Earlier in the year, I rambled on about my penchant for undiscovered locales and how I try to avoid the over-publicized celebrity hot-spots. But, out of curiosity (and in efforts not to be so closed minded), I started keeping track of the travel patterns of some of the A-listers. Los Cabos, Hawaii, and the French Riviera bubbled to the top of the list … and so has St Barts. I didn’t know much about the locale and decided to do a little research. With so many folks planning to celebrate the New Year on this tiny island, I thought I’d share a few interesting tidbits. History, a little gossip and some delectable eye candy follow.
ABOUT ST BARTS
St Barts, more formally known as Saint Barthélemy, is a french commune nestled in the northeast Caribbean, not far from Saint Martin and Saint Kitts. Christopher Columbus discovered St Barts in 1493 and named it after his brother Bartolomeo. It was settled by the French in 1648 who later sold the island to Sweden and then reclaimed it in 1878. With the exception of a few lingering references and the historical significance of their decision to abolish slavery, Swedish culture has essentially disappeared. Today, the language, food and culture of St Barts are unmistakeably French infused with a bit of Creole. Covering an area of 8.1 square miles, St Barts is approximately one-eighth the size of Washington, DC, but boasts 21 beaches and a variety of shallow water reefs. With less than 8,000 residents, a smattering of small hotels, and ton of private rental estates, villas and yatchs available, it’s no wonder celebrities find solace there. I personally am a fan of the blues and turquoises which dominate the photos and I must admit that I am now lusting after this Caribbean jewel. (Hey, don’t judge! Travel inspiration and wanderlust can come from anywhere.) If you’d like to know a bit more about St Barts, check out the following resources: Wikipedia, The CIA World Factbook, St Barts Vacation Guide.
A LITTLE GOSSIP
The word on the block is that Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich owns a 70 acre estate in St Barts and recently docked the worlds largest private yacht there. He also apparently throws a mean New Years Eve soiree. Last year, a couple hundred A-listers including Bey and Jay joined in the fun. This year, Abramovich is flying in the Black Eyed Peas for a private performance, and a long list of celebs have already been spotted enjoying the natural beauty that St Barts has to offer.
P Diddy with his twins in St Barts (courtesy of Oh Gossip)
P Diddy, Kim Porter and their brood [Celebrity Baby Scoop]
Alicia Keys & Swiss Beatz [The YBF]
SAMPLE SOME EYE-LAND CANDY
Here are a few shots of the biggest celebrity of them all – the island itself!
Saint Barts from the Air (courtesy of Blue Ocean Villas)
St Bart's Blues (courtesy of www.away.com)
Sunset in St Barts (courtesy of MitchT at www.sbhonline.com)
