Good Morning All! I wanted to take a moment today to give you a little insight as to what’s been happening on St. John. Typically, during this time of year, things are starting to quiet down a bit. But not this year…Things are still bustling and booming on St. John as we enter the peak months of the 2021 Hurricane Season! In addition to seeing a ton of people coming and going at the edge of the dock and witnessing the continually overflowing beach parking lots, I have spoken to a couple of restaurant managers and owners this week who reported full capacity numbers each night. With dining establishments slowly closing their doors for some off season break time and weekend and holiday beach curfews in place, things could get a bit difficult as far as traffic goes.
A unique island
Tropical Storm Warning in Effect for USVI and Puerto Rico
Good Morning All! We have talked a lot over the past few months about what to expect while traveling to St. John during hurricane season. Well, as of Monday evening, a tropical storm warning was called into effect for the USVI and Puerto Rico. A weather disturbance, currently over the Eastern Caribbean, tracks south of St. Croix and could bring a decent amount of wind and rain to the territory later today. But, “Don’t Freak Out!” Here’s a bit about what you might see during these tropical storm conditions and some pointers on what to expect and how to prepare out for rough weather while visiting the territory during the peak hurricane season months of August-October.
Read moreTropical Storm Warning in Effect for USVI and Puerto Rico
National Park Service Opens Caneel Bay Lease to Competitive Bids
That’s right. If you have been following along for the past few years, you know this is BIG NEWS on the Caneel Bay Resort front. It may still be some time before we are enjoying Caneel Bay once again, but this move is a huge step in the right direction, and fueled by community input! Yesterday the National Park Service released the following statement.
Read moreNational Park Service Opens Caneel Bay Lease to Competitive Bids
Sahara Dust Settles Over St. John
Good Morning! If you’re on island right now, you might notice a crazy hazy atmosphere dimming the horizon line surrounding St. John. That haze is, in fact, dust particles from the Sahara Desert that have traveled thousands of miles on the trade winds to settle over the Virgin Islands for a bit. It’s not an uncommon, or a necessarily bad, occurrence. But, it might cast a bit of a shadow on the traditional Caribbean sunset views and clog up the air ways just a bit!
Fourth of July Events Planned for Vaccinated Participants
If you have ever been to St. John over the Fourth of July, you know what a grand celebration it is! In a normal year, St.John Carnival is the week leading up to, not only the US Independence Day holiday, but also the Virgin Islands Emancipation Day on July 3. A week filled with late night music and exhausted residents 🙂 begins with the much anticipated food fair and culminates on the morning of July 3 with an early morning/late night Jouvert celebration and a mid-day, very St. John style, parade on the fourth. Generally, there are also fireworks that evening.
Read moreFourth of July Events Planned for Vaccinated Participants
Island Update: Sunday Rain brings May Flowers!
Well, it’s official. This weekend, someone’s rain dance or water delivery or clothes on the line worked fantastically well. Because Sunday morning we woke up to the hammering of rain on the metal roof, isolated sounds of thunder, a canceled half day charter and rolling power outages. It POURED all day long and accumulation rose over an inch in one day! Which is fantastic news, considering that earlier this month the NOAA declared that the territory was officially in a severe drought. And the browning hillsides reinforced that proclamation with visual evidence.
Good Morning, Good Morning – Virgin Islands History and Culture
Good Morning, Good Morning! If you have ever been in a place of business in the Virgin Islands, you may have been bewildered at a behavior slightly unique to this incredible place and its culture. I remember, in my early years on St. John, standing in what seemed to be an endless line at First Bank each week. Every single person who walked through the door uttered the words, “Good morning, Good morning.” And,in turn, each person in line, and behind the busy counter, voiced a similar response. I found it to be a bit odd at first. But after a few months, I found it to be comforting and inclusive and realized that I received a much kinder (and helpful!) response to my queries and questions as I went about my days adopting, and adapting to, this beautiful habit.
In this award winning short film from Wonder Lab Films, the documentary makers explore the “history and culture of the people of the Virgin and their inspiring culture of coexistence.” And it begins, and ends, with one VERY simple thing that we can all do ” to adapt to one another and that acts as a bridge between people learning to understand and accept each other.”
Read moreGood Morning, Good Morning – Virgin Islands History and Culture
Leinster Bay Named “Network to Freedom” Historic Site
Last month, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced the addition of 16 new additions to the nearly 700 Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program’s historic sites. One of which is right here on St. John…
Read moreLeinster Bay Named “Network to Freedom” Historic Site
Love City Legends – The Donkeys
If you have ever visited St. John, you know that spotting our beloved four hoofed friends on the roadside or along the hiking trails is as probable as encountering a turtle at Maho Bay. The hundreds of donkeys on St. John who travel the island in packs of three to five or more can be spotted in the most unexpected of places and are SO friendly and gentle. Even so, approaching the donkeys and feeding them is a big no no and a mistake made at the expense of the health of the animals.
And the Raffle Winner is….
Good Morning Everyone! We have been the promotional partner with Island Green Living Association over the past month in an effort to promote ticket sales for their “Two Tickets to Paradise” fundraiser. If you have been following along, you know how amazing this prize package is and that one lucky winner will be taking an all expenses paid trip to St. John that includes airfare, excursions, dining and accommodations! Well, after cooperatively raising $112,000 in support of sustainability efforts on St. John, a winner has been announced!