Gros Islet | |
|---|---|
District | |
) Pigeon Island National Park | |
) The District of Gros Islet, with the town marked in red | |
| Coordinates: 14°04′N 60°56′W / 14.067°N 60.933°W | |
| Country | St. Lucia |
Gros Islet is the newest town in Saint Lucia, having been promoted a village to a town in 1985. It is the location of the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium where both One Day International and Test Cricket is played. Parts of the 2007 Cricket World Cup and 2010 ICC World Twenty20 were played there. It is the administrative centre of the Gros Island District, a region of Saint Lucia which includes the island's northernmost point, Cap Point and the notable Cap Estate, where the renowned St. Lucia Golf and Country Club is located.
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It lies north of Castries, the capital of Saint Lucia, and features the Friday Night Street Party as its major tourist attraction. Also known as the jump-up, the Friday Night Street Party encompasses several blocks, which are informally cordoned off with the stalls of street vendors. Steamed fish, barbecue chicken and St. Lucia's own Piton beer can be purchased from these vendors. Locals and tourist both dance in a central cross section in the small streets to the sounds of calypso, zouk, reggae and R&B.[1]
The Rodney Bay area further south differs greatly from the small, makeshift housing littering most of the town of Gros-Islet. Catering mostly to the tourism populace, the areas surrounding the marina contain shops, malls, restaurants and night clubs that fall on the higher end of the spectrum compared to other local enterprises. Land development costs in Rodney Bay are extremely high. The exclusive beach front properties have almost all been purchased by small and large hoteliers, and restaurateurs, frustrating locals who continually see access to the public beaches being blocked by large construction projects.[2] The historic Pigeon Island is a popular place for tourists because of it peacefulness and wildlife. A man-made causeway connects it to the mainland.
References
- ^ Mawer, Fred (2016-02-05). "Where to drink in St Lucia, from swish bars to street parties". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
- ^ HOLAHAN, DAVID. "Visiting St. Lucia: This alluring Windward Island is called the 'most fought-over place on Earth'". courant.com. Retrieved 2020-08-03.