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Hi everyone!
Brian and I just returned from a week-long visit to St. Croix. I always enjoy reading other people's impressions of the island, whether they're first-timers like us or have lived there for decades. So here are some of my observations, in list form so you won't go cross-eyed.
1. The people really are the nicest community I've ever met. The first local I met gave me a lead on a job (or maybe a lead on a lead on a job). I love the general "good morning/afternoon/night" greeting everyone announces upon entering a place... makes it feel like we all know each other.
2. The island has a nice small town feel. Almost everywhere we went, we saw people who knew each other and had just bumped into each other and were making friendly conversation... NOT empty small talk, but genuine conversation.
3. I don't think I'll ever get tired of mongoose crossings. Those little guys are so funny, darting out across the road. I know the plural isn't "mongeese," but I do occasionally call them that, because it's just too funny not to. I'm grateful to Brian for not thinking I was completely crazy when I asked him to pull the car over on a quiet road and then stood in the middle of the road with the camera... and came running back to the car 3 minutes later when I had captured a mongoose crossing on film!
4. Butter bread is delicious. My M.O. in bakeries was to listen to what the locals ordered (since nothing is labeled anyway) and order whatever seemed to be popular. Butter bread... yum... the airport security workers laughed when they saw that Brian's carry-on contained 5 of them!
5. We stayed at Mt. Victory Camp, and I can't say enough good things about it. Bruce and Mathilde are wonderful hosts, and the camp is gorgeous. It provides everything you need and nothing you don't. We stayed in our own tent at the top of their hill, cooked food in their bar area, and used their rustic but very nice bathroom facilities. (There's nothing like a hot shower by moonlight!) We even got to watch the lunar eclipse from the camp. And I think there were more stars visible from there than in the desert outside of Phoenix.
6. Frederiksted... so sad that much of it is so run-down. The area by the pier and Strand St. is beautiful, but it seems like all those benches and walkways are always empty.
7. One wrong turn can put you on a dead-end dirt road. I love that! When you do actually get going 50mph on 66, it feels way too fast! The slow pace of traffic on the island is refreshing, as well as the fact that car horns are always used in a friendly way.
8. Annaly Bay is just gorgeous. We were directed to the area for hiking, and hike we did! It's quite a steep walk back up, but totally worth it. We spent some time in the tide pools by the rocky beach and loved every minute of it. Sadly, we passed some surveyors, and I hear that the area has been bought by a developer. Judging by the "Save Annaly Bay" bumper stickers we saw everywhere, someone is fighting it. I hope they win.
9. Vegeria in Frederiksted is a delicious little hole in the wall that has great take-out food for lunch. It doesn't look like much of a restaurant, but it tastes great, and it's so close to the beach that it's perfect for grabbing food for a picnic.
10. Armstrong ice cream... yum! I liked the article on the wall about the company's beginning. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears, like most family businesses.
11. The jungle really does come indoors... but I kinda like the lizards. We were quite entertained by one who was catching flies as we drank our daily sunset drink at Sunset Grill.
12. I was surprised at some of the things available... internet in the library, for example. I lived in a tiny fishing village in Louisiana that didn't even have a library. I think the island is a good mix of rustic and modern.
And now some questions...
1. What are the current and recent real estate trends? I won't be able to move or buy there until 28 months from now because of my current job. What have prices been doing lately? Will there still be plenty of undeveloped land available in a few years, or is it all being snatched up now?
2. Does anyone have a good recipe for butter bread? 🙂
3. Where in the world do people GO In the evenings?! We drove past a large number of bars that appeared to be closed at 8pm. I'm not a huge late-night partier, but it would have been fun to go out on our last night (Friday) on the island. Despite reports of a jazz thing in Frederiksted, the town was deserted, and even in Christiansted on Thursday night, after the art thing, there wasn't much going on. At home, we usually have friends over or go to a friend's place for dinner and/or drinks, so it's not a big deal, but it just makes me curious. I feel like there was a big party that I wasn't invited to. 🙂
Posted : February 24, 2008 4:13 pm
Most locals are home by sunset and families stay home in the evenings for the most part. Some of the younger crowd will hang out at a reggae bar in their neighorhood.
Much of the time if you find a late night hot spot, it's filled with Continentals and tourists more so than with locals. Some of the beach bars stay open into the evening if they have patrons but close if the customers all go home. You can usually find restaurants and bars open along the boardwalk in C'sted late into the evening and the clubs on King Street begin to open just before the boardwalk bars close; so those seeking a party into the early morning hours just walk up the street from the boardwalk and into the clubs. For late night parties up in the rain forest, watch the Domino Club for when they have events planned like when Kurt Schindler goes there to play or Banooba is on-island as they often play until dawn.
A lot of the social life on STX is among groups of friends. They may meet at someone's home or on a beach or at a beach bar or boat hop at a marina, etc.
Real Estate prices rose dramatically from spring of 2004 through early 2007. We have been in a much more stable market since then and prices have decreased a little as things have stabilized. There is less activity going on the past six months than at any time in the previous three years, sending us into something of a buyer's market. Some new listings still sell quickly if they are unique or priced just right, but others are sitting on the market for a while even when there is nothing apparently "wrong" with them. There are price ranges where nothing is selling and price ranges where properties still move. Land has been selling well, but condos and houses are in a slow-down. You can expect there to still be land available for development when you are ready to look at purchasing in 2-3 years. What will happen with prices between then and now likely will be determined in part by the outcome of the presidential election.
Posted : February 24, 2008 4:59 pm
My Husband and I are looking to enjoy your island, however, we really like Mill Harbour, but have heard nothing but negativity from the realtor about the JFK Housing near it.. is this true of the crime right near it or is it just like anyhting else, and how is it really... We are both Union electricians in Chicago and looking ot move to the islands get some jobs in the construction field.. I actually am a Telecom electrician so I was looking at getiing with Innovative? We'll see!! but as for the housing situation I have a sm. dog (Yorkie- 5lbs ) and he's like a cat -litter box trained.. however, some listings say no pets some say nothing at all , but Mill harbour add said they do allow pets.. but the realtor said not sure? what is the deal, and why would it matter if your buying the place.. you own it.. right.. help me understand and find places that are in safe areas and allow dogs or cats...ours are like cats...
THanks,
Chicago
Posted : February 28, 2008 8:09 pm
