The Forum, The Island.....

[didier]

As most of you know, I rarely post anymore. I do lurk from time to time. The forum was started by Kara Brooks many years ago as a help column for folks new to the island . Then I believe wimco bought the forum and there have been very few mods. Tim was one of the first, then John , Dennis & Kevin. All have done a great job with no pay. Just a need for loving the island and wanting to help. I have been on this site since 2004.

I will most likely not post again unless there is a race to enter etc. I believe all the good info is already on here about the island, all that is left is get togethers and trip reports.

St. Barth's as I have found it listed below:

1. some children still walk to school alone here, as its safe here, not many places left in the world where children can do this.
2. we still have many hitchhikers....everyone gets a ride, its safe.
3. still a few mom & pop grocery stores that allow you to charge from month to month.
4. the hardware stores also allow their customers a charge account that is due at the end of the month.....something not done in the states since the 60's
5. I walk on the beach every morning, and yes there are a few without seaweed its amazing
6. every sunday I go snorkeling at shell beach, no seaweed there.
7. I don't lock my car while shopping, its safe here.
8. I love that there are so many chickens and roosters that are free range on the island. when I go on the walkway at the pond in st. jean, they are everywhere.
9. I love when someone sees a turtle on the road, traffic is stopped till someone picks up the turtle and places it out of harms way. no one blows their horn.
10. People sometimes stop their cars in the middle of traffic because they see a friend in another car...they stop for a minute, no one blows their horn, its normal here.
11. if I need to see a doctor, its 35 euros. if its overnight in the hospital, its around 1000 euros including all supplies and the doctor. it would be free if I were french.

I could keep listing but my beach buddy is waiting for me and I have to go. This island is far from perfect, but close enough for me. And wouldn't perfection just be boring anyway.

I may post again in about five years or so. wishing everyone a great day.....and hope your island vibes are good ones!

 

[le_reve]

Perfectly said, Diana! Thank you!

 

[bkeats]

Have missed your posts. Looking forward to the next in 2030.

 

[cec1]

As most of you know, I rarely post anymore. I do lurk from time to time. The forum was started by Kara Brooks many years ago as a help column for folks new to the island . Then I believe wimco bought the forum and there have been very few mods. Tim was one of the first, then John , Dennis & Kevin. All have done a great job with no pay. Just a need for loving the island and wanting to help. I have been on this site since 2004.

I will most likely not post again unless there is a race to enter etc. I believe all the good info is already on here about the island, all that is left is get togethers and trip reports.

St. Barth's as I have found it listed below:

1. some children still walk to school alone here, as its safe here, not many places left in the world where children can do this.
2. we still have many hitchhikers....everyone gets a ride, its safe.
3. still a few mom & pop grocery stores that allow you to charge from month to month.
4. the hardware stores also allow their customers a charge account that is due at the end of the month.....something not done in the states since the 60's
5. I walk on the beach every morning, and yes there are a few without seaweed its amazing
6. every sunday I go snorkeling at shell beach, no seaweed there.
7. I don't lock my car while shopping, its safe here.
8. I love that there are so many chickens and roosters that are free range on the island. when I go on the walkway at the pond in st. jean, they are everywhere.
9. I love when someone sees a turtle on the road, traffic is stopped till someone picks up the turtle and places it out of harms way. no one blows their horn.
10. People sometimes stop their cars in the middle of traffic because they see a friend in another car...they stop for a minute, no one blows their horn, its normal here.
11. if I need to see a doctor, its 35 euros. if its overnight in the hospital, its around 1000 euros including all supplies and the doctor. it would be free if I were french.

I could keep listing but my beach buddy is waiting for me and I have to go. This island is far from perfect, but close enough for me. And wouldn't perfection just be boring anyway.

I may post again in about five years or so. wishing everyone a great day.....and hope your island vibes are good ones!

Lovely message, Diana! Wendy says Hi . . . hopes to see you in November!

 

[episcopal405]

Your post is exactly why we continue to come to SBH - First came in 1990 and have made every year since - thanks for posting what makes SBH special.

 

[Août]

WE NEED MORE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES THAT LOOK AT LIFE AND THIS UNBELIEVABLY BEAUTIFUL ISLAND LIKE YOU DO!
Thank you…

 

[Août]

WE NEED MORE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES THAT LOOK AT LIFE AND THIS UNBELIEVABLY BEAUTIFUL ISLAND LIKE YOU DO!
Thank you…

Oops I meant WE do!!

 

[Août]

Oops I meant WE do!!

I used to teach first grade and inevitably there was always one little guy in my class, (of actually many little not ready yet for school children) who was always naughty.
He would be confrontational, obstructive and just a plain a little rebel disturber..(and actually usually pretty cute)
It did not take long to realize this little child had discovered negative attention was always better than well, no attention!m.

Alex…I wish you would find somewhere where you might be happy whereby by you will not have to gather attention by being so negative…but obviously it’s not in St Barths where so many on this wonderful forum love this island more that you can find fault with it!

 

[Cwater]

As most of you know, I rarely post anymore. I do lurk from time to time. The forum was started by Kara Brooks many years ago as a help column for folks new to the island . Then I believe wimco bought the forum and there have been very few mods. Tim was one of the first, then John , Dennis & Kevin. All have done a great job with no pay. Just a need for loving the island and wanting to help. I have been on this site since 2004.

I will most likely not post again unless there is a race to enter etc. I believe all the good info is already on here about the island, all that is left is get togethers and trip reports.

St. Barth's as I have found it listed below:

1. some children still walk to school alone here, as its safe here, not many places left in the world where children can do this.
2. we still have many hitchhikers....everyone gets a ride, its safe.
3. still a few mom & pop grocery stores that allow you to charge from month to month.
4. the hardware stores also allow their customers a charge account that is due at the end of the month.....something not done in the states since the 60's
5. I walk on the beach every morning, and yes there are a few without seaweed its amazing
6. every sunday I go snorkeling at shell beach, no seaweed there.
7. I don't lock my car while shopping, its safe here.
8. I love that there are so many chickens and roosters that are free range on the island. when I go on the walkway at the pond in st. jean, they are everywhere.
9. I love when someone sees a turtle on the road, traffic is stopped till someone picks up the turtle and places it out of harms way. no one blows their horn.
10. People sometimes stop their cars in the middle of traffic because they see a friend in another car...they stop for a minute, no one blows their horn, its normal here.
11. if I need to see a doctor, its 35 euros. if its overnight in the hospital, its around 1000 euros including all supplies and the doctor. it would be free if I were french.

I could keep listing but my beach buddy is waiting for me and I have to go. This island is far from perfect, but close enough for me. And wouldn't perfection just be boring anyway.

I may post again in about five years or so. wishing everyone a great day.....and hope your island vibes are good ones!

Thank you for the reminder of the reality of my favorite happy place. I choose to ignore the Alexes of the world. They have their opinion that is only important if we give it importance.

 

[Bart -my real name-]

Alex…I wish you would find somewhere where you might be happy whereby by you will not have to gather attention by being so negative…but obviously it’s not in St Barths where so many on this wonderful forum love this island more that you can find fault with it!

But were his posts "negative" or were they just highlighting some of the problems that make the island less enjoyable than it was 5 or 10 years ago? Sure he didn't rave about the beautiful weather or the sunsets or the food, but the news doesn't report all the planes that land safely or the building that didn't catch fire.

And two things can be true at the same time: St. Barts is the best island around for food and beauty and the vibe, but it can also be over crowded and less pleasant than it was some years ago.

Shouting down or banning Alex (yikes) isn't going make the ack-ack machines go away or traffic to clear up, but discussing the problem and getting a movement started might.

 

[andynap]

But were his posts "negative" or were they just highlighting some of the problems that make the island less enjoyable than it was 5 or 10 years ago? Sure he didn't rave about the beautiful weather or the sunsets or the food, but the news doesn't report all the planes that land safely or the building that didn't catch fire.

And two things can be true at the same time: St. Barts is the best island around for food and beauty and the vibe, but it can also be over crowded and less pleasant than it was some years ago.

Shouting down or banning Alex (yikes) isn't going make the ack-ack machines go away or traffic to clear up, but discussing the problem and getting a movement started might.

Right on Bart. There are so many negative threads that no one complains about:
1. Tipping thread- can it be more negative?
2. Sargassum
3. Fav restaurants closing
4. Construction
5. New traffic circles
6. Traffic in general
And so on.
And I can appreciate Diana, Rosita and Dennis posts but there’s a big difference between living there or owning a rental villa and visiting for 1 week.
Banning negative posts or the poster is just putting your head in the sand.

 

[cassidain]

5. New traffic circles

A real hot button issue if there ever was one

 

[JEK]

7. Cheese on fish

 

[cassidain]

8. Italian restaurants on St-Barth

 

[JEK]

9. Columbier (sic)

 

[bski]

I never post but always lurk and have only been to the Island 4 times. My grandparents owned villas in the 90s and early 2000's (allegedly the good old days) We just returned 3 weeks ago after a 10 year Hiatus. We were apprehensive about going because of all of the negative things we have seen written about change. We have only been there in the low season so this viewpoint is through that lens. Here is our assessment after our visit. Overall nothing has really changed since our last visit and to us, the feel of the island has changed much since our first visit in 2005. The island is still full of charm and is second to none, that we have been to at least. The roads are significantly busier and yes there are new villas etc... but name a place, especially as place as special as St Barts, that has not become busier. We have been traveling to Naples Florida for many many years and we used to drive through farms and farm stands to get to town. I used to go to the mom and pop hardware store where it is now a busy luxury shopping area. It is unrecognizeable now compared to the early days! Any place worth visiting is going to change otherwise it wouldn't be worth visiting.

Nearly every person we talked to that lived on the island asked us the same question when they learned we had not been there in 10 years. The question was, how do you think it has changed? It was surprising honestly and the residents definately seem aware. We would tell them, yes we notice changes but not as much as you may think. The most noticeable changes for us were very positive. The first being the roads are significantly improved. I cant really see how that is a negative in any situation. The other big change we were aware of, and it may sound silly, but the grocery stores are way better than before. Construction is obviously going on everywhere, but as I said before, name a place worth going to where this is not the case. The St Barts of 30 years ago was also a huge change compared to the St Barts with a grass runway and an open air building! The point is, nothing will stay the same and you cannot press the pause button on your perfect time because for someone else that perfect time was too much progress for them! To me it is kind of like looking back at old pictures of my kids and it warms my heart, but the reality is those days were just as difficult as today and I probably complained more then than I do now!!! But, we naturally only remember the good times and wish for those to return. In 20 years many will be longing for the island to return to what it is today.

 

[Beachcomber]

7. Cheese on fish

Parmesan crusted Halibut?

 

[cassidain]

Parmesan crusted Halibut?

Not in AndyWorld

 

[Amery]

I never post but always lurk and have only been to the Island 4 times. My grandparents owned villas in the 90s and early 2000's (allegedly the good old days) We just returned 3 weeks ago after a 10 year Hiatus. We were apprehensive about going because of all of the negative things we have seen written about change. We have only been there in the low season so this viewpoint is through that lens. Here is our assessment after our visit. Overall nothing has really changed since our last visit and to us, the feel of the island has changed much since our first visit in 2005. The island is still full of charm and is second to none, that we have been to at least. The roads are significantly busier and yes there are new villas etc... but name a place, especially as place as special as St Barts, that has not become busier. We have been traveling to Naples Florida for many many years and we used to drive through farms and farm stands to get to town. I used to go to the mom and pop hardware store where it is now a busy luxury shopping area. It is unrecognizeable now compared to the early days! Any place worth visiting is going to change otherwise it wouldn't be worth visiting.

Nearly every person we talked to that lived on the island asked us the same question when they learned we had not been there in 10 years. The question was, how do you think it has changed? It was surprising honestly and the residents definately seem aware. We would tell them, yes we notice changes but not as much as you may think. The most noticeable changes for us were very positive. The first being the roads are significantly improved. I cant really see how that is a negative in any situation. The other big change we were aware of, and it may sound silly, but the grocery stores are way better than before. Construction is obviously going on everywhere, but as I said before, name a place worth going to where this is not the case. The St Barts of 30 years ago was also a huge change compared to the St Barts with a grass runway and an open air building! The point is, nothing will stay the same and you cannot press the pause button on your perfect time because for someone else that perfect time was too much progress for them! To me it is kind of like looking back at old pictures of my kids and it warms my heart, but the reality is those days were just as difficult as today and I probably complained more then than I do now!!! But, we naturally only remember the good times and wish for those to return. In 20 years many will be longing for the island to return to what it is today.

Thank you for this summary, very well said! Your mention of Naples made me smile as my parents retired there in the '80s. Every few years--as Naples became more and more developed--my dad used to threaten to move further inland "into the swamp" to avoid the crowds! And that was 20 and 30 years ago. Fortunately they enjoyed many happy years and stayed until 2012.
Yes, most places worth visiting have become busier and continue to change. I think a significant factor, especially with regard to St Barth, is the balance of development vs nature as obviously the natural beauty of the island is something we collectively cherish. I hope discussions on this topic can remain cordial and productive.

 

[bkeats]

7. Cheese on fish

So not a fan of shrimp parm? During Lent in NY, seems like that becomes the go to Friday lunch for a lot of people. Shrimp saganaki, McDonald filet o fish, lobster mac and cheese, a rule often observed in the breaching.