dthk@mhuxd.UUCP (08/05/83)
In response to several articles recently on some Caribbean islands, here are some impressions of the islands we have seen during several visits over the past 5-6 years: Barbados: One of the very best. A delightful blend of England and West Indian charm. Many beautiful beaches on the west and south coasts. We prefer the south coast because there is a little wave action but not as much as the dangerous east coast. There is a highly developed and excellent network of roads--be sure and get a car and just poke around and explore the little villages. The people are friendly and like to help visitors if you treat them with dignity. There is good shopping in Bridgetown and the best selection of things to buy of any island we have seen (with the exception of St. Thomas). The flying fish is the national dish and indescribably delicious. The island is fairly flat at the south and hilly at the north, making for a nice variety of terrain. They even have some underground caves you can explore. For places to stay, try the Bresmay, Maresol, or Monteray at Dover Beach on the south coast (also called St. Lawrence Gap). These are a little more reasonable than the bigger places and have kitchens for light housekeeping if you wish. (Buy some flying fish at the local market at Oistins and cook it!) Bresmay and Monteray have pools. St. Lucia: A real paradise of unspoiled and untouristy beauty. Much more primitive and less developed than Barbados. Quiet and off the beaten track (but getting on it, unfortunately). There are some very nice hideaways there-- we stayed at the Harmony Apartel at Rodney Bay, which was brand new when we were there and very nice. It is across the street from one of the nicest beaches (Reduit Bay) which it shares with the St. Lucian hotel. The scenery is eye-popping, especially on the west side. Don't miss seeing The Pitons which are dramatic. Castries, the main city, doesn't have the selection of stores that Barbados has, but the local market is much more colorful--real W.I. atmosphere. There have been some local uprisings lately, but last I heard, things had stabilized and quieted down. US Virgin Islands: St. Croix: Much like the States, and grubby U.S. at that. Litter along the roads, American cars, etc. Some nice beaches though, and OUTSTANDING snorkeling at Buck Island (in fact, worth the trip just to see that). We stayed at Cathy's Fancy--NOT recommended because there was a disco next door that literally vibrated you out of bed on weekends. The towns are interesting. St. Thomas: We only had a few hours there as we passed through enroute from St. Croix to St. John. Very busy and crowded due to the cruise ships and duty free shopping. We understand the beaches on the north side are very nice. St. John: One of the best. Mostly National Park and so unspoiled. Absolutely delightful beaches--rated by the National Geographic as among the 10 best in the world. We want to return just for this! Cruz Bay, the only town, is delightful. Arthur Frommer's "Dollar Wise Guide to the Caribbean" has a lot of good information on places to stay, things to do, etc. Don Hawkins BTL-MH (201)-582-6517 mhuxd!dthk