How many people on this site remember the early times on St.Barts.

[mattdinzey]

My first trip to St. B was in the mid 70s. I was a kid then. My Dad's parents were born on St. Barths so I have a family connection that goes waaay back! We stayed at Flamands hotel... I THINK the rooms were 35 or 40 bucks per night, with breakfast and dinner!

 

[pascaleschmidt]

More cars, different restaurants but still love it! I do miss the old Bretagne feel in Corossol.....

 

[Marty]

We do. First trip was in 1983. Found a working telephone in the Eden Rock kitchen to call Leo and invite him down. He sent me a telegram in reply to the Sibarth office. Met him at the old airport gate a day or so later. Very romantic.

 

[NancySC]

Vaguely remember the phone situation on SBH, but vividly remember on 1 of our trips to Elbow Cay in Abaco, Bahamas, the phone booth there...THE phone booth...the only one!

La Marine yes numerous times, also Le Ti, when open for lunch ? remember walking a couple of steps down, someone in what appeared to be a kitchen & open lengthy window ??? anyone else recall that. And the pizza place before it became The Hideaway ? and New Born with lobster served by beautiful male eyes !

 

[Cwater]

We have been coming here for 40 years.
Our 1st stay was at the long departed st Barts beach hotel.Now the site of le Barthélemy. Our favorite restaurants were Le Flamboyant with Albert Balayn as chef…pre-Gloriette days and Marigot Bay as well. Le Marine in Gustavia was a must go as well.
On our 1st trip, Christie Brinkley was on the beach wearing the Sports Illustrated cover bathing suit . On this trip she met Billy Joel and the rest was (brief) history.
Tamarin was great back then. So many nice people places and things back then that are gone. Still a very wonderful special place. Bonne Anne everyone!
.

Ahh Le Flamboyant was amazing. That little walk up the hill past the tennis court. Enjoyed two wonderful dinners there during honeymoon. Marigot Bay brings back wonderful memories…the lobster.

 

[chiz]

I wore my "sorry no telephones" T-shirt today.....those were the days....no phones....just lost in paradise...

 

[cec1]

I wore my "sorry no telephones" T-shirt today.....those were the days....no phones....just lost in paradise...

Wonderful, chiz! Regrettably, my “sorry no telephone” t-shirts no longer fit me!

 

[Captain]

Another favorite of ours was Cafe au Port in Gustavia. The vacant space is still on the second floor opposite the post office. The owners had a restaurant in Cannes in the summer then relocated to the Cafe in the winter.

At Marigot Bay they had a beautiful waitress who lived in a catamaran on the bay and would row in to work.
Nice owners who had tragic swimming deaths in rough seas near Toiny I think.
The father died trying to rescue his daughter if my memory is accurate. The restaurant was a family business and they could not manage to keep it going after his passing.

 

[amyb]

I have good memories of each of these spots, Captain. Marigot Bay Club a romantic must each trip. Always rubbed the head of the old fisherman carving as I left and made a wish that I would be back.

 

[andynap]

I have good memories of each of these spots, Captain. Marigot Bay Club a romantic must each trip. Always rubbed the head of the old fisherman carving as I left and made a wish that I would be back.

We ate at the Marigot Bay Club after the owner died and his wife was getting out of the business. It was like a funeral sad to say.

 

[TERP37]

Honeymooned in St Barts in 1995 and have been coming back ever since!!-Mini Mokes were everywhere then-most expensive lunch I have ever eaten was at the Layfette Club! Enjoyed Castellets before the hurricane wiped it away-Hideaway/Maya's/Eddys were stops back then -Au Port-Le Gommier-Vincent Adams were also frequented

 

[amyb]

Honeymooned in St Barts in 1995 and have been coming back ever since!!-Mini Mokes were everywhere then-most expensive lunch I have ever eaten was at the Layfette Club! Enjoyed Castellets before the hurricane wiped it away-Hideaway/Maya's/Eddys were stops back then -Au Port-Le Gommier-Vincent Adams were also frequented

Brought back memories of many HAPPY MEALS, St Barths’ style.

 

[Dwnislnd]

Yes, I remember my first landing in St Barts! The immigration and customs was in a VW van. Some things have changed over the last 40 years, but, I still get the warm happy feelings every time we land.

 

[LouiseL]

So much fun reading all the memories from so many. Our first trip to SB was June of 1986 to stay at, what I think I remember at the time, the brand new Manapany. The day before we were leaving, I flew in from NY, and we had made an offer on a house in Atlanta. We still hadn’t gotten a response the next day when we left for Miami, no cell phones of course. We had to overnight there before being able to catch a flight to SXM, no direct flights in those days. We arrived at Manapany, where we had a message from the Real Estate agent that a new buyer had shown interest in the house and did we want to increase our offer. We went to the bar, had a couple of tropical drinks, and then made the call back to the states. My husband and I were both stock traders, so we were familiar with the ploy. NO WAY. Let them have it. Needless to say we’ve lived in that house for the last 36 years. I tell that story all the time when people ask about SB and why we don’t try another Island. We have so many great memories of those early days, why would we go anywhere else. We always talk about going to Tawaina and eating lunch at the picnic tables. Grilled fish, the owners catch of the day, and pommes frites. We came for the next several years, stayed different areas of the Island, discovered so much and then took a 13 year break to travel the world. Since 2008 we are back every year and no matter all the changes, why would we go anywhere else?

 

[amyb]

Louise, Phil and I arrived at that very same conclusion. Our search is ended. We have found our happy place right here.

 

[JEK]

We are just neophytes as our first stay was at the Guanahani - extra credit if you know the date it opened and double extra if you know the conceptual name. KevinS need not try to compete. Anyway we’re are headed back there to see how the facelift worked out for them. I always treasure that loooong drive back from Gustavia at midnight.

 

[amyb]

Our first was Cheval Blanc, then the Isle de France-St Barths Hotel. Instantly fell in love with the island and the hotel first looking through the reception portico.

 

[Bluemoon]

We are getting ready for our 42 nd year. So may great memories of old St Barth. No airport, Mokes, Les Castelets, the Beach Club, Chez Francine on Sundays, Rotisserie in town, Marigot Bay Club, Au Port, Vincent Adam, La Cave for hydroponic tomatoes, The Anglican Church when only 12 of us would be in attendance. It was so peaceful and so safe. You could leave anything in your open car and it would be there when you got back. The island was spotless and driving was sane.
Even with all the changes , it is still our happy place. We’ve made wonderful friendships that have continued off the island for decades.
It’s great fun to read about the early days and using French phone cards hoping that you could figure out exactly how many minutes you had left. ;-)
Happy New Year everyone!

 

[Cwater]

We are getting ready for our 42 nd year. So may great memories of old St Barth. No airport, Mokes, Les Castelets, the Beach Club, Chez Francine on Sundays, Rotisserie in town, Marigot Bay Club, Au Port, Vincent Adam, La Cave for hydroponic tomatoes, The Anglican Church when only 12 of us would be in attendance. It was so peaceful and so safe. You could leave anything in your open car and it would be there when you got back. The island was spotless and driving was sane.
Even with all the changes , it is still our happy place. We’ve made wonderful friendships that have continued off the island for decades.
It’s great fun to read about the early days and using French phone cards hoping that you could figure out exactly how many minutes you had left. ;-)
Happy New Year everyone!

our first lunch in 87 was at Chez Francine and one of our most memorable meals was Au Port where the view was amazing before they built the post office. Sitting on the rail. Thanks for sharing your memories Happy New Year!

 

[Captain]

So our most enduring memory about St Barts may be Oscar the unofficial ambassador dog of Emeraude Plage.
When we arrived he would adopt us for our stay and follow us everywhere. He was well fed both inside our room and at the local establishments including the old Filao Beach Hotel restaurant . Oscar followed us there and the Host of the restaurant welcomed Oscar instead of his benefactors.
We we’re not alone in adoring Oscar. Years ago the 1st forum st Barts photography winner was a photo of Oscar on the beach.