What You Need to Know When Visiting St. Croix

When we gathered the first morning for Orientation, our wonderful leader, George Marshall, had us break up into groups of dancers who had never been to St. Croix before and veterans of the Tropical Dance Vacation.

New dancers were asked to come up with questions they would like answered about St. Croix and vets were asked to pass along something they wished they had known on their first visit.

In that vein, I am asking those of you who visit this blog to offer your comments on what visitors to St. Croix should know. Just use the comment box below. Thanks!! Love, MJ

Searching Watch-O for Chaney

When I learned about the pretty jewelry made from old blue and white crockery shards (called chaney*) combed from the beaches & ruins of St. Croix, I decided to look for a pair of earrings for a dear friend at home to say thanks for getting me to and from the airport at home. Unfortunately, the jewelry was outside my budget and I decided I would at least like to find a piece or two to take home – maybe I could get it made into earrings later for Diana's birthday.

Doug Frank, who grew up on St. Croix, sent me to an area on the south side of the island, once owned by His family, to scour the hill there. The high craggy hill is called Watch-O for its incredible vistas, and while . I didn’t find any chaney, but I did enjoy the views.

And I did finally get a piece of chaney; Jote kindly gave me a piece she had found. I will have to find my own next year.

*According to Whealan Massicott of Ibdesigns, the name is derived from the words ‘china’ and ‘money’. When local children found them, he says, they would round them out by pounding against stones and use them as play money.

More Views from Watch-O

To the east:



































The views to the west are of Hovensa, Hess Oil's refinery in St. Croix.
There is no tax on crude shipped from Venezuela to St. Croix and once refined it's on US soil and can be shipped to the mainland without taxation.





































We also met a Senepol along the way:

















What was your most interesting adventure in St. Croix?

The Dance Is The Thing

I came early to St. Croix, thinking I would dive and sightsee before the dance began, but found the water too chilly (79 degrees F) for this Florida baby and the body too lazy. Not to worry - the dance is the the thing. Aside from my fascination for my work as an SEO and copywriter, contra dancing *is* my life. It’s why I move to Asheville, and it’s my greatest source of pleasure. Yes, the dance is the thing.

But there is so much else to do in St. Croix. Endless beaches with great snorkeling and beachcombing; quaint plantations and sugar factory ruins with marked by the stubby remains of windmills and the taint of wretched slavery that supported a grand lifestyle for the planters.




The end of slavery in the 1860s brought little to improve the lives of former slaves; they were nominally free, but working conditions and compensation was miserable, I learned at Estate Little Princess. Conditions only improved with the advent of tourism in the 1950’s.

Estate Little Princess, located a short stroll down the shore from Sugar Beach Resort, is under restoration by the Nature Conservancy. There are many other picturesque plantations to tour on St. Croix. The best known is the Whim Plantation.

Tropical Dance in St. Croix - Preview Week

I left Asheville at 7:30 am Thursday, bound for St. Croix. Four flights later I arrived - without bags. Not to worry, I’d been told this was likely, and when I reported the bags, Karen, who took my claim said most flights have at least one luggage-less passenger. So, I was prepared with a change of clothes and a few necessaries in my carry on …

Not to worry … but I did a little. The prospect of that much shopping was not attractive … but the worry was for nothing, as I am told my bags will be delivered within the hour.I

I arrived at the Sugar Beach condo complex bagless, but not friendless. George Marshall and his stage crew are already here, pitching the tents and building the dance floor … in a few days, 150 or so contra dancers will gather for a Tropical Dance Vacation - a week of dancing to Wild Asparagus.

George and friends were expecting me for dinner … and made me feel welcome with smiles and gourmet leftovers - Doug and Jane had made Rosemary Chicken, roasted vegetables and green curry vegetables. Scrummy!

Matece and Gary were recently married and we watched the wedding slides - why does it feel so different now that we watch on laptops rather than the slide projector I remember from my childhood? Dis showing slides became so boring and outdated that it feels new and fun because the medium has changed? The message is the same and I love seeing the memories then and now.

Also on hand: Annalisa from Portland, who, with Beth, cooks for the crew, Bruce from the NC coast, Beth and Jote and Robbie. Soon after I arrived, Matisse led a yoga class … the couch and chairs were pushed aside and yoga mats laid out and positions were assumed. To the strains of Deva Parnell we held our Yin Yoga asanas for 3 minutes at a time.

Bruce took me for a walk on the beach to show me the grounds, pointing out the edges of the property, the water breaking the reef, Buck Island a shadow under a moonless sky …

It's my first morning in St. Croix, and I am waiting for my luggage ... hopeful. I think I will stretch a little now, and perhaps my bags will arrive while my head is resting on my knees.