Page 41 - Florida and the US Caribbean Isles
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ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE - While St. Croix is not Within minutes, the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was born. To this day,
known for it’s nightlife, many restaurants, bars and hotels feature “live it is going strong and is an important day for the community, benefi-
music” with everything from pop to reggae to jazz, including piano ciaries and tourists. Click here for more info.
bars. You can also find several Traditional West Indian Dance and DRIVING - Although St. Croix is a U.S. territory, driving on the left
musical troupes. The Island Center for the Arts offers other cultural side of the road! All cars, including rentals, are left hand drive models
events including symphonic and dramatic presentations. Jazz con- that you would find in the States. In order to rent a car on St. Croix,
certs, Broadway plays, and comedy acts are just a few of the enter- you have to be at least 25 years old, have a valid drivers license and
tainments presented in this 1,100-seat amphitheater. The Caribbean proof of insurance.
Community Theater and Courtyard Players often perform here. The CURRENCY - The currency used on St. Croix is the U.S. Dollar. Cred-
island is known in international circles for the St. Croix Jazz and Car- it cards are accepted by most St Croix businesses, however, there are
ibbean Music and Art Festival. This main event draws top-notch jazz still quite a few small businesses that only accept cash. ATM machines
and Caribbean musicians. You can find smaller performances during can be found at most banks, and many gas station convenience stores
that time at hotels, fairs, and other shows around the island. There also have ATMs. There is no sales tax on St. Croix, so combining that
are also events and festivals held around Christmas, in March, and at with duty free discounts can get you some pretty good prices on jew-
other times throughout the year. elry, watches and liquor.
“JUMP UP” IN CHRISTIANSTED - For a good time, go to “Jump Up” CLIMATE - St. Croix. The temperature averages 82F/28C year round.
which is held at various times throughout the year. This is a “carnival- The humidity level is kept comfortable most of the year because of
like” evening filled with steel bands, dancing, local arts and crafts, is- the pleasant easterly trade winds. The temperature varies less than 10
land food, and lots of fun in the streets and along the waterfront of degrees between the summer months and the winter months. Summer
Christiansted! highs average in the the 86-89 degree range with the winter months
MARDI CROIX - each February Cane Bay, on the scenic north shore having daytime highs of 82-84 degrees. With only 50 inches/1270 mil-
of the island, is transformed into one big colorful and noisy party...St. limeters of annual rainfall, which occurs mostly in late spring and fall,
Croix’s version of Mardi Gras...MARDI CROIX! Click here for Mardi the island gets just enough rain to keep it green most of the year and
Croix photos. offer plenty of sunny days. The island is more likely to see a hurricane
The ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE began in 1969 when a group of lo- in September / October than any of the other months during hurri-
cal businessmen convened in HARRY’S OFFICE BAR on Queen Cross cane season.
St. in Christiansted for a “cool one”. The conversation got around to
holidays and why St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t celebrated in the Virgin Is-
lands, when so many other holidays were. Something had to be done!
