored 17th-century plantation.  The best part about this stop was tasting some of the fiery Creole hot sauces produced on the grounds.  (Well, not really on the ground.  They now use tables.)

Next stop was Landera Resort, where our catamaran dropped anchor and we got to do some snorkeling.  Most of the water surrounding St. Lucia is clear, warm. and turquoise.  Perfect for swimming, snorkeling, or scuba diving.  Some of our shipmates opted to go whale watching, which had nothing to do with the women on the Carnival Ship parked next to us.  These were the gentle giants that live in the area, which include pilot whales, sperm whales (no jokes, please!) and humpbacks.  They also have a large population of dolphins, which you might want to see on porpoise.  Just saying.

To be perfectly honest, St. Lucia is all about the water.  Marigot Bay, where most ships stop, is somewhat developed but still very “touristy.”  If you visit, I suggest you hop on a boat and putter around the island.  You can also make a stop at the iconic Pitons, if mountains are your thing.  Next week we will be “broadcasting” from a very special place…  Bridgetown, Barbados.

So what else is new?  Well, as many of you know, the newest “Adam Gold Mystery” is now available throughout the North American continent and in most Central and South American countries.  The book is titled, CAPONE ISLAND, and so far, sales have been exceptional.  (Except in Venezuela.)  If you’re an Adam Gold fan, and let’s face it, who isn’t, then you will absolutely adore this new tale.  You can order a copy from Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Kindle, Nook, and leading bookstores across the fruited plain.  (You can still order a book if your plain has no fruit.)

****SPECIAL BLOG FOLLOWER OFFER:   If you order a copy of CAPONE ISLAND and leave a nice review on Amazon I will send you a complimentary, autographed copy of the book!    (So what are you waiting for?)

Well, what else is new?  I spent a marvelous afternoon in Wimberley, Texas, last week.  My destination was Jacob’s Well Natural Area, which features one of the deepest underwater cave systems in the state.  The main shaft plunges down 137 feet, which is quite a drop.  (At least 8 people have died while trying to explore the underground network.)  Risk-takers like to climb up a cliff and jump down into a 12-foot gap, but my life insurance policy prohibited me from taking the plunge.  If you’re anxious to get the shaft, the entry fee is $9.00 for adults.

I would normally write another paragraph or two, but I am about to be interviewed by a Florida radio station.  (Our pre-recorded conversation will be broadcast next month.)  I will post the dates and details when they become available.  We will be chatting about CAPONE ISLAND, which I visited last week during a stop in Boca Raton.  If you would like to see what the island actually looks like, just “Google” a place called, Deerfield Island State Park.  (The name that the state has given the island)  I was the only person on the island, and to be honest, I would not like to be there after dark.  (Too many snakes and gators!)

Well, dear friends, have a safe and superlative week, and we shall meet again in the not-too-distant future.  Love to all,

Doc Yanoff