Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
Are you seeking a vacation where you might not run into any other tourists? Are you seeking a Caribbean island so quaint that you could visit the whole island in a day? If you are, take a trip down to St. Eustatius. Most people have never heard of it, and most people never will.
Affectionately called Statia, it is located in the North Eastern Caribbean one hundred and fifty miles east of Puerto Rico. St. Eustatius is only five miles long and two miles wide. Along with sister islands Saba and St. Maarten, they form the Windward Islands of the Dutch Caribbean. Statia's population is as small as her size at approximately 2100.
The island has changed colonial hands at least twenty two times. The Dutch finally took possession in 1636, near the close of the war between Holland and Spain. Today people of more than twenty nationalities live on this peaceful Dutch Caribbean island. Because of the diversity Statians are comprised of a variety of cultures and speak several languages, including English, Dutch and Spanish. Even though Dutch is the official language English is spoken everywhere.
Carnival, the main event of the year, takes place for ten days from late July until early August. It is similar to other Caribbean carnivals with a pajama jump-up theme in the early morning, and the Carnival Queen and Calypso competitions culminating in the burning of King Momo, the spirit of the carnival. Depending on which month you visit, there is always a main event. In February spectate at the Cricket tournament. In March visit the Volleyball championships. In May you will be able to witness the seriousness of table tennis and Little League softball. June will provide you with plenty of games of softball and basketball. And in August watch the natives give their all in football. But not football as we know it. They call soccer football, and football rugby!
Of course you are in the Caribbean and must take advantage of the sun and water. Visit any of Statia's beaches. Oranje Beach isn't orange at all. Instead it possesses sand colors of light beige and black. Because the waves are lower on this side of the island it is ideal for children and non swimmers. There are no strong currents, undertow, sea urchins or dangerous fish.
Zeelandia Beach is two miles long and deserted. Like Oranje it has black and tan sand. The strong Atlantic surf and fresh invigorating trade winds gives a good surfing experience. The beach is also good for wading, sun-bathing and hiking.
Lynch Beach on the Atlantic side is a small beach with light brown sand. Water is shallow in spots for children during certain times of the year. It is recommended that one stays near the shore and take caution of the undertow.
Snorkeling & Scuba Diving
Statia's waters holds intriguing marine life, anchors, canons, remnants of old trade ships, natural and coral reefs. Snorkeling and diving in Statia will introduce you to the remnants of 17th and 18th century life on Statia. Dive sites are undiscovered or saturated with other divers.
Back on land there are several historical forts. Fort Oranje (built in 1629 by the French) holds several monuments. One monument is for Michiel Adriaanz de Ruyter, a Dutch Admiral on Statia. There is a copper plaque commemorating the salute to the American Man of War, Andrew Doria. Statia had a World War II Memorial before the Unite States. It was presented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939. The Bicentennial plaque was donated by the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1957.
Fort de Windt was built by the Dutch during the command of Jan de Windt between September 1753 and January 1775.
Fort Amsterdam, (Concordia) is located at the North-East section of the island. Fort Amsterdam is located on the Atlantic Ocean side of St. Eustatius, near a cliff overlooking Bargine Bay and Great Bay. You get three sites in one visit.
The island may be small, but religion plays a big part. There are several worship houses worth visiting. The Synagogue "Honen dalim" (she who is charitable to the poor) was built in 1739. It is the second oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. There is also a Jewish Cemetery with some richly embellished gravestones. The oldest gravestone is dated 1742.
The Ruins Dutch Reform Church (1755) - After two decades of wear and tear the ruins were preserved to prevent further deterioration and the tower fully restored.
Seeing that the island is only 11.8 square mile, a walking tour only seems natural. Tour of the Upper Town and Lower Towns takes approximately one to two hours. It's one of the islands highlights and will give you a review of its history. Take a hike at Quill Climb.
The Quill is a 2000 foot extinct volcano. A hike into its tropical rainforest takes between two and three hours. If you really like hiking try one of the island's twelve nature tracks.
St. Eustatius is for the vacationer who doesn't want to take the traditional tourist route. Most of the attractions are either natural or of historic value. And for a weekend getaway it is an excellent value!
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