Stacia: Golden Rock of the Caribbean
Written: Aug 11 '01 (Updated Mar 07 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: amazing history
Cons: can be boring if you aren't good at making your own fun
The Bottom Line: If you're looking for a quiet getaway, far off the beaten path, this island is for you!
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| jdhauer's Full Review: St. Eustatius |
On November 16, 1776, the American ship Andrew Doria sailed past Sint Eustacius firing a 13 gun salute. It was returned with an 11 gun salute by the Dutch commander Johannes de Graaff which marked the first time that the United States of America was recognized by another country. You can read all about it in an excellent book (The First Salute) by Barbara Tuchman.
Before making this "mistake", Stacia was known as "The Golden Rock". It was the most prosperous country in the world, playing a vital role as a duty-free port. Back then, the British and the French had very high taxes and duties in their ports so it was well worth the time it took to sail to Stacia. There were warehouses along the shoreline, filled to the brim with sugar, rum, molasses, and fine porcelain and linens. The slave trade was booming and expanded business in war supplies thanks to that little uprising in the American colonies was making Stacia even richer than ever.
However, de Graaff's salute angered the British. It made them so mad that they sent Admiral George Rodney to blast the dickens out of the tiny island. The warehouses were pillaged, the merchants were booted and the riches were auctioned off. On top of that, two major hurricanes devastated the island. It then changed hands at least 22 times. Stacia was no longer "The Golden Rock" and became a quiet place well away from the bustle of the rest of the Caribbean.
What to See and Do
There is only one town on the island, Oranjestad. It consists of two halves: an "Upper Town" and a "Lower Town". Most people live and work in Upper Town. In Lower Town, you can see ruins of the warehouses and even do a little swimming. The two "towns" are connected by an old slave trail footpath which is quite steep.
In Upper Town, you can explore Fort Oranje and the Sint Eustatius Museum (Simon Doncker House). The fort has a plaque presented to the island by Franklin Roosevelt while the museum is known as one of the best in the Caribbean. You can also tour the ruins of the second oldest synagogue in the western hemisphere, Honen Dalim plus the open-air Dutch Reformed Church. The roof fell in during a hurricane over 200 years ago but the walls are still strong and sturdy.
Down in Lower Town, you can snorkel out to see sunken sections of the former seawall off of Oranje Beach. The beach has gray sand and isn't very big but it's the best the island has to offer. The other beach on the island is out at Zeelandia. It also has dark sand but the currents are generally too dangerous for swimming and there is a lot of oceanic trash that collects on the beach.
The other main attractions on Statia are Fort de Windt (where you can see St. Kitts) and hiking up to The Quill which is an extinct volcano. You can venture inside the crater where there is a tropical rain forest filled with vegetation and local fauna.
Many people come to Statia to dive. Most of the sites consist of coral and old lava flows but there are also some old shipwreck sites.
Not many people come to Statia. It's well off the beaten path for most folks and you won't see the big cruise ships here at all. The island is small (about 8 square miles) and has a population of about 2000 friendly people. If you're looking for a quiet getaway, you might want to give Statia a try.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Time to Travel Here: Dec - Feb
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jdhauer
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Location: Virginia
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