airport quad cities The zandoli t ground lizard lives only on the two Maria Islands and nearby Preslin Island. Males hav

vice, use of the swimming pool, and a furnished terrace with spectacular views, and one or two bedrooms. Each unit is furnished in a sleek contemporary style, and 14-foot ceilings make every room spacious and airy. The grounds have been landscaped with palms, bougainvillea, and fruit trees. This is a great option for families on a budget, since meals can be prepared at home from fresh fish and produce bought at the Castries Market. If you don t want to cook, dozens of restaurants are a short ride away. The Canadian owners are friendly and always ready to help with booking tours, finding activities, and getting to the beach. Plan to rent a car, since it s a steep climb up Morne Fortun , and there are no sidewalks or shoulders along the roadway.

The zandoli t ground lizard lives only on the two Maria Islands and nearby Preslin Island. Males have a bright blue tail and yellow belly. Females are brown with dark stripes. The kouw s snake lives only on Maria Major. It is green and brown and grows up to three feet long. Another nature reserve is located on the Fr gate Islands. These two rocky chunks of land are named Fr gate Major and Fr gate Minor for the thieving, fork-tailed, airport quad cities jet-black airport quad cities frigate birds that live there. Boa constrictors (light brown and locally known as t te chien) and fer-de-lance (tan with orange, diamond-shaped markings) snakes live in the tall grass on the islands, but they are quite shy and rarely seen. You can t visit the Fr gates themselves, but the National Trust has an interpretive center on St. Lucia s east coast, airport quad cities directly across from the close-in islands. You must be accompanied by a guide on the mile-long walking trail, which loops through lush greenery past a waterfall and mangrove swamp. An observation point provides an excellent view of the islands. Call the National Trust in advance, 758-452-5005, to arrange admittance to the center. The entrance fee of EC$55/US$20 includes a guided walking tour.

Back in Castries proper, seek out Derek Walcott Square on Brazil Street south of the bay. The park is named for one of St. Lucia s two Nobel Prize winners (Sir Arthur airport quad cities Lewis won the prize for Economics in 1979).