between the waters of the Atlantic Ocean

猶如漂浮在大西洋和

and the Caribbean Sea is the island nation of St Lucia.

加勒比海之間的 翡翠淚珠

At 27-miles long and 14-miles wide,

長 43 公里、寬 23 公里

it’s one of the second largest of the Windward Islands.

這座島國是向風群島中 第二大島

Named in honour of St Lucy of Syracuse

之前的法國殖民者

by early French colonists,

為了紀念錫拉丘茲的聖露西而命名

you may be surprised to learn

您也許會驚訝地發現

that this is the only country on the planet named after a woman.

這是全世界唯一 以女子之名命名的國家

But then again,

話雖如此

it will all make perfect sense

一旦您感受到

once you feel the warm embrace of St Lucia’s beaches,

聖露西亞的海灘、森林 與山脈的溫暖擁抱

forests and mountains.

您就能瞭解箇中的道理

St. Lucia has long been a place of shelter:

聖露西亞長久以來就像個避風港

her surrounding maze of hidden coves

四周圍繞著隱藏的小海灣

and bays providing safe harbours throughout the ages.

和港灣交錯座落 古往今來都是安全的海港

For centuries the original

幾個世紀以來

Arawaks and Caribs made their homes around the island's northern bays,

阿拉瓦克人和加勒比人 在島嶼北部的海灣四周建立了家園

In the 1550s, the notorious buccaneer,

1550 年代，惡名昭彰的海盜

Peg Leg Le Clerc, became the first European to settle here.

獨腳勒克萊爾 成為第一個定居於此的歐洲人

From his hilltop hideaway on Pigeon Island,

他和他的海盜夥伴

he and his fellow swashbucklers

會從鴿子島小山頂的隱匿處

would swoop on passing Spanish galleons.

突襲經過的西班牙帆船

After the pirates came the plantations,

海盜入侵後，隨之而來一個個的莊園

and the bittersweet years of sugar and slavery.

開啟了苦樂參半的製糖與奴隸制度年代

Between the 17th and 19th centuries,

在 17 至 19 世紀期間

St Lucia was pulled back and forth fourteen times

聖露西亞在英法兩國間

between the French and British,

來回被佔領 14 次

before finally gaining her independence in 1979.

直到 1979 年終於獲得獨立

While the British brought their rule of law,

當時英國人引入了自己的法律

the French blessed the island with a sense of style

法國人則以生活方式 加以薰陶

that mixed perfectly with the Carib and African cultures.

並完美融合 加勒比和非洲的文化

For, just like a woman, St Lucia has always been a place of creation.

聖露西亞宛如女性 向來是個創造之地

Right in the heart of the capital, Castries,

在首都卡斯翠巿中心的大廣場

the main square pays tribute to two of the island’s Nobel Prize winning sons.

是用來向兩位來自該島嶼的 諾貝爾得主表示致敬

Relax in the shade of the 400 year-old monkey pod tree,

在 400 年樹齡的豆雨樹蔭下 舒緩身心

and take in the soft pastels of the surrounding streets.

欣賞宛如粉蠟筆畫般 柔和的四周街道

Just across from the park, visit the basilica,

公園正對面 就是巴西利卡教堂

filled with murals that blend the colours and traditions of Africa,

教堂內部佈滿融合了 非洲、加勒比

the Caribbean and the West.

和西方色彩與傳統的壁畫

At the Central Market,

走進中央巿場

taste the fruits of this island’s rich, volcanic soil.

品嘗以此島嶼肥沃火山土壤 栽種的鮮甜水果

Enjoy some real St Lucian home cooking.

享用一些道地的聖露西亞家鄉料理

Then spend some time seeing crafts,

接著安排一些時間欣賞

lovingly made by local hands.

漂亮的當地手工藝品

An easy mile to the south,

往南不遠處

the creation story continues,

在尤多維克的藝術工坊

at Eudovik’s Art Studio.

充滿創意的故事正等待您發掘

Watch as master carvers transform tree roots

欣賞雕刻大師

from deep in the forest into sensual works of art,

將來自森林深處的樹根 化身成感官藝術之作

a true collaboration between Mother Nature and man.

這是大自然和人類合作的 最佳寫照

On the south-west coast,

在西南海岸上

the town of Soufriere is cradled by some of the island’s greatest natural treasures.

蘇弗里耶爾鎮擁有一些這座島嶼中 最美好的天然寶藏

There’s a relaxed style here too,

沿著這個寂靜法國殖民城鎮的海濱和街道

along the waterfront and streets of this sleepy French colonial town.

一樣能享受 悠閑時光

St Lucia, is a place that can take your breath away,

聖露西亞是一個令人屏息的觀光勝地

and breathe new life into your soul.

並為您的靈魂注入全新活力

Which is why the island is a favourite with honeymooners and lovers of all ages.

這就是為何這座島嶼 會如此深受各個年齡層新婚夫妻與情侶喜愛

Take a short boat ride from Soufriere

從蘇弗里耶爾鎮搭船前往

to one of the island’s finest resort beaches, Anse Chastanet.

島嶼最棒的渡假海灘之一 安斯沙塔內

Stay right by the sands,

駐足在溫暖的

which are caressed by the warm Caribbean Ocean.

加勒比海輕撫著的海灘旁

Or stay high on the hill,

或登上小山頂

where the islands iconic peaks of Petit and Gros Piton feel so close,

在此眺望，島上的兩座地標 大小筆筒山彷彿近在咫尺

you can almost reach out and touch them.

幾乎一觸可及

Nestled between these two volcanic spires,

在這兩座火山峰之間

is one of the west coast’s most secluded hideaways.

是西海岸最隱密的 世外桃源之一

At Sugar Beach, fine sands,

蜜糖海灘有細緻的沙灘

crystal waters and some of the island’s sweetest views await.

清澈的海水，以及一些 島嶼中最賞心悅目的景緻等您到訪

St Lucia is a place of rejuvenation too.

聖露西亞也是能讓您重拾活力的地方

Not far from Soufriere,

離蘇弗里耶爾鎮不遠

take a soak at Sulphur Springs

可以泡泡硫磺溫泉

and coat your body in healing mud that comes from deep within the Earth.

為身體敷上來自地表深層的 護膚泥

When it’s time to cool down,

想要沉澱心靈時

take the Tet Paul Nature Trail, into the high country.

經由泰特保羅天然山道 進入山區

From here, look down upon an island of possibilities,

從這裡俯瞰而下，將這座充滿無窮可能的 島嶼盡收眼底

for this is a place of endless mystery too.

這裡也是一個充滿 無限神祕的地方

Shelter,

庇護避風

creativity,

藝術創作

beauty,

明媚風光

rejuvenation

重拾活力

and mystery;

以及充滿神袐

these are the things that make this island

就是這些特色讓這座島嶼

so easy to love.

能輕易擄獲人心

So come and feel the embrace of one of the world's greatest islands:

來吧！感受一下世界上 最令人嚮往的島嶼之一

St Lucia.

聖露西亞