Journal de Bruno de Courreges, 12 Nov 2017

The Greening of St. Barths 12 NOVEMBER, 2017

P H O T O C R E D I T: D AV I D T H Y S S E N

a Journal by Bruno de Courreges

Dear Friends, So many of you have answered our call for help. Allow me to offer my deep gratitude.

Some of you haven’t been able to use our donation site (Leetchi); we have thus opened a second one, more “American credit cards” friendly, which you might try: https://www.gofundme.com/make-st-barths-greenagain We owe you some news about the island, about our non-profit organization which many of you are generously supporting, and about our projects for “Making St. Barths Green Again!”

The Island Two months after post-Irma’s first days, St Barths is unrecognizable.

Four weeks ago, I took number of pictures that seemed encouraging: first shoots on trees, reviving bushes and lawns, clean roads, etc.

Today, the island is completely green again.

Superficially green for sure, but it takes a second look to understand it.

At first glimpse, paradise is back.

Nearly all beaches look beautiful.

(Have a look at some pictures I took yesterday and the day before...)

Early morning light on BelAmour wild grasses

Pointe Milou’s main road looks normal

Road to Gouverneur is extremely welcoming

Gouverneur beach is back to normal

Saline area is blooming

The pond is clear and fresh

Grand Fond is reviving...

... but without its walls

Petit Cul de Sac doesn’t show its wounds anymore

Grand Lagon is ready

Corossol isn’t untouched; but at first glance you wouldn’t know

Colombier’s beauty seems eternal

Many restaurants already are or soon will be back to business:

Open now: Tamarin

Le Repaire

Black Ginger

Le Vietnam

Esprit Salines de Jean Claude

Island Flavors

L’Entracte, Le Ti St Barth

Le Piment

Grain de Se

Fresh West Indies

Bar de L’Oubli

Chez Joe

Isola

Le Glacier

Eddy’s

Bistro Josephine

Maya’s to Go

Au Regal

Le Select

L’Ardoise

La Cantina

Burger Palace

La Langouste

Papa’s Pizza

Le Bouchon

La Creperie

Yo Sushi Mania

Les Bananiers.

25 Quarter Galawa (ex Pipiri) Le Jardin Isoletta

(Plus local bakeries: La Petite Colombe

and Boulangerie Choisy)

Opening by December 23: La Plage, Shellona, Bagatelle, La Guerite, Orega, and The Hideaway

A first yacht has arrived in the harbor.

And for all the people in need of tranquilizing substitutes to opioids...

Hermes has reopened.

Now let’s be clear: If you can’t imagine life in St. Barths without lunch at Nikki Beach or Sand Bar, you might want to invoke force majeure to make a change to your vacation plans.

If you dislike crowds and prefer the silent joy of rekindling your relationship to nature,

the island will oer you its best.