Tropical heat, cloudless skies, and not a ripple in the sea. Beaches are practically deserted, and most of St. Barth's hotels, restaurants and boutiques are boarded up. With the exceptional of school hours, there is no traffic to speak of. Natural catastrophe? Hardly. It's September in St. Barth, a delicious time to be on the island, reminding those of us who are around what the island used to be like fifteen years ago, when the tourism lows were lower and longer-from April to November- and the highs were shorter, and less vertiginous.
To make this September even sweeter, all of the menacing storms have headed north, south or west of the island, leaving St. Barth hurricane-free, at least for the present. Who's going to complain about the below-average rainfall figures, the thirsty gardens and empty cisterns when there's no major weather bully to face? It's like being granted meteorological amnesty, relieving the residual angst caused by previous high-yield hurricane seasons, a succession of storm days and three particularly devastating hurricanes (Luis in '95,Jose and Lenny in '01) to haunt our memories.
The month of September is not just about being on permanent hurricane alert, however nice the weather. Because of the scarcity of tourists, city hall members use this economically weak month to start, or continue work on pending public projects. Suspended for several months, work on the "La Tourmente" construction site near the airport has once again gotten underway. First, some major modifications had to be made. Public engineers from the region had originally foreseen the construction of a "rond point", the French traffic contraption that replaces an intersection's traffic lights with a central traffic island around which cars must circulate until they reach their desired exit. Local officials contested the soundness of the departmental engineers' plan and have now nixed it for good. Another change is the level of the new airport road, which was originally set to be 1.8 meters lower than the currently existing one. The level change required extensive blasting in the area. Since that time, island officials and city planners have discovered that the lower road level would, in the end, merely present problems for both land and air traffic. As a result, the gaping hole that was created at considerable expense to the community will now simply be refilled. As for the portion of the new road leading from the intersection to the airport, it will be shifted 35 meters over from where the current road is situated. Then, the old road will be destroyed, and the new roadside area will be replanted. Just don't ask about the project's delivery date, no one is even venturing a guess anymore.
There are two new surprises awaiting tourists who plan to visit St. Barth in the upcoming months. The first is the re-opening of the Gustavia road that was closed after hurricane Lenny caused a 200-meter portion of the road to collapse. The other novelty will be L'Espace Gambier, located at the entry of Gustavia Harbor across the street from the Gustavia pharmacy. The for-years undeveloped lot will soon be converted into a new public infrastructure featuring a 25-car parking lot, a fish market, and a welcome center for cruise ship passengers.
While island officials are minding the storefront, hotel managers and owners have hit the road to promote the island abroad. Many went to Deauville to attend Top Resa, one of the most important European travel trade shows of the year that concluded last week. Hotel association members are also joining heads to put the finishing touches on the promotional week they will be hosting in New York from Oct 15-17. The Manhattan marketing coup is their concerted effort to generate enthusiasm among American tour operators and travel agencies for an island that has held up well in a post-9/11 travel economy but must actively search out new markets for summer's leaner months.
Yves Bourel
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...
