Hope this photo of this morning's red-hot sunrise warms the hearts of all those still shivering in the cold of this endless winter up north! Nothing more to say except...come on down the water is warm and so is the sun!
Fire Hot Sunrises of St John
USA TODAY names St John One of 10 Romantic Islands To Fall In Love With (we agree!)
USA TODAY names St John to yet another list. This time love is in the air as USA Today declares that St John is 'One of the 10 Romantic Islands To Fall in Love With'.
They state whether you're celebrating your undying love or looking to rekindle the flame, what better place to do it than a secluded oasis set adrift in the sea? We combed the planet for the most romantic islands we could find, where idyllic sunsets, private bungalows and dinners for two are de rigueur. Here are 10 of their favorites:
St John:
Prepare to be disconnected from the travails and toils of everyday life. On this Virgin Island, there are no mega resorts, cruise ships or casinos (a seamless fit for couples with a similar streak of wild individualism). Much of the island is covered by protected national parkland, so days here are spent in relaxed, sun-warmed languor.
Great Expectations often hosts wedding or anniversary groups at our St John villa and we have no shortage of people falling in love with our tiny island in the sun!
The other islands selected were: Nantucket and Cape Breton Island (both beautiful for sure but, a tad colder than St John at this time of year!), Kauai, Maldives, Santorini, Anguilla, Bora Bora, Capri, and St Lucia.
St John -- Unadvertised Special for our Newsletter, Facebook, and Twitter Recipients!
January newsletter:
Leave Winter Behind
Enjoy St John's Warm Waters
Photographer Steve Simonsen captured a fabulous shot of Solomon Bay
Due to a cancellation, we are announcing an exclusive offer only for our newsletter, Facebook & Twitter subscribers:
20% off our regular pricing for any new reservation between Sunday, February 23 - Saturday, March 8, 2014 (one week minimum)!
As of February 1 we will be publicly announcing this offer so do not delay or you may be left out in the cold!
Contact us today to reserve your week on St John.
January/February St John news flashes & fun St John clips:
If you are a tennis or basketball player you will be happy to know we have just completed resurfacing our basketball/tennis court.
We even added a basketball key for those of you wanting to practice your 3-pointer shots!
- Recently the Boston Globe highlighted the wonderful work of Concordia Eco-Resort of trying to minimize their carbon footprint. We, too, at Great Expectations are working hard to be green. Over the past few years we have added photo-voltaic panels to our roofs and recently added a net meter so we can return electricity to WAPA (our local utility company).
- Treat yourself to a vacation at Great Expectations after your 8 Tuff Mile Race! This year's race is Saturday, February 22. Whether you are a runner, walker, or a supporter of this 'tuff' event you can also participate in the 'after' party at the 'Oppenheimer Recovery Beach Party' sponsored by the St John Cancer Fund.
Hope to see you on St John and at Great Expectations soon!
Kristin & Chuck
owners of Great Expectations
Boston Globe Highlights St John's Eco-Resort
Boston Globe Travel Section,by Boston Globe Columnist Jack Sullivan, January 12, 2014:
The 'eco-tents' at Concordia on St John overlooking Drunk Bay and Salt Pond Bay
(photo Courtesy of J Sullivan, Boston Globe)
ST. JOHN — Kermit the Frog famously lamented, “It’s not easy being green.” Though his complaint on “Sesame Street” focused on the trials of life as an amphibian, it can also apply to those who adopt environmentally sensitive standards in their daily lives.
It can be especially hard to take those principles along on vacation. Eco-living comes with sacrifice, which is, after all, the antithesis of vacation.
But vacationing on St. John in the US Virgin Islands demands that we take note of the impact of our carbon footprint. Nearly two-thirds of the verdant island, the smallest of the inhabited US-owned Caribbean archipelago, as well as the surrounding coral reefs and marine ecosystems are protected by the National Park Service. Water and power are at a premium. It’s difficult not to think about the human impact on such a delicate environment.
There is a selection of upscale resorts and villas on St. John catering to a variety of visitors, ensuring their stay has maximum comfort and amenities, but there are precious few that adapt to the nature of St. John and ask their guests to do the same. At the southeastern tip of the island, straddling Drunk Bay to the east and Salt Pond Bay to the south, Concordia Eco-Resort stands out by blending in.
Concordia is a family-friendly cluster of 25 “eco tents” and 17 resort-style studios set in the south-facing hillside among fruit trees, bushes, cacti, and native creatures. Prices run from $126 to $232 a night in the offseason to $175 to $289 in season, Nov. 15 through April 30. The accommodations range from rugged to comfortable, but one doesn’t stay at Concordia for the amenities.
This resort is not for everyone. A stay comes with challenges, ranging from composting toilets and garden hoses as showers in the tents to a series of more than 900 stairs throughout the resort, some of which require a climb to and from your unit that would rival the workout you’d get at the local gym.
Concordia, now in its 20th year of operation, is an ever-evolving eco-resort, owned by New York developer Stanley Selengut, dubbed the “father of sustainable resort development” by The International Ecotourism Society. All of the units here offer some level of sustainability, mostly through use of the campus-wide water collection and filtrations system. A photovoltaic power system is the primary source of electricity and there are no air conditioners or televisions. The studios have the most normal power resources, but “normal” is relative.
“Think of us as an eco-testing ground,” says Wayne Lloyd, Concordia manager and an ex-pat. (Full disclosure: Wayne and I knew each other in Westborough, though we lost touch for nearly 40 years until reconnecting a couple of years ago.) “We are always researching and applying the best new thinking in sustainable infrastructure. . . . None of the units are normal in the sense that you asked the question. The oldest and the newest are the most normal for folks expecting to be able to blow-dry their hair.”
The tents are the most rustic accommodation. They have wooden frames covered with canvas stretched across them, somewhat like a cabin, with mesh screens for windows and doors. There are 14 premium units and 11 regular eco-tents, the difference being location and the view. But the difference is a matter of spectacular versus extraordinary.
The tents are located along the hillside overlooking the bays and are cooled by the trade winds. Each has its own deck overlooking the ocean or the gardens; a cistern for water collection; a solar-heated water tank for the shower, which is stocked with biodegradable body wash and shampoo; a small solar array with a battery to power the fans and small lights; and a hybrid composting toilet that uses a flush system. Each unit has a two-burner propane stove and a small refrigerator, powered by the campus grid.
The eco-studios have several wall sockets for power but the tents have only one socket, for the refrigerator. If you need to use your smartphone or tablet, you can power them up at the office. The resort has spotty cellphone reception and Wi-Fi is available only near the office or by the pool.
Concordia is “dark sky compliant,” a movement designed to reduce light pollution and its effect on stargazing and nocturnal animals. Recently renovated units have LED lighting.
The resort is not exclusionary to guests with physical challenges, as long as those with accessibility needs are willing to face some hurdles. While Concordia does not market itself as ADA-compliant, five premium tents and three eco-studios offer accessible features. There is a boardwalk running through the spine of the campus to assist those who are in wheelchairs or unable to use the steep system of stairs, and there is sufficient room in the units and the bathrooms to navigate with a wheelchair.
Concordia’s location can make for a challenge in getting around the island without negating whatever carbon reduction you’ve made. Salt Pond Bay with its white sand beach is a short walk through a trail outside the office. But if you want to explore other beaches and trails, you either have to rent a car, call a taxi, or take the island’s bus system, which costs $1 and runs right by Concordia’s entrance.
The on-site Cafe Concordia offers breakfast and dinner, though it is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The office has a few provisions available, but mostly snacks and beverages. If you did not shop upon arrival, then you’ll have to either go out for dinner or find your way to either Coral Bay or Cruz Bay to buy groceries.
Concordia has an off-season program from June through October that offers free accommodations and reduced-priced meals in exchange for a minimal amount of work in renovating and cleaning up. Hundreds apply for the few dozen slots, which usually run about a month at a time. Many applicants have skills and trades that put them at the front of the list.
CONCORDIA ECO-RESORT In-season prices from $185 for the basic eco-tent to $289 for a lofted eco-studio.
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If camping is not for you but, if you are still interested in a green St John villa, consider Great Expectations. Our Villa was designed and sited to take advantage of the wonderful Tradewinds. We have installed 55 photo-electric panels, 3 solar panels (for hot water), a massive gray water cistern system that is used for landscaping water, energy efficient appliances and pumps, chemical free swimming pools, recycling program, and use of eco-friendly soaps.
Tired of Winter Already? Head to St John Where We Have A Special Seat For You!
We hope our January 2014 Newsletter keeps you warm:
Winter Has Arrived -- St John Awaits!
Photographer Steve Simonsen captured a fabulous shot of Maho Bay
All that is missing is you!
If you are tired of winter already, think about starting 2014 off by planning a trip to St John. Whether it is for this winter or spring, or not until the summer, or even 2015, if you know you have a trip in your 'bucket', it will make the cold, dark days of this winter a bit warmer and brighter! Promise!
We could not help but chuckle when we saw the following headline in the New York Times on January 1st. We take it that it is a clear sign for you to
to St John and
this year! Make it happen by
directly today:
January St John news flashes & fun St John clips:
St Johnians cannot be kept down, or in this cased, closed! This past week Cafe Roma opened after having been closed for 9 months due to a devastating fire. They have the same great menu and many of the same staff along with brand new equipment and furnishings.
The Marketplace has a new restaurant and some great west indian cuisine. Etta's is serving up authentic island dishes, including Kalaloo, Goat Water, Dove Pork (which we understand is mouth watering good!), Fried Chicken, Red Snapper, and Conch. All at reasonable prices.
January is a month of new beginnings and, of course, parties. This year is no exception. The St John Animal Care Center's (SJACC) Winter Gala will be held this year at our neighbor's magnificent Chocolate Hole home of JoAnn and Glen Hall. This is always a fun event and is an important fundraiser for one of St John's most important non-profit organizations. While not a 'January' happening, we want to spread the word about the February 1st Friends of Virgin Islands National Park' Winter Gala which will be held at the fabulous Peter Bay Villa Presidio Del Mar. There will be gourmet food and wines, music to dance under the stars, and silent auctions and raffles.
More of St John is now 'forever' protected thanks to The Trust for Public Landwhich secured the magnificent 225-acre beach and hillside above Maho Bay. What a wonderfully enduring gift this is for all of us who enjoy St John.
Speaking of wonderful beaches, Islands Magazine named St John's Trunk Bay beach as the 'Best Beach in the Caribbean' in its 2013 year-end issue.
Hope to see you on St John and at Great Expectations soon!
Kristin & Chuck
owners of
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According to USA Today: Where to Stay on St John
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St John Beaches are OPEN for Business (Oops - Pleasure)!
Enjoy our October newsletter (& the re-opened beaches, waters, & trails of St John!!):
Life is good again on St John!
This past week we have gotten a lot of inquiries about how the Federal government 'shut-down' has impacted St John. Are the beaches open? Can we still have our wedding on the beach? Snorkel in the waters off the beaches? Well, until this morning Sunday, October 6 at 7 AM, the answer had been that the US Virgin Islands Park Service closed all Park facilities, including the beaches and waters surrounding the Park beaches. This impacted a lot of folks, tourists and locals, who depend on the Park beaches (wedding planners, taxi drivers).We were delighted when this morning the VI National Park Service Deputy Superintendent, Mike Anderson, told the St John Source that the VI Park beaches, waters, and trails will be open effective immediately! The Visitor's Center and the Annaberg Plantation will both remain closed for now.
This happened just in the nick of time since this afternoon at 1 PM the 'Occupy St John Beaches' movement (over 1,000 people signed on in about 48 hours!) planned a 'sit in' - or I guess in this case 'swim in' at Maho Bay beach entitled "Yah nah shut down da beach me boy". The Occupy folks encouraged people to be respectful but, I am sure that the Park Service staff were also relieved that the event will now turn into a 're-opening' party!
October St John news flashes & fun St John clips:
St John's Basketball Court and Playground has been totally renovated and this month the final equipment has been installed. The Estate Pine Peace court is the only regulation size basketball court on the island. The renovations included major improvements including a drainage system, new playground area, covered bleachers, a new scoreboard, new lighting, and a brand new basketball court. We, Great Expectations, were happy to be one of the private sector financial contributors to this important project. You can pass by the court at just about any time - day or night - and see it being used.- 8-Tuff Mile Race Registration is now open and available for on-line sign-up. The 18th Annual Race which takes place on Saturday, February 22, 2014 has been a 'sold-out' event in the past so if you are interested in running or walking this race, best to sign up now!
Cruz Bay Landing is the official name of the new restaurant of the JJ's Texas Coast space. Seems appropriate to us since the restaurant is right at the ferry dock. The space has been totally renovated and built out. Todd and Christy, former owners of Woody's, promise this restaurant to be a fun, delicious, family place where their slogan 'You're Here. Now Relax' means serious fun.
- Great Expectations has a few openings this winter. If winter time is your preference to be on St John, do not dilly-dally since our calendar is already filling up for this winter (and spring). Contact us today to secure your week on St John to make sure you have a place in the warmth.
"A Piece of Heaven in the Caribbean"
We are proud that on Trip Advisor Great Expectations has been rated the #1 vacation villa on St John.
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| The pool patio area is just one of many informal gathering spaces |
Here is our most recent review:
Thanks for the feedback. It sure makes our day! Can't wait to have you all return to
Great Expectations. We are glad that your entire family (of 19 people!) enjoyed
their time at our St John villa. I guess it proves we are family friendly!
These are just for you if you love the colors - and views - of St John
Hot off the press the January newsletter from Great Expectations:
Artist Sloop Jones captures the beauty of the St John sunrise
on his 'canvas'
on his 'canvas'
Photographer Steve Simonsen uses a camera to as his 'canvas'
to capture the sunset's colors
to capture the sunset's colors
Both Sloop Jones and Steve Simonsen are passionate about their respective crafts about the beauty and colors of St John. Sloop is an artist who captures the colors of St John on anything 'wearable and useable' whether T-Shirts, dresses, hats, rugs, wall hangings, or banners and signs. Rather than a paint brush, Steve Simonsen uses a camera to create his art. Steve often takes to the skies (in an airplane or helicopter), water (diving or boat), or the beach or hills of St John to capture his pictures. His fabulous photography can be seen on the covers of travel magazines, walls of cruise ships, or art galleries around the world.
Both Sloop and Steve offer workshops aimed at giving you a peek into their worlds and helping you capture the magic that is St John:
Sloop Jones Workshops: Every Tuesday morning from January - April, 2013. Classes are limited to 6 people to ensure that everyone gets a good deal of Sloop's attention.
Steve Simonsen Workshops: Scheduled sporadically (it is the islands 'mon) are workshops on Underwater Photography, Snorkel, Tropical Light, and Beyond the Basics. Steve looks for groups of 6 people for his workshops. This weekend I am attending the Beyond the Basics Workshop with the hopes of being able to capture in a lens the beauty I see through my eyes.
OK, assume that you have worked all morning at one of these workshops, what better way of relaxing than spending the afternoon in our new pool:
Watch the clouds float over St John from our new pool
January St John news flashes & fun St John clips:
- Once again St John makes several 'Best of' lists. Travel + Leisure launched its first annual 'Beach Beach on Earth' survey and after much debate identified the top 30 best and several Virgin Islands beaches made the list including St John's Trunk Bay in the 'Best for Wildlife Watching'. The Toronto 'The Star' newspaper/blog declared that St John is THE Caribbean island to explore.
The latest issue of St John Magazine is now available and the reviews are terrific (maybe the best yet!). Each year, MaLinda Nelson outdoes herself to produce an issue that is fresher, bolder, more interesting, and more beautiful than the year before. The 2013 issue is just that! Steve Simonsen's fabulous photography captures St John's magical beauty and Amy Roberts captures, in words, the turmoil in our plantation years. Come to St John to buy one yourself or, if you must order on-line contact MaLinda directly.
- News of St John (a wonderful blog) had a great posting about how to prolong the 'St John buzz'. We have great musicians on the island and always have lots of live music options available. Several of the groups have put out their own CD's so you can hear St John even when not here. Here are just a few: Inner Visions (for Reggae), Victor Provost has perfected steel drums & pans, and Marty Beech who you can hear at Caneel Bay's Turtle Bay where he sings songs of Frank Sinatra. Best to come to St John to hear these folks in person!
Carnival season has begun in the Virgin Islands. St Croix ends the 'old year' and starts the 'new year' with its Festival. This year's activities were, as usual, spectacular. The next Festival will be on St Thomas during the month of April. St John rounds out the activities for the Virgin Islands with its Festival activities (our favorite) which are scheduled during the last couple of weeks of June and culminate with food fairs, parades, and music during the first week of July.
Rumored for years but it finally happened: Maho Bay Campgrounds was sold! Just as the clock struck twelve on the old year, the deal was sealed so says the island's rumor mill. No one knows for sure who the buyer of the spectacular site is for a steal of a price ($13.9 million), but we can all hope that it is someone who appreciates the beauty of St John who believes in preservation. The Campgrounds is open until May 15 after which they plan the biggest 'garage sale' in the history of St John. If you are interested in a propane burner, tent, table, or other camping gear contact the Stanley Selegut, the owner of Maho Bay Campgrounds, directly.
- Beau Geste, the Guest House of Great Expectations, is currently available for 10% off from Saturday, February 16 - Sunday, February 24 (President's week). Beau Geste has 3 bedrooms, including a connecting bedroom, swimming pool and hot tub, and, of course, fabulous Caribbean views. Contact us today to get out of the cold!
Enjoy the holidays and we hope we see you at Great Expectations or Beau Gestein the new year!
Best,
Chuck & Kristin
owners of Great Expectations
P.S. While Great Expectations is already booked most of this winter, we have a five night opening in March (check out our March Madness Special), 5 night opening in April, and then no availability until May. We are already taking reservations for 2014, so contact us soon for your choice dates.
Day #5 was a mix of sun & rain & wood & plumbing; however, we are all eyes to the sky as we start week #2
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| The outline of the pool has been formed |
Day #5 was a mix of sun and rain so we lost a little bit of time; however, it was still a productive day. The guys did some hand digging to fine-tune the size of the footings that will eventually be poured with concrete. More rebar was cut and formed (into grids that will be placed into the middle of the concrete to hold it in place. And, more wood was cut and placed to define the outline of the pool.
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| The side of the pool that faces the Caribbean will be curved |
We met with both our electrician (Dick from Angel Electric) and our plumber (Joseph, owner of Love City Plumbing) and were delighted with them both. They each are great people and both had great suggestions about how to improve our original design. Dick suggested adding some very cool LED lighting to our wading pool and Joseph suggested some modification to our existing plumbing system that will make it much more efficient.
While we had a great first week of construction, as we start week #2 we are watching the weather closely since we have two weather systems (one looking like it could be quite nasty) to our east heading our way. The red circle, according to the National Hurricane Center, is a 'tropical system' which, at this point, has an 80% chance of becoming a tropical cyclone (e.g. tropical storm or hurricane) within the next 48 hours so this may well prove to be a nerve-wracking week!
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| This is the description for the red circle! |
Monday AM, picture from our webcam:
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| At this point the weather is great so it is hard to imagine there is bad weather heading our way |
Day 4 - Sun and lots of steel
We awoke to a wonderful Caribbean sky:
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| View from our webcam (we actually have the exact view from our bed in the Owner's Suite!) |
With a sunrise like that it was bound to be a great day...and, it was! Our crews showed up early. Folks here start work early (7 AM). The first one here was a guy delivering water and ice for the guys. As you can imagine, working all day in the tropics you (should) drink a lot of water! Right behind him came Dave's crew. We have lived here long enough to know good crews and crews that just slide by. Dave's guys arrive on time and get to work! Obviously, this we love!
Rock-a-Rock, our excavator, arrived to do some fine-tuning for the pool and then departed to return to do back-filling when the pool is formed.The day was spent cutting and forming rebar....a long and somewhat tedious but, oh so important job! This pool will go nowhere. It will be very sturdy:
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| The steel rebar, which is thick, will be placed in the concrete surrounding the pool to make sure that the pool is secure |
And while the rebar is formed, the pool site is also framed with wood for the concrete to be poured into:
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| Boy, are those footings wide! |
And, if you think life is so easy in the tropics, here is proof hubby worked so hard his pants ripped!
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| Chuck literally worked his pants off! |
Day #2 of the pool project and we are still smiling!
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| Note two machines in picture our wonderful backhoe driver, Joel aka 'Rocka-Rock', alternated between them |
Day #2 of our new pool project has come and gone and, happily, life is still good on St John! We had a great day. We (and I say 'we' generously since 'they' did the work and 'I' did the picture taking!) dug our pool footings today. Our excavator who drives both machines is phenomenal! He worked tirelessly in a fine-tune way to make sure that our 'footings' are deep enough and (obviously) in the right places:
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| Footings being dug |
So, at the end of day #2:
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| Ready for water? Not quite... Note we have closed the Great Room hurricane shutters during the construction |
(Another) pool soon come...
As property owners on St John we have found one constant and that is: we are always planning a new project! Our rental groups at Great Expectations tend to be large and we have gotten feedback from our guests that they would like another, larger, pool (in addition to our current Villa wading and swimming pools and Guest House pool) so we are constructing a 3rd Villa pool which will be added to the west of our current pool:
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| Great Expectations (top 3 buildings) & Beau Geste ( Guest House) |
The new 20' x 30' pool will be just to the west of the existing Villa wading/swimming pool (20' x 20') so guests can amble back and forth from one pool to the next!
Building on St John is always an adventure! However, the key to building and surviving (with your relationships still in tack and a penny left in your bank account, is to choose a good builder. We believe that we have chosen the best contractor (and crew) on St John in Dave Carlson and Carlson Construction. First and foremost Dave (and his crew) are great people. They represent the best of St John in every way. Secondly, they do outstanding work. There is no finer craftsman than Matt Mueller and Carlson Construction, having constructed lots of St John pools, are pros. For months we have been planning to start the project this week.
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| Let the digging begin |
The end of day #1 of the start of construction and we have a hole! No (unexpected) wires or pipes were found and most importantly no rock was discovered! A great beginning...
And, while this is not the pool it is the idea we are planning:
On to day #2!
Tropical Storm Ernesto brings clouds but no harm to St John
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| St John gets clouds from far away Tropical Storm Ernesto |
We have no complaints that (Tropical Storm) Ernesto stubbed St John leaving it way to the north, by over 300 miles, and only sending clouds our way. We should still have a nice beach and boating day today. No so lucky will be Jamaica and then on to parts of Mexico where Ernesto is now heading...
Bookmark our St John webcam to keep up to date on weather in and around St John USVI
Kids stay free! at St John Great Expectations
Let your kids 'drag' you to St John
On-St John recently reported the tale of Don Ricci who had a tough time leaving the beach on his last day so much so that his kids had to drag him off (and isn't it usually the other way around?). The logical question asked (by On-StJohn) was when do you book your next vacation to St John? While on island? Within the month you get back? Or, are you one of those who wait until the first snow-storm?
Wait no longer -- for the next week only - book Great Expectations for any new reservation by Tuesday, August 7 and get Kids Stay Free! That's right - FREE! So, no more procrastinating! Reserve any week, except holiday weeks, with no charge for children age 12 or under!
E-mail or call (617 314-6836) us today to take advantage of our Kids Stay Free! special.
July & August News flashes & fun St John clips:
Once again the Virgin Islands received top honors on several 'the best of' lists. We are not surprised since but always love having others validate our feelings about St John. Some of this months honors are: *the Huffington Post designated the Virgin Islands National Park their 'Destination of the Week'
*Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards reader's survey placed the US Virgin Islands in their top 5 'Best Caribbean Islands'.
*Islands Wish List for the 'Best Island to Live On' named St John as that island!
- Jet Blue jump starts its season by beginning their Boston - St Thomas flights in September, 3 months earlier than originally planned making it easier to get to St John.
- News of St John has a great blog posting about a TripAdvisor forum about the 'Best things to Do on St John'. See if you agree with their listing of best food, beaches, drink, entertainment, and hiking or if you have other ideas to add to the list.
The USVI is represented at the Summer Olympics in London (including the Paralympics Games) by 8 amazing athletes who are sailing, running, swimming, & riding with their peers from around the world. Tabarie Henry, who is running the 400 meter dash, was chosen to be the flag bearer for the USVI team. No matter what results, they are all winners & we are very proud of them all.
Come to St John - and Great Expectations - to enjoy an 'endless summer'!
Best,
Chuck & Kristin
owners of Great Expectations
P.S. Check out our availability; we still have a few weeks available during this coming winter.
St Thomas makes another 'top 10' list & this one has nothing to do with our wonderful beaches
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| St Thomas Frenchtown |
St Thomas's Frenchtown is located about a half-mile southwest of Charlotte Amalie, it is popular with tourists and locals for its restaurants and bars, colorful boats, and fresh fish market; however we found it particularly interesting - and a tad unusual - that it would have made the 'top 10 Bastille Day Celebrations' around the entire world! Here is the list compiled by Hotwire based on a survey they recently conducted:
Travel Picks: Top 10 Bastille Day celebrations
(Reuters) - Sing a rousing rendition of the Marseillaise, twirl a sparkler or head out to see the parades and fireworks for France's national day of celebration on Saturday [July 14 each year]. Francophiles around the world can find a place to join in the revelry with online travel adviser Hotwire.com's (www.hotwire.com) list of the top 10 destinations to celebrate Bastille Day. Reuters has not endorsed this list:
1. Paris
2. London, UK
3. New Orleans, Louisiana
4. Liege, Belgium
5. Budapest, Hungary
6. Franschhoek, South Africa
7. Montreal, Quebec
8. French Polynesia
9. St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
While St. Thomas is technically part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, its large French population gathers together for several days of Bastille Day festivities. The celebration begins with dancing at local bars and live performances from bands from the French community. The highpoint of the celebrations is the Kingfish Tournament, a fundraiser for local schools which is held on a Sunday. Fishermen cast their lines early in the morning and must return to the beach by noon to enter their catches into the contest. The participant who catches the largest kingfish is awarded prize money.
Frenchtown was settled by immigrants from the French Caribbean island of St. Barthelemy in the late 1800's through mid-1900's. Many of the men were fishermen and so the area became a fishing village and still is today. In the early morning you can watch fishermen coming in with their small fishing boats, or cleaning and selling their catches from the jetties and from the Quetel Fish Market. Many of the older French people still speak Creole, a French dialect. In the middle of Frenchtown is a hill crowned by St. Ann's Catholic Church. A small museum contains several hundred artifacts of historical interest related to the area and to the French community including photographs, pottery, tools and furniture. The French Heritage Museum is located next to the Joseph Aubain ballpark. Frenchtown is also a great stop on the way to the St Thomas airport. We are particularly partial to Hook, Line & Sinker, a casual restaurant located right on the water. You can get a great meal while watching boats and seaplanes come and go and, as an extra bonus, watch the ever-present iguanas sun themselves (a great diversion for kids while waiting for their meal!).
Frenchtown was settled by immigrants from the French Caribbean island of St. Barthelemy in the late 1800's through mid-1900's. Many of the men were fishermen and so the area became a fishing village and still is today. In the early morning you can watch fishermen coming in with their small fishing boats, or cleaning and selling their catches from the jetties and from the Quetel Fish Market. Many of the older French people still speak Creole, a French dialect. In the middle of Frenchtown is a hill crowned by St. Ann's Catholic Church. A small museum contains several hundred artifacts of historical interest related to the area and to the French community including photographs, pottery, tools and furniture. The French Heritage Museum is located next to the Joseph Aubain ballpark. Frenchtown is also a great stop on the way to the St Thomas airport. We are particularly partial to Hook, Line & Sinker, a casual restaurant located right on the water. You can get a great meal while watching boats and seaplanes come and go and, as an extra bonus, watch the ever-present iguanas sun themselves (a great diversion for kids while waiting for their meal!).
10. Cayenne, French Guiana
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Plan on attending next year's Bastille Day celebration on, of course, July 14, 2013 and while in the Virgin Islands discover, or better yet, stay on St John!
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Plan on attending next year's Bastille Day celebration on, of course, July 14, 2013 and while in the Virgin Islands discover, or better yet, stay on St John!
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| Colorful fishing boats line the shore in Frenchtown |
USVI makes Islands wish list for 'Best Island to Live On'
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| Wish List write-up about why USVI is 'the best' island to live on |
Those of us who have spent time in the US Virgin Islands fully understand why the USVI made the Islands Wish List for the 'Best Island in the World to Live On'!
Enjoy their photo essay and you, too, will understand why the USVI made the list once again this year as it often does. Yes, it is the beaches, it is the National Park, but so, so much more!
St John's 'Love City Triathlon & Aquathon' 2012 scheduled for September 2, 2012
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| Crossing the finish line of the first leg of the Triathlon |
The St John Landsharks are planning this one tough race once again. Whether it is the 13th or 14th is a mystery but no one seems to care since they are back once again to oversee this incredibly challenging race. Any one of these legs would be tough in itself but put them together and you have one of the most 'interesting' (I would call it brutal!) triathlon's around.
The maximum number of registrants is being limited to 100 so if you are interested in joining the 'fun' we urge you to sign up early. You can sign up in one of the following capacities: Individual Triathletes ($40); Aquathon ($40); or Relay Triathletes ($35).
The course is brand new this year and all start from Maho Bay. The triathletes will swim a half mile in Maho Bay. Bike to Cruz Bay, Centerline, to the Yogurt stand and go down Kings Hill and finish back at Maho Bay! Then run a new and challenging 4-mile course and return to Maho Bay!
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| 14 Mile Bike course Maho Transition area, head west on North Shore Road, west to Cruz Bay Turns to go up to round-about Take Centerline road to King's Hill and down into the Transition area at Maho Bay |
The Aquathoners will swim the same ½ mile course, and run a new and challenging 3 miles and return to Maho Bay. Don’t worry; the stairs are still on the running course. And a few hills have been added.
Participants in the triathlon can do all three legs competing as an individual or form a relay team with one or two other athletes and each compete in one or two legs.
DISTANCES:
Triathlon: ½ mile swim, 14 mile hilly bike, 4 mile run (Individual and Relay categories)
Aquathon: ½ mile swim, 3 mile run (Individual category only, no Relay)
The inter-island competition is open to all residents of the Caribbean. A team must have 3 members doing the triathlon as individuals, and the team must have a female. The top 3 combined times is declared the winner and will have their islands name mounted on a trophy which is displayed in the establishment of a sponsor. 2010 had no inter island winner, but St. Croix so far has the most wins historically.
If you don't want to swim, run, or bike this amazing race you can still play a hugely important role by coming out to cheer along those that do!
St Johnian's need a vacation too! Restaurant closing list for summer & fall published...
St John restaurant closing list
August, September, October 2012*
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| Don't worry it is only for a short time! |
St John Spice has posted her annual 'Summer/Fall Closings' restaurant list* and, as predicted, many hard working St Johnian's are taking their well deserved vacations. Do not fret if you are coming to St John during August or September, there are still plenty of great restaurants open and, lots of private chef service options. Some of the best meals we have ever had on St John are right at home at our Villa overlooking the Caribbean sea!
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| How about looking at this view while dining? |
*As indicated on the list, best to call to confirm the schedule. Sometimes the vacation is shortened...and, sometimes, it is extended. As with many things on St John schedules are 'flexible'! Remember, this is the islands 'mon!
Newsflash - USVI Tourism says visitors want to return! Yeah? What is news about that?
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| Solomon Beach - St John (Photo credit m s colleen) Just one of over 30 magnificent beaches on St John! |
The USVI Department of Tourism recently conducted an on-line poll that reported:
- 50 percent of respondents said they stayed five nights or less in the territory.
- 66 percent said they had visited the U.S. Virgin Islands before.
- 50 percent of visitors booking a vacation look online before making a decision.
- 45 percent of visitors said the V.I. met their expectations.
- 93 percent of visitors said they were satisfied with their vacation.
- 53 percent said the territory exceeded expectations.
- 99 percent said they were likely to visit again.
- 72 percent said they were very likely to visit again.
What brought you to the Virgin Islands?
What said to you 'I must return'?
What is not to like? To visit once -- is to return!