Living in a Luxury Treehouse in the Caribbean...For Free
By Yvonne Bauche
By Yvonne Bauche
As
a kid, I wanted to live in a treehouse, just like Tarzan and Jane's.
Wet, gray winters and a treeless backyard made it merely a childish
fantasy. But that half-forgotten memory returned the first time my
husband Michael and I stepped on to the huge wooden deck of our
temporary home on the island of St. Lucia.
Perched
high on a cliff side, the entire front of the house has an
uninterrupted view of the sparkling Caribbean below. Large trees give
dappled shade on either side, and with the creak of the deck underfoot
and the gentle breeze, it feels just like being in a treehouse.
This
one comes with all the comforts of home. The huge deck is furnished
with comfortable wicker seating and a solid wooden dining table is our
living and eating area. And with a stove and refrigerator outside, it's
also our kitchen.
Our
bedroom, although officially inside the house, easily becomes part of
this open-plan living, thanks to its folding doors. With the entire
front open, we step straight out onto our treetop deck. The deep shade
and commanding view make it the perfect place to enjoy our morning
coffee with mango and bananas from the garden.
Built
with the environment in mind, using natural materials wherever
possible, the house collects and uses what nature provides. St Lucia's
lushness is testimony to the plentiful supply of rainwater.
At
the bottom of the quirky and artistic garden is our private "room with a
view." Screened by thick bamboo poles on three sides, the ocean-view
shower, complete with sun-warmed water is a delight. And, it's a great
spot to watch the fishermen laughing and joking as they haul in their
nets far below us.
The
big covered deck is the perfect spot to enjoy our nightly show. The
sunsets are often spectacular, yet all different. Some are fiery reds
and oranges as the blazing orb drops into the sea, others are more
subtle purple and pink pastel versions, other nights we watch storm
clouds boil far out to sea.
These
are just the start of our evening entertainment. With dusk come the
bats, they flit just at the edge of vision, so fast that by the time you
see them they are gone. Not the fireflies though, they twinkle like
fairy lights as they drift from tree to tree. With no streetlights and
no light pollution, there is nothing to spoil the full glory of nature's
celestial show.
Just
minutes from a bustling bay, you would have trouble finding our
tree-shrouded retreat. No foot traffic or vehicles go by; it is just the
sea, Mother Nature, and us.
Shortly
after night descends, we are lulled to sleep by the ocean and the
symphony of a thousand tiny frogs. We wake to the buzz of bees in the
flowering tree by our deck. As the sun rises, jewel-capped hummingbirds
replace the bees. So focused on the blossoms are these tiny birds they
come close enough to touch.
Although
we have lived in many places around the world, none of them has been
like this. It is a rare opportunity to fulfill a childhood dream and
experience life in a treehouse.
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