1st Entry: Mayhem at Maho

[mia]

We just got back from St. John yesterday. While there we went to Maho, where we parked across the street. We didn't get ticketed nor did we see any other cars getting ticketed.....guess we got lucky because I know this has been the case recently.
What we did witness was absolutely amazing! A big jeep pulled right up onto the beach to park; of course it was immediately followed by another jeep....which pulled up next to it. Driver of second jeep was assured by driver of first jeep that it was okay to park on the beach because she had parked there previously with "no problem". Can you imagine? Two jeeps marring the pristine sands of Maho? After I closed my mouth (jaw had dropped), I started ranting...."Where in the heck are the authorities when some idiot parks his/her vehicle in the sand?" Suddenly, as if in answer to my query, we heard..."GET YOUR CAR OFF THE BEACH!"....sounded like someone with a bullhorn It was a feisty lady taxi driver who had stopped her taxi....continuing to shout, "GET YOUR CAR OFF THE BEACH!" Finally the woman from the first jeep appeared; she actually started to argue with the taxi driver....telling her that she had parked in the exact same spot a few days ago The taxi driver's reply? "GET YOUR CAR OFF THE BEACH!" Driver reluctantly removed her jeep from the beach while taxi lady waited. We continued to watch as she slowly drove along the beach....all the while shouting for the second jeep to move it. We stared in disbelief as the second offending couple totally ignored the directive from the taxi driver! Perhaps they couldn't hear her? She eventually drove off....albeit not happily
This incident was immediately followed by two torrential downpours forcing the second couple to flee
Karma??? You be the judge......mia

[California Girl]

There should be some kind of intelligence test people have to take before they're allowed on the island! What idiots!!

[Pia]

Same thing happened to me - I was about to swim Maho last September, and when I pulled up there was a car parked on the beach (I think you all know where - in the "large" spot close to the bend) Now take into account that it was only that car and me at Maho in September so ALL of the other legal spots were available and I mean ALL of them, so I walk up to the couple and their small child and tell them that it is a No Parking Spot (there is/was a sign there actually but it has fallen down ) and that if caught they will be fined (National Park Service can and sometimes does fine people for parking there but I thought I would tell them they would so as to put the "Fear of God" into them and thus make them move ) but their only response was "well, how much is the fine?" I was speachless and needless to say they refused to move !!!!

Pia

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

Are you guys talking about parking on the beach where people like to stroll, past the tree lines, or, are you talking about the spots that look like parking spots that are kind of carved into the tree line? I know there are spots across the street (we use these) but it also seems like there are "official" parking spots on the beach side of the road, kind of cut into the trees.

Just curious. I don't want to see vehicles ON the beach.

Marcia

[Pia]

I think we are talking about the same spot - there are spots cut out between the trees on the beach side and the "other side" of the road - they are fine. The spot I am talking about is almost at the curve of the road heading towards Coral Bay from Cruz Bay, there is a large (room for 2-3 cars) opening between trees where you are directly on the beach after going down a curb - it is a no no to park there

I think the thing that got me the most was that they said "well, how much is the fine" and refused to move when there was ample parking and not "Oh, I am so sorry we didn't know" or words to that effect

Pia

[mia]

Marcia,
I am not talking about "official" parking spots...why would this upset me or anyone else? I'm talking about going over a fairly big curb (which knocked the rear view mirror off of the first jeep) and pulling right on to a portion of the beach, with the front of the vehicle facing the shore. IMHO this behavior exhibited an egregious disregard for the rights of others who have come to enjoy the serenity and beauty of Maho....mia

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[Xislandgirl]

It is sad that some people think that because they are on vacation they can do whatever they want, but that is the truth no matter where you go.Most of th e poeple in my town are wondeful, but there are some that would park their car on the beach, if we had one.

When I was waitressing at a well known fine dining restaurant in Cruz Bay many years ago, I waited on a couple from NY. No matter what I did, she would say "They don't do it like that in NY." Every time I went to the table, she would say it. Taking their order, delivering their food, clearing plates, bringing dessert, no matter what I did, she would say it. When I dropped the check she said it again and I had enough. I looked at her and said " Do you see the Empire State Building?" to which she replied "of course not" and I looked her straight in the eye and said. "that is because we are not in New York"

I did not get a tip, but I felt a whole lot better.

[mia]

Way to go, Xislandgirl!

[VaGirl]

Not hard to see where tourists get a bad name...I would never think of doing anything like that. My love of and respect for the island and the way of life there would never let me destroy or harm anything. Unfortunately, there are rude, insensitive people everywhere and what will eventually happen is that there will be no parking at all at this beautiful spot. When I "discovered" STJ a few years ago, I knew I had found paradise; stories like these make me not want to share it!