This time is a Goodbye and not an Arrivederci.

[didier]

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...

says the person who is asking about a cheap place to rent on the beach recently , on a different column here. hope you enjoy mouettes, perhaps it will take the overpriced resort problem out of your equation and bring back your magic?

 

[Beachcomber]

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.

This Forum saved my wife’s life. Someone, I think JEK, posted about a book entitled The Breakthrough Immunotherapy and the race to cure cancer. My wife developed colon cancer which had completely wrapped around her mesenteric artery and was invading into her pancreas and liver. It was inoperable and they were just going to pack her abdominal cavity with ice and let her go. I read the book months before we were confronted with this news and I suggested they try immunotherapy. They really did not want to deviate from their standard protocol of chemotherapy which really does not work for colon cancer but we were insistent. After the therapy started the tumor shrunk from the size of an apple down to the size of a grape which they were then able to remove. This happened at an Ivy League medical school hospital that was founded in 1769 here in New England. Her case really opened their eyes and now they approach these cases with more of an open mind.

 

[noel]

Didi and I started visiting St. Barths in 1980, shortly after her parents built a very small one bedroom house on the road below the Santa Fe. On an early visit to Gouverneur an older couple set up next to us and took everything off. Didi commented that they must have been 70 years old! All I can say now is what a difference a day makes!

 

[cec1]

Didi and I started visiting St. Barths in 1980, shortly after her parents built a very small one bedroom house on the road below the Santa Fe. On an early visit to Gouverneur an older couple set up next to us and took everything off. Didi commented that they must have been 70 years old! All I can say now is what a difference a day makes!

LOLOL!! So true!

 

[LuckyKid]

… 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.

Long ago there was a St Barth expat bulletin board in Gustavia where folks knew to check for messages and leave notes connecting with friends, local services, social events, island news, just about anything, etc. I listed a car for sale once. Fast forward 30+ years SBHonline.com does pretty well along the same lines and for a similar crowd. Not bad at all.

 

[jamiem4]

Long ago there was a St Barth expat bulletin board in Gustavia where folks knew to check for messages and leave notes connecting with friends, local services, social events, island news, just about anything, etc. I listed a car for sale once. Fast forward 30+ years SBHonline.com does pretty well along the same lines and for a similar crowd. Not bad at all.

I remember that! …memory lane…

 

[bobrosen]

I remember that! …memory lane…

More or less in front of the church?

 

[BugSmasher]

We first came in 1990, then ‘94 but not again until 2025. We are here now. I see many changes since ‘90 but what was lovable and charming is still here for us. We stay in a small Corossol villa with a great view above the plage du public, shop at the grocery store and eat out some. Had a nice steak at Eddy’s and my cheeseburger at Le Select was good.

Compared to early 90s the roads are better, the parking at plage du Gouverneur is better and the traffic is heavier but nothing like Sint Maarten traffic.

I certainly see what is objectionable. I think there is still plenty of old St Barth here but it may not last, according to locals who express concern about politicians who don’t share a nostalgia for “Old St Barth.”

 

[shihadehs]

Heading down in 12 days after going for over 40 years. Will go to Eddy’s, Select, Ti Corail and L’Esprit and other local places. Otherwise we will enjoy cooking in our villa and taking in our view and loving the island as we did when we discovered it…..

 

[Jim&Cath]

We have been going to SB since 1993. We were there two weeks ago and had another lovely trip! We checked all of our boxes including Eddy’s (where we had a chance to speak to Mr Carlton who was incredibly gracious), Ti’Corail, Le Select, Casina, La Langouste and Bananier. Lunch ranged from Cheval Blanc to Kikie mo. Drinks were enjoyed at Remy, Tropical and Cheval Blanc, but of course, also on the patio overlooking St Jean. All of the boxes and then some!

I will add, traffic was very heavy as well as parking in Gustavia. We usually visit after April 15 so we owed this to “in season”.

Otherwise it was like SB always is…sublime.

 

[cec1]

We have been going to SB since 1993. We were there two weeks ago and had another lovely trip! We checked all of our boxes including Eddy’s (where we had a chance to speak to Mr Carlton who was incredibly gracious), Ti’Corail, Le Select, Casina, La Langouste and Bananier. Lunch ranged from Cheval Blanc to Kikie mo. Drinks were enjoyed at Remy, Tropical and Cheval Blanc, but of course, also on the patio overlooking St Jean. All of the boxes and then some!

I will add, traffic was very heavy as well as parking in Gustavia. We usually visit after April 15 so we owed this to “in season”.

Otherwise it was like SB always is…sublime.

It was a pleasure to meet! . . . and great to talk with Jim & Cathy at Eddy’s . . . many shared memories of 30+ years visiting on SBH were exchanged. Then meeting again at Pearl Beach! (We eat alike!)

Cathy, BTW, was stylishly au courant in this beautiful blouse. When I complimented her in it & said it looked like she had been shopping, she said that it was “shopping” of a number of years ago, showing me a photo of her — looking equally youthful! — in the same blouse at Maya’s (which closed five years ago).

Once again, the Forum bridged geography . . . adding to its extended family.

 

[didier]

It was a pleasure to meet! . . . and great to talk with Jim & Cathy at Eddy’s . . . many shared memories of 30+ years visiting on SBH were exchanged. Then meeting again at Pearl Beach! (We eat alike!)
View attachment 72619

Cathy, BTW, was stylishly au courant in this beautiful blouse. When I complimented her in it & said it looked like she had been shopping, she said that it was “shopping” of a number of years ago, showing me a photo of her — looking equally youthful! — in the same blouse at Maya’s (which closed five years ago).

Once again, the Forum bridged geography . . . adding to its extended family.

nice pic dennis...but you always take nice pics!

 

[cec1]

nice pic dennis...but you always take nice pics!

Thanks, Diana! Such a nice way to start my weekend!

 

[deblollar]

Good afternoon! Just returned from 2 weeks in our beautiful villa on our favorite beach, Lorient (thanks, Rosita!). We made our first visit to St. Barth's in 1985 and have returned every year (minus those COVID years)--our 2 girls grew up there and they returned with our 2 granddaughters last year and we are hoping for next year, too! Have things changed? Yes, of course, as do all things! But the simplicity of walking across the street each morning to the bakery and having those treats with fruit and yogurt while watching the sea and the surfers starting their days hasn't changed. Nor has the family and fishermen aspect of Lorient Beach. And lots of other places remain quiet and local--one just has to look. We do miss so many of the long-time restaurants and people, but some are still there and we have new friends at places like La Casina. Yes, there is more traffic, but we are patient and usually back from whatever errands or other beaches by noon and don't venture out again until dinner. In Gustavia, we found parking places in reasonable proximity every time we went there. We are not interested in fancy beach clubs, over the top restaurants or rowdy parties--to each their own. We still found the simplicity and beauty and friendly faces after all these years, so we will be back next March--God willing!

 

[dadto6]

deblollar​

wonderful report, my feelings exactly!

 

[cec1]

. . . lots of other places remain quiet and local--one just has to look.

So very true!

 

[steelpe]

Yes, there is more traffic, but we are patient and usually back from whatever errands or other beaches by noon and don't venture out again until dinner.

I thought we were the only ones who spend a few hours at the beach every morning and then the rest of the afternoon relaxing/napping by the pool. Always felt I was the only one.

 

[Dennis]

I thought we were the only ones who spend a few hours at the beach every morning and then the rest of the afternoon relaxing/napping by the pool. Always felt I was the only one.

We are in the morning at the beach, 1:00 PM boozy lunch, villa pool time with optional nap camp.

 

[Tom Flex]

We first came in 1990, then ‘94 but not again until 2025. We are here now. I see many changes since ‘90 but what was lovable and charming is still here for us. We stay in a small Corossol villa with a great view above the plage du public, shop at the grocery store and eat out some. Had a nice steak at Eddy’s and my cheeseburger at Le Select was good.

Compared to early 90s the roads are better, the parking at plage du Gouverneur is better and the traffic is heavier but nothing like Sint Maarten traffic.

I certainly see what is objectionable. I think there is still plenty of old St Barth here but it may not last, according to locals who express concern about politicians who don’t share a nostalgia for “Old St Barth.”

That sounds like a classic St. Barth experience, and it’s so cool that you’re back after such a long hiatus. There’s definitely something special about how the island manages to keep its soul despite all the glitz and development. I’m glad to hear the cheeseburgers at Le Select are still hitting the spot, some things truly never change. It’s a shame about the "Old St. Barth" vibes fading, but I guess that makes these visits even more precious. Enjoy every second of that Corossol view while you’re still there!

 

[gallia]

we were in St. Baths for the first time in 1981, then almost every year often twice a year. Unfortunately, the island has changed a lot, especially the traffic is horrible. In 2019 we decided not to visit the island anymore. In Les Saintes and especially in Anguilla we have found the lost peace, with beautiful beaches, good cuisine and very friendly inhabitants.