|
||||
St Barthelemy ("St Barths" or "St Barts" in short) is a small island 5 miles long and 2 miles wide. Located in the chain of the Caribbean islands, about 10 miles southeast of St Maarten, this small "part of France" in the West Indies, renowned for its peace and its beauty, attracts every year many visitors from all over the world. The climate is very pleasant with temperatures ranging from 70 to 80 F° all year. Trade winds blow practically all year long, although more pronounced from December till April. It is not raining much, showers being generally of short duration. Water temperature is about 75 F° in winter and in the 80's during summer, the delight to soak from one of the beaches of white sand ! Luxury hotels and shops in the big names go alongside with natural beauty on earth and under the sea. Water sports are everywhere, but one of the favourite pastimes is to go from one restaurant to the other or still to venture on the idleness of the beach...... The relaxed rhythm of life and the kindness of the inhabitants make that one always returns to St Barthelemy......
Language Formalities of entry Time difference Currencies Power Telephone The island is also covered by two local "GSM" cell phone networks (called "Orange" and "Bouygues Télécom") with "roaming" options for numerous foreign operators. For more information, check with your local operator. If you wish to obtain a local GSM number, it is possible without subscription, by using a prepaid "SIM card". St Barth Electronique in St Jean will assist you in this process. To call from a public phone, you need to buy a prepaid phonecard, available at the Post office and in many shops. AT&T: 0800 99 00 11 - MCI: 0800 99 00 19 Internet To connect to AOL - Compuserve: The number is 0590 21 32 79 (Guadeloupe). There is also a "cyberspace" in Gustavia (20 on-line computers with fast connection): Centralizes (0590 29 89 89). Since october 2003, the island is covered by DSL for fast Internet connections, with speeds up to 1024 Kbps. Check with France Telecom office in St Jean or St Barth Electronique for more information. Post office & Express mail Tourist information office Hotels Association
We distinguishe two categories of inhabitants in St Barthelemy. There are on one hand the natives and on the other hand the "residents" coming from the mainland (France) and some other countries. The natives, calling themselves proudly the "St Barths", represent the majority of the population and are the direct descendants of the arrived Breton and Norman colonists in the 18th century. Foreigners (French & Americans essentially) come to complete the population. All share the same love of the island. The "St Barths" have a proud and independent character. Having always learnt to manage without the help of France, they are responsible, voluntary and hard-working and disciplined. They know fishing and trading, and managed well to seize the opportunities that the tourism was able to brought on the island, while protecting skillfully their possessions and interests. The "St Barths" are nevertheless very shy and do not trust easily foreigners. They take good care of their environment: houses, gardens, etc.. The numerous associations for nature preservation confirm this fact. The "class distinction" exists only at the economic level and not in the social standing. A special attention is carried to the family and to social life. Traditional values keep an important place. Some people have relatives in St Thomas, and in the US Virgin Islands, who formerly left St Barth during the recession. The links with the Americans and their way of life are sometimes stronger than with France or Guadeloupe. The foreigners installed recently on the island, look for a different "lifestyle" from the one found in Europe or America. Far from big cities and their pollution, they find here a more adapted "lifestyle" in their aspiration of adventure and discovery, or simply protected tranquillity. The integration is not always easy, but is certainly worth it.
In the 10th century, the island is occupied by the Caribbean Indians who name the island then "Ouanalao ". The island is discovered by Christopher Colombus in the year 1493, who renames it to the name of his brother "Bartholomew". After a first attempt of colonization, Norman and Breton sailors land in 1763 and settle to create a colony. Some pirates occupy then St Barth and improve the conditions of life thanks to numerous booties stolen from the Spanish galleons. Later, fishermen, traders and small farmers settle down. The island is however too small and dry to grow sugarcane, with direct consequence that there is no need for african slaves. In 1784, under Louis XIV, St Barth is sold to Sweden, in exchange of commercial rights in the Swedish port of Göteborg. The island is declared "Tax free", which makes it a place of prosperity in the Caribbean, thanks to the many trade vessels in the region. However, at the end of the wars, the vessels don't come any more, and a period of recession begins then . In 1878, France buys back St Barth, and its status of "tax free island" is maintained. Some vestiges of Swedish period are still visible on the island nowadays: the name of some streets, some buildings and a cemetery. The name "Gustavia" also ensues from the name of Swedish king "Carl Gustaf". In 1946, Guadeloupe (on which St Barth depends administratively), as well as Martinique receive the status of "overseas territories of France". The inhabitants got a passport. They have then the same rights and duties as any other Fench citizen of the mainland. Since the beginning of the 80's, the local population has doubled. Tourism knows a considerable development thanks to numerous visitors coming mainly from the US, but also Europe. From then on, the natives remain on the island and don't emigrate anymore towards some more prosperous islands such as St Thomas or Guadeloupe. Many "foreigners" also come to settle down on the island then.
|
||||
Star Location - St Jean Airport– Saint Barthelemy (St. Barths, St. Barts, St. Barth, St-Barth's) |
