This time is a Goodbye and not an Arrivederci.

[andynap]

I thought bashing this and that about the island is in the DNA of the Forum. Always has been from even before Kara.

If someone can’t tell the truth, the forum is useless.

 

[Risa]

I've read through this thread as it continues to be debated, and questioned myself which each response. The closing of Baz Bar hit me badly when it happened, I cried real tears over that, which surprised me, with all of this awfulness in the world that is happening, why I felt so sad over that, I guess because of change.... On my recent visit, Dominique at the pharmacy in St Jean told me she was retiring. That also made me feel very sad, she's been my go-to for I don't know how long. But as long as we continue to age, change is inevitable.

Change is a fact of life. This conversation could have taken place about almost any locale - frankly, I feel worse about the changes in the Hamptons more than St Barth, maybe because it's closer and I went far more often. Now, I rarely go "in season," I'm much more likely to visit off season. The same possibility is available for St Barth, go in the off season. Or go and avoid the beach clubs and thump thump restaurants, it's do-able. Or don't go there any more, the world is a big place. (If I didn't keep returning to St Barth, then my passport would be far more interesting than it is now.)

I love so much how the locals have fought off development of Saline. As long as there is a Saline, I will continue to go to St Barth. That's what works for me. To each their own.

 

[cassidain]

I thought bashing this and that about the island is in the DNA of the Forum. Always has been from even before Kara.

Quite so. Notably including the dismissive island designation as "French Light" and no longer worth the bother

 

[dadto6]

If it makes you happy bash away. Moderators have that prerogative. I can choose to just not read.
I travel to the island enough that I can see for myself rather quickly the changes. Some that post have not been to the island is some time and do not see changes firsthand. YMMV

 

[didier]

If someone can’t tell the truth, the forum is useless.

Truth is rarely pure and never simple....

I don't mind the bashing so much, however with this thread, the bash & dash, if you are gonna leave and never come back, then leave. no need to vent the reasons why you leave, to what end? and we say "au revoir "here not "arrivederci" for goodbye. its a french island.

kinda like a spouse who has been with someone for over 30 years and then trashes the spouse when leaving, forgetting that the spouse gave them many many years of wonderful memories.

 

[Beachcomber]

I've read through this thread as it continues to be debated, and questioned myself which each response. The closing of Baz Bar hit me badly when it happened, I cried real tears over that, which surprised me, with all of this awfulness in the world that is happening, why I felt so sad over that, I guess because of change.... On my recent visit, Dominique at the pharmacy in St Jean told me she was retiring. That also made me feel very sad, she's been my go-to for I don't know how long. But as long as we continue to age, change is inevitable.

Change is a fact of life. This conversation could have taken place about almost any locale - frankly, I feel worse about the changes in the Hamptons more than St Barth, maybe because it's closer and I went far more often. Now, I rarely go "in season," I'm much more likely to visit off season. The same possibility is available for St Barth, go in the off season. Or go and avoid the beach clubs and thump thump restaurants, it's do-able. Or don't go there any more, the world is a big place. (If I didn't keep returning to St Barth, then my passport would be far more interesting than it is now.)

I love so much how the locals have fought off development of Saline. As long as there is a Saline, I will continue to go to St Barth. That's what works for me. To each their own.

Exactly. I Love Saline and will return to SBH for that reason alone. When I am in Terre Basses I’ll fly over on SBC because I love the plane ride, stay at Salines Garden for 3 days, and dine right on campus. Robinson Caruso with restaurants! I’m not even going to rent a car because I don’t want to be tempted to leave my little corner of paradise. It’s time to get back to basics.

 

[le_reve]

Truth is rarely pure and never simple....

I don't mind the bashing so much, however with this thread, the bash & dash, if you are gonna leave and never come back, then leave. no need to vent the reasons why you leave, to what end? and we say "au revoir "here not "arrivederci" for goodbye. its a french island.

kinda like a spouse who has been with someone for over 30 years and then trashes the spouse when leaving, forgetting that the spouse gave them many many years of wonderful memories.

Bash & Dash... ha. Or, my favorite line, "This is not an airport lounge, there is no need to announce your departure."

 

[JEK]

On the Bash and Dash - there are tens and tens of thousands of registrations on the Forum many one or two post wonders. From time to time real good is done herein. Rescues arranged. Marriages saved, or so it is said. And during the pandemic and several hurricanes support offered to the Saint Barth and the casual traveler.

 

[hydraaa]

My soon to be ex- son-in-law has a Amex Black card. Fee is $10,000 a year and you must charge/spend $1M per year. INSANE

Is that really true on the Black Card? I used to have one...gave it up 5 years ago...just didn't need it...if that's what it is now...you are right...Not INSANE, but ASSININE...I would worry about that son in law...I can afford one now still...and I still wouldn't get it again...

 

[amyb]

Bash & Dash... ha. Or, my favorite line, "This is not an airport lounge, there is no need to announce your departure."

Great line!

 

[hydraaa]

Great exchange! It also has been interesting to me to see how the topic “has legs.” It clearly comes down to two groups expressing different viewpoints as they arise, I believe, from (a) real acquaintance with the island vs. (b) an overly-simplistic view (without wanting to insult anyone in the latter camp, it might be described as a cosmetic view).

Diana unquestionably speaks as a “local.” Seeing, knowing, & experiencing island glamour . . . while simultaneously embedded in its heritage & values. Intimately tied into island culture . . . connected to it through relationships which are related, socially & in so many other ways, in centuries of tradition, style, & respect for others & the rock that is home.

There are others, such as dadto6, who achieve, by frequency of visits to — & time spent on — the island, a semblance of what Diana knows & describes. An important factor here is a nuance that is rarely achieved by occasional visitors — that is, true personal connections with “locals,” like one has with friends “back home.” Such relationships are difficult to achieve in any community & generally are found only over time and meeting the same people, over & over, in places like the hardware & grocery stores & at Church.

Regular, respectful, recurring — even if only annual — visits to the same restaurants, boulangeries, shops, beaches, & bars go a distance in building local ties. The common goal of diversion in spending time on SBH, however, void of ”real world“ matters, has been crushed for many by disdain of manicured villas, navigating colossal traffic, growing expense related to enjoying the fantasy world of SBH, etc. “Becoming like a living city,” as hydraaa wrote.

As friend Amy has often reminded us, ”Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.”

For anyone with an evolved and centered personality...It was always about the island people, the culture, the vibe...I started coming in 1990...probably came 25 times mostly with family...yes, the food is special...the French culture...but it was always seeing the same locals at the bakery...Sandrine at the Cigar Store...Andy at the Hideaway...Marius at Le Select...Baz Bar...Le Ti, the Wall House...the Lafayette Club...I used to kiss the ground (literally) on the runway upon arrival...I was home...it was magic...my kids thought I was nuts...unfortunately, the magic has come to an end...now just another overpriced resort island...

 

[cassidain]

It's always YMMV
The island has magic galore of different sorts for different folks
Culture, language, beauty of various sorts - including built environment.
Scene, vibe - glam or chic or laid-back.
Escape from winter misery or urban realities or daily ho-hum in secure surroundings.
Kissy-kissy with old favorites or ambivalence to such connections.
The magic is still there . . . for those who know where to look.

 

[Cutiger72]

Bash all you want to, I choose the island as my paradise

 

[JEK]

For a little perspective on "the sky is falling" a couple of articles from the early 70s in Porter Henry's "forum"

 

[LuckyKid]

For a little perspective on "the sky is falling" a couple of articles from the early 70s in Porter Henry's "forum"
View attachment 72559

View attachment 72560

Sky is falling indeed. John, your post from Porter Henry's Les Amis... newsletter triggered some memories for me.
https://www.sbhonline.com/forums/threads/early-st-barth-memory-the-donigers-of-marigot.108504/

 

[shihadehs]

After 40 years we are still going… 5 weeks and the tingle is starting
We love the island and we know where to go…it’s still there for us

 

[amyb]

Ahh, yes! Those SBH tingles. Enjoy!

 

[jvelardo77]

I have said this many times before the island is special and it is unique. My parents brought me here in 1992 after they came alone in 1991. We poured through the Wimco Vendome guide and I picked a 3 bed 3 bath (I wanted my own bathroom) in Petit Saline the house was MOR and then Enfin (now a win torn wreck never repaired after Irma). I was 14 the first year, my brother was 21. Lets just say we had some times over years. Most of which I cannot tell out of decency laws. But lets say a teenage, a moke and lax laws made for some wild times. American Bar in Gustavia with its pool table is how the night always started.

I started fully coming back with my now wife in 2013, then with friends who now go regularly. Now it is my family, 2 kids (5/8) and my inlaws (or as I say my 2 other children. We love it, the airport, the roads, the food, the beaches and best time at the villa swimming and drinking Rose'.

One note is over the years since I was born we have traveled the Caribbean, Anguilla, Petit St Vincent, Mustique, Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, Nevis, and Guano Island (my parents not me). While all of them are unique and have and each have something special they are not St Barths.

 

[bobrosen]

I have said this many times before the island is special and it is unique. My parents brought me here in 1992 after they came alone in 1991. We poured through the Wimco Vendome guide and I picked a 3 bed 3 bath (I wanted my own bathroom) in Petit Saline the house was MOR and then Enfin (now a win torn wreck never repaired after Irma). I was 14 the first year, my brother was 21. Lets just say we had some times over years. Most of which I cannot tell out of decency laws. But lets say a teenage, a moke and lax laws made for some wild times. American Bar in Gustavia with its pool table is how the night always started.

I started fully coming back with my now wife in 2013, then with friends who now go regularly. Now it is my family, 2 kids (5/8) and my inlaws (or as I say my 2 other children. We love it, the airport, the roads, the food, the beaches and best time at the villa swimming and drinking Rose'.

One note is over the years since I was born we have traveled the Caribbean, Anguilla, Petit St Vincent, Mustique, Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, Nevis, and Guano Island (my parents not me). While all of them are unique and have and each have something special they are not St Barths.

Ah, you gave me a moment of both happiness and sadness. We stayed in Villa Enfin some years ago, and we loved it (other than the feeling we were perched on a large rock that might fall into the road to Saline at any moment!) It was the era of The Da Vinci Code, which I read while there. The memory made me happy, but I was sad to hear it had been wrecked by the hurricane (though not surprising, given its location!).

 

[jvelardo77]

Ah, you gave me a moment of both happiness and sadness. We stayed in Villa Enfin some years ago, and we loved it (other than the feeling we were perched on a large rock that might fall into the road to Saline at any moment!) It was the era of The Da Vinci Code, which I read while there. The memory made me happy, but I was sad to hear it had been wrecked by the hurricane (though not surprising, given its location!).

HA! I have a story. Villa Enfin/MOR is at the top of Petit Saline (maybe not the top now but damn close) The road is steep and windy even by St Barths Standards.

One night in the late 90s we as a family in 1 Moke were coming home from a dinner (probably Sapatilier sp?) and the moke just stopped halfway up. My brother is driving, dad in passenger seat and my mom and I in th back. My mom was a very petit woman and my dad looks back as someone suggested we push then he says "I paid for the f'n car I ain't pushing" So while falling down laughing my mom and I got out and pushed.

It is a memory that I will always have and share whenever I can