St. Barth 2000 - Gustavia, The Town

This old anchor (from a very big ship!) stands in the park as a symbol of Gustavia's harbor.

These are just a few of the boats in the harbor. Cruise ships anchor offshore and bring tourists into town for dining and shopping. There are many smaller boats for sightseeing, diving, and fishing.

This ruin is not typical. Buildings are generally well maintained. There is also a lot of new construction going on, to the chagrin of the old-timers. (In a place like this, you can be an old timer after two or three years.) Already, it has become necessary to build more water pipes to meet the demand of the growing population.

St. Barth is picturesque but modern. Unlike some Caribbean islands, the electrical supply is reliable, and computers are common. This downtown Internet company offers a full range of business services.

Steve shops in downtown Gustavia. (Note the sign advertising Cuban cigars.) The island is a major shopping center in the Caribbean. In addition to the usual tourist stuff, shops carry high-quality jewelry, perfume, fashions and furnishings from France and around the world. The prices are no higher than in any major city in the U.S. St. Barth does not have a tradition of its own artists, and very few products are manufactured here. We did find a line of cosmetics (overpriced) that are made locally. One very attractive shop was selling locally made crafts based on the designs of the ancient and now-extinct people who lived here before the Europeans.

Another view of the harbor