While most of the civilized world is lying low, avoiding the dog days of August, the local population in Saint-Barth inexplicably springs into action. Not only is it the hottest time of the year, but it is also the beginning of hurricane season and the weather cannot be counted on to be very cooperative. 
Never-the-less, from late July until late August, there are neighborhood fairs, sporting events and the celebration of various saint days - from St BarthŽlemy himself to St. Louis, patron saint of the fishermen in the village of Corossol. This year the season started with the neighborhood of Flamands and migrated through Lorient to Gustavia and finally Corossol. Run by local non-profit organizations who actually can make a tidy profit running the bar at these various events, these day-long happenings start very early in the morning, when most of us would rather still be in bed. The first thing on the program is frequently a mass in one of the local churches or a crack-of-dawn fishing tournament. The activities continue, right through noon and the hottest part of the day, proving that some people around see nothing wrong with mad dogs or Englishmen when it comes to avoiding the sun. The fun ranges from sailboat races and beach volleyball to soccer games, tug-of-war, triathalons and Junior Miss competitions as well as games of cards, dominoes and the local version of boules. First prize for the latter tests of talent is often a live goat who spends the day tied to a tree pondering his fate.
While all of this is going on, there is also the local volleyball tournament, the annual St. Barth's Cup, which runs the better part of the month. Over 100 players divide up into about twelve teams (boys vs boys and girls vs girls) where the players range in age from about 16 to 35. The action takes place on a local tennis court with as many as 400 fans filling the bleachers every night. This year was the "year of the hair," as several players turned up with bright blue and bright green dye jobs. The problem is that these colors don't last too long, but since the hair's natural color was stripped away first, these guys now look like a group of male albinos has arrived on the island.
Traditional wooden sail boats, with names like "The Flying Fish" and "The Windward Beauty," take place in regattas along with catamarans and kid-powered mini-sailboats. All of this takes place under a sun so hot that a 90¡ in the shade seems like a respite. At night, there are concerts on tennis courts and on the beach, but this year some of these were rained out, causing hundreds of people to run for cover while the band watches forlornly from under the sagging plastic roof that covers their instruments and amplifiers.
I've discovered that the best place to be during all this excitement is a beach-front hamac at my mother-in-law's house in Flamands where there is always a cool ocean breeze. Anything I can't see from here, I'm sure to hear about sooner or later.
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...
Eugénie Blanchard: The Oldest Person In The World
Born in Saint Barth on February 16, 1896, Eugénie Blanchard became the doyenne of humanity on Tuesday, May 4. Since May 25, 2008, she has been the oldest person in France, and at the age of 114, she is also now the oldest person in the world, fo...
2010 St Barth Book Festival
Organized by the association Saint BArt, the fifth edition of the St Barth Book Festival took place April 12 to 20, 2010. Four authors were the invited guests this year, including Alex Godard, writer and illustrator from Marie Galante, known primarily for his wonderf...
2010 St Barth Film Festival
The St Barth Film Festival Cinéma Caraïbes celebrated its 15th anniversary on April 24-30, 2010. This year, organizers Ellen Lampert-Gréaux, Joshua Harrison, Rosemond Gréaux, and Sophie Maupoil paid tribute to Haiti, with the projection of Moloch Tropical, the...
FILMS ON THE BEACH We survived! The 15th annual St Barth Film Festival, which took place April 24-30, 2010, was a very interesting event this year, with a wide range of films and filmmakers from the Caribbean basin. Getting them all to the island was quite an accomplishment, with the clouds of volc...
