The past two months have flown by so fast its hard to believe that this is the laid-back West Indies where time used to move so slowly you didn't even need to wear a watch. 
In the good old days, time seemed to lazily stretch before me, but lately things have been different. All I can attribute it to is the influx of visitors who have a totally different sense of time.
First of all, they come and go at more or less precise hours so you have to know what time it is just to get to the airport on time. I've found that guests who have just spent most of the day getting here don't like it if you aren't there to pick them up, even though after a few days in the sun and they have also lost all sense of time until they need to be back at the airport in time to make their flights to St. Martin on departure day.
There's also been a lot of activity bringing guests here over the past two months, starting with the annual St. Barth Music Festival which this year ran a full three weeks instead of the usual two. Organized with dogged determination by American violinist Frances Debroff since 1985, this festival brings some really top-rate musicians to the island for a series of concerts in local churches.
This year's event kicked off with the venerable Empire Brass Quartet in a lively program at the church in Lorient (the far better of the two churches as far as make-shift concert halls go). The second concert was the high point of the whole thing with an orchestra under the baton of Imre Pallo and the local voices of the St. Barthélemy choristers led by Charles Darden in a surprisingly professional performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. There must be something about the long lazy days in the tropical sun that got these musicians so inspired, but the concert was the talk of the town for days to come. In all, DeBroff hosted over 60 musicians, requisitioning spare bedrooms all over the island and holding dinners for large numbers of hungry altos and baritones.
At about the same time, island resident David Grodberg was hosting his annual dental congress, with 50 dentists from around the world and their wives filling up the tables left empty by the musicians. Some of the dentists were staying at the Christopher Hotel and if they had looked out at the waves they would have been treated to a great performance by six world championship surfers - Australians Dave Rasstavich and Joel Parkinson, as well as Americans Tom Curren, Pat O'Connell, Ross Williams, and Benji Weatherley - who were chasing the late January waves around St. Barthélemy. Tom Servais, a 20-year veteran of Surfer Magazine, and a cameraman were recording the action for promotional purposes. This can only help St Barth's reputation as a decent surfing spot, something that the island-born French champion Mario Ledee has known for a long time. Jeff Ledee of Totem Surf Shop in Gustavia had the time of his life surfing alongside his idols.
While all these things were going on more or less concurrently, tom-toms started beating in Gustavia where local groups such as SB Jam began their annual preparations for the Carnival celebration which falls in early March this year. On a hot Sunday afternoon, I took a group of people from New York City who were here for the music festival into the back streets of town to listen to the beat. "This," they said, in appreciation of islanders painted green and parading with large painted drums, "is the realest thing we've seen all week." With the Carnival music in the background, I looked down into the harbor and saw the intrepid little boatbearing local sailors Richard Ledee and Makku Harmela. They were in training for the bi-annual transatlantic race, the ag2r, that will arrive in St Barth sometime in mid-May with teams of top sailors and thousands of people on the docks to welcome them. With Carnival and the transat right around the corner, maybe I better start wearing a watch. I wouldn't want to miss any of the excitement.
More to come,
Beyonce and Jay-Z have taken their daughter on her first vacation. The couple, who celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary last week, have been enjoying the sunshine on the Caribbean island of St. Barts with three-month-old Blue Ivy over the weekend, and took the tot for a day trip on a yacht.
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Kick-off Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2012 Caribbean regatta in the magical French West Indies sailing paradise!
Today the prestigious and top-class Caribbean sailing regatta Les Voiles de St. Barth 2012 with Gaastra Sportswear as the official partner starts: At the third edition run...
Inside the Bucket.
This video features the 2012 St Barths Bucket Regatta and music by the Evan Goodrow Band. Special thanks to the entire crew of the Rebecca, Baz Bar, St Barths Online and the guys from the Evan Goodrow Band for putting on a fantastic show. The song from the Evan Goodrow Band is c...
On board with Rebecca.
The best event in St Barths took place on March 24 - 27, 2012. This video features the beautiful 141 ft sailing yacht, The Rebecca.
produced by Real Media Travel for St. Barths Online and Baz Bar St Barth.
The age old saying of "I need a holiday to get over my holiday" actually seems applicable if you happen to be Paul McCartney.
The Beatle took wife Nancy Shevell on a romantic break to the Caribbean island of St Barts, just days after the pair visited Paris.
Last week, the lovebirds showed support ...
On the day their pregnancy news was announced, Thor star Chris Hemsworth, 28, and Elsa Pataky, 35, were seen in sunny St. Barts, France on Wednesday (January 18). The Fast Five actress looked lovely in blue, sporting her beautiful baby bump.
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky
Chris and Elsa - w...
She might be 44, but Tamara Mellon still boasts a figure that women half her age would be proud of.
The Jimmy Choo co-founder showed off her toned figure in a sexy animal-print bikini as she hit the beach with her daughter in St Barts yesterday.
The skimpy string two-piece highlighted Tamara's env...
With almost every other celebrity couple enjoying the New Year in exotic locations, Gary and Danielle Lineker weren't going to be any different.
The married couple were spotted enjoying a romantic walk along a beach in St Barts today - and looked very much in love.
Gary, 51 and his wife, 32, had o...
Which beaches to choose?
The glamorous island of St Barts is one of the Caribbean's top beach destinations. Ringing the island are immaculate strips of sand and ethereal turquoise waters. The shallow reefs that encircle the island help to protect these renowned beaches, and they also provide excell...
St. Barts, Why Not?
Since the wealthy and celebrated frequently visit St. Barts for a tropical vacation, you will find that many plush St. Barts Resorts can be found on this stunning island. For those taking St. Barts holidays, it is simple to find hotels with each luxury available. Frequently thes...
Vacation With the Rich and Famous at St. Barts.
Want to bump into celebrities and be seen hanging out where the rich and famous play? Then the Caribbean island of St. Barts is the place to be.
While warm sand and blue waters do make an ideal vacation location, this destination has that and a whol...
Where to go for one day in Caribbean?
St. Maarten / St. Martin
The half-Dutch, half-French island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, with its many restaurants and hotels, makes a great base for an island-hopping adventure. Graced by the nickname Unspoiled Queen, tiny little Saba is not the kind of Caribbe...
Villa La Plage in St Barts.
The posh French resort isle of St. Barth's was already a prize destination when Roman Abramovich purchased an estate there for $89 million in 2009; since the oligarch arrived it has become even more so.
Now Christie's International Real Estate has listed another impres...
Baywatch in St Barts.
Making it official after five years of engagement, Brooke Burke and beau David Charvet have reportedly tied the knot while yachting in St. Barts.
According to Life & Style, the "Dancing with the Stars" host and the former "Baywatch" hunk, who have been vacationing in the...
St. Barth Summer Sessions Aug. 5-15, 2011
St Barth Summer Sessions 2011 this year will have a focus on artists from Brazil. The festival will take place at a variety of different venues all over the island, and in the end of the festival there will be a big common concert in the Harbor of Gustavia ...
The Eclipse, no ordinary yacht.
It probably hasn't escaped your attention that, with modern methods of transport, measuring and telecommunication, no "terra incognita" is safe from the crazed enthusiasm of certain explorers of scientists. Everything has already been discovered and minutely placed o...
Ashley Rodriguez Trio
Ashley Rodriguez, one of the famous finalist from the American Idol 2010 is back in St Barth between May 5-15. Ashley was participating last summer for the St Barth Summer Session in august 2010 at La Plage and she will now come with her 'All Girls Band', Liz on the guitar ...
The La Plage restaurant introduce :
ST BARTH SUMMER SESSIONS
« 5 to 15 august 2010, 10 days of crazy music ! »
Festival program
La Plage St Jean Tel: 0590 52 81 33 Email: tombeach@wanadoo.fr Site: www.stbarthsummersessions.com
THE GREAT FISH DEBATE There seems to be a bone of contention among a few of my friends. Fine folks who love some of the finer things in life, such as Dover Sole That flat fish floating in butter and capers. Known in French as Sole Meunière, it is made from what is called in European fisherman ver...
