Hello, everyone!
Winter is here,
& it’s a chilling 82 degrees! Might get down
to 72 tonight! BRRRRR! I understand the all
time low on St. Croix was 61 degrees. This
time of year, the water is about the same
temperature as the air. It’s an odd
sensation, & very pleasant. We’ve had lots
of rain, so cisterns are full, the island is
green & lush, & all the birds & wildlife are
happy with the abundant flowers & food.
So many people
ask me about the Christiansted bypass. For
some time, there have been no changes. But,
surveyors have been out on the street from
Gateway Gas Station to the west end of the
bypass marking in orange spray paint. I
understand that work will be done on the
road in conjunction to the bypass. Work will
soon begin on the road, & I’ve heard that
paving the bypass should begin sometime in
2010. I think this is an important project
because it will allow ambulances to get to
the east end without the traffic, & roads of
downtown.
The Roseway has
returned to St. Croix, adding its lovely
presence, friendly crew, & fun evening sail
rides. This beautiful 1925 schooner is a
National Historic Landmark, & it just graces
our harbor. We’ve been out twice for their
sunset sails. Once was on a very calm
placid day. The second time was on a day
where the boat was tilted on an angle as it
hit each wave, & everyone got soaked! Both
were wonderful experiences! I would
recommend it to anyone. Check them out at
www.worldoceanschool.org. When they are
not taking people out for sunset sails, they
private charter, & take 7th
graders out for a great learning experience
during the school day!
The
organization CHANT (Crucian Heritage and
Nature Tourism) has begun walking tours of
Frederiksted and Christiansted. The tours
highlight the historic churches, forts, &
other buildings of interest. CHANT is a
volunteer, non-profit organization
originally formed in 2003. Their goal is to
establish heritage and nature as both the
lead tourism product, or “brand”, for St.
Croix, and the vehicle for sustainable
community development. Objectives include
acting as sustainable tourism catalysts by
seeking to build support for Heritage and
Nature Tourism among the Department of
Tourism and all other tourism interest on
St. Croix. Other tours are with Ay Ay Eco
Hike & Tours where you take a walking tour
in the Rain Forest with a master gardener,
herbalist, naturalist, and environmentalist.
Also, Virgin Kayak & Canoe where you would
tour the National Historical Park and
Ecological Preserve at Salt River Bay where
Columbus discovered St. Croix. For more
information call 340-719-5455, e-mail –
chantvi@viaccess.net, on-line -
www.chantvi.org.
The Landmarks
Society
www.stcroixlandmarks.com , has wonderful
events scheduled which include music at
Estate Whim Plantation, & Ruins Rambles
through old plantation ruins each month
until May 2010. There’s also the House Tours
Driving Tours in January & February.
Ground has been
broken on a project to bury all the power &
telephone lines in downtown Christiansted.
This has already been done in Frederiksted,
& has made a big difference in bringing out
the character of the lovely old buildings.
The architecture of both towns is so
beautiful! Getting rid of all those ugly,
but functional, power poles & lines will add
to the charm. This project will take a very
long time.
Ground has also
been broken on a bike path which will run
along the south shore! It will be a great
addition to bikers, joggers, & walkers, &
will be the longest bike path in the
Caribbean! This project will probably take a
long time, too.
There have been
many cruise ships coming to St. Croix. What
began as a rather rocky start in welcoming
them has radically changed. We were in
Frederiksted recently when a cruise ship was
in port, & it was wonderful seeing all the
vendors with colorful Caribbean wares, taxi
drivers with big smiles gathering up their
passengers, music, dancers, & the lovely
harbor. I was so proud of St. Croix! And,
the tourists looked happy & interested in
our island.
