I had chosen St. Lucia as the destination for a special trip for my parents' 50th Wedding anniversary. The island sounded like it had the right combination for my family (scuba diving) and tropical splendor for my parents. We frequently travel and our "souveneirs" are often pieces of local art or crafts. Thus, I was especially interested in market at Castries and the apparently fabulous Batik pieces on the Island. I left empty-handed but for the carved coconut bird feeder/water bath that I found to be th emost unique type of art. The market at Castries was filled with typical tourist junk that they must have thought the cruise ship occupants wanted to buy. But when I was there, no one was buying anything. The spices looked like they were 10 years old; the hot sauce was overpriced; the T shirts were typical tourist stuff and most of the vendors jumped on you as soon as you started to look at anything. We traveled to some of the recommended art shops (Fodor's, Frommers) and these were not much better. Dusty baskets, crude wooden bowls showing little artistic talent and batik items that were gaudy and poorly done. A strip mall in Castries had better quality merchandise, but none that would compel you to buy it, cinse it was likely not unique to St. Lucia. All in all a very disappointing place for "fine art".