How many people on this site remember the early times on St.Barts.
- Thread starter Hawke
- Start date
shihadehs
Senior Insider
Our first year was also the opening year of Manapany. Stayed there for a few days after a business trip to St. Croix. That was it for us. After that we were villa people. Never stopped going except for Covid
Our first car was a gurgel. Our first favorite restaurants were Select and lunch at Tamarin. We would hike to Columbier with a cooler of Heineken and our Ban de Soleil and fry on the beach all day. The island has changed, more of a corporate feel in lots of places which we stay away from. We still know how to find our go to spots that remind us of why we fell in love with the island. It’s still there.
Our first car was a gurgel. Our first favorite restaurants were Select and lunch at Tamarin. We would hike to Columbier with a cooler of Heineken and our Ban de Soleil and fry on the beach all day. The island has changed, more of a corporate feel in lots of places which we stay away from. We still know how to find our go to spots that remind us of why we fell in love with the island. It’s still there.
Great comment. I agree 100%!
Cwater
Senior Insider
totally agree with how to find our go to spots that remind us of why we fell in love with the island. Perfect
mattdinzey
SBH Member
A Gurgel!! I remember taking out the rubber plugs in the floor and washing out the sand with a bucket of water!! Favorite spot for people watching? Select! One of our favorite lunches was at Santa Fe after a morning on the beach at Gouverneur. My Mom was shocked at the price... "25 Euros for a SANDWICH???" I reminded her that it was a sandwich on St. Barths, overlooking Gouverneur and the Sea...
+1!
I first landed in St Barts from St Marten via Winair in 1982. Everybody rushed off the plane, jumped in their cars and left quickly. I stood there with my sea bag and my passport dutifully in hand. NO customs. NO immigration were there. Completely closed up little shack of an office was all I saw. And a small, empty parking lot.
I walked up to the ridge and hitched a ride in to Gustavia. I bought my first sailboat that day, a 37' Gaff Rigged Yawl. SB was my home for over four years. With many trips to St Marten, BVI, and down South to Bequia(Sail Week/Bequia Regatta). I taught diving occasionally. Gave PADI Certifications.
The French Franc went to TEN fricking francs to the US Dollar under Reaganomics. Americans drank Loius Rodier Pink Champagne for lunch...$11 per bottle under the new exchange rate.
Anybody remember La Trinquet? It was a place right on the water in Gustavia where I had (INEXPENSIVE back then!) breakfast every morning in 1982 BEFORE they tore it down and built the town wharf.
I got tired of rowing my tiny dory, so I eventually got a new 12' Zodiac and a new Evinrude 15hp 2 stroke. That combo was plenty fast and (mostly) dry. It got stolen at a huge party on a power boat. Tender theft is like cattle rustling. People were killed over stuff like that. I never found mine. I had to dig deep and buy another one. With thick wire and a huge lock.
I walked up to the ridge and hitched a ride in to Gustavia. I bought my first sailboat that day, a 37' Gaff Rigged Yawl. SB was my home for over four years. With many trips to St Marten, BVI, and down South to Bequia(Sail Week/Bequia Regatta). I taught diving occasionally. Gave PADI Certifications.
The French Franc went to TEN fricking francs to the US Dollar under Reaganomics. Americans drank Loius Rodier Pink Champagne for lunch...$11 per bottle under the new exchange rate.
Anybody remember La Trinquet? It was a place right on the water in Gustavia where I had (INEXPENSIVE back then!) breakfast every morning in 1982 BEFORE they tore it down and built the town wharf.
I got tired of rowing my tiny dory, so I eventually got a new 12' Zodiac and a new Evinrude 15hp 2 stroke. That combo was plenty fast and (mostly) dry. It got stolen at a huge party on a power boat. Tender theft is like cattle rustling. People were killed over stuff like that. I never found mine. I had to dig deep and buy another one. With thick wire and a huge lock.
amyb
Senior Insider
Fun playing DO YOU REMEMBER?
There sure have been marvelous dining experiences during our visits here since 1993. Our very first dinner, our anniversary, was Francois Plantation. Just sayin’ that was sure a hard one to beat!
KevinS
Senior Insider
I never ate there. My recollection is for three different names at about the same location, where Eden Rock's operations are, across the street from the former Filao hotel (now various ER suites). The names that I remember are L'Enverse, Topolino, and Cups.
Cwater
Senior Insider
yes Cheryl & I would walk across the street from Filao. She loved that they had hooks for her purse.
