USVI-On-Line

Frank Barnako mentions this article in Conde Nast. I found it really interesting:

http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/art ... geNumber=1

Pretty sad story Lex, but thanks for passing it on.

Lex, yes I found the article interesting too and true.

I especially liked the last paragraph in reference to the local fish fry. The fish fry
was not about fish but to meet up with friends, neighbors and dance the night away at pond mouth.

I feel very blessed to have lived during the best of times.

As the article states "The winds of change are blowing."

Thanks for the link Lex - I enjoyed the article but am saddened when thinking about the future of my favorite place in the world.

Tracy

I read it to and was completely saddened...I just hope that whoever may take over the land takes into consideration the unspoiled beauty of St. John and the fact that so many people have done so much to keep it that way and respect that - for there are so so so many of us out there that appreciate it for what it is (or what it was even just a few years ago....)

Adrienne wrote:I read it to and was completely saddened...I just hope that whoever may take over the land takes into consideration the unspoiled beauty of St. John and the fact that so many people have done so much to keep it that way and respect that - for there are so so so many of us out there that appreciate it for what it is (or what it was even just a few years ago....)

I am hoping that nobody takes over the land at Maho--that somebody will step up and donate to the National Park. Only time will tell, I guess.

Someone made a comment on another site that what St. John really needs is a planner, and now, to get a handle on the construction (and the construction methods). I could not agree more.

Thanks for the article link, Lex. It made for interesting reading.

Hey Lex,

Thanks for the interesting read. The writer, Debra Klein, did a great job describing St John after only visiting once. I remember my first trip @1981 I was 19 years young, my memory is not that different from Debra's, as we approached Cruz Bay on the ferry I remember seeing alot of green to the left and white boxy houses on the hills around Cruz Bay, just not as many. She accurately describes the overdevelopment (rape) of the island and all of the negative stuff that comes along with so called progress. Just look at some of the bays, Cruz Bay and Great Cruz Bay look ok from a distance, but they are filthy. Even Mr.Selengut, who I still admire for his eco-friendly Maho camps, is selling his Concordia land so people can build their mega mansions. I must admit I've checked out the possibility of purchasing one myself. After spending a short amount of time on island and observing and hereing about the sad changes over the years Debra finished by writing "the winds of change are blowing, but not everywhere, not tonight, not here." That is how the island effected me in 1981, my wife in 1989, my daughter in 1999 and basically every year in between. I know each year that I go back that I can find a place, day or night, that is exactly the way it was in 1981.

Enjoy St John!

Budman