Our Islands Need Help
Since 2010 Rachel and I have visited seven Caribbean islands.
In the last week six were destroyed by Hurricane Irma.
In 2016, we spent nine nights at Blue Waters Resort & Spa in Anituga. It was hit hard but not as hard as neighboring Barbuda, which is now inhabitable. Its entire population was evacuated to Antigua, creating an enormous humanitarian challenge.
On that island we shared an afternoon at Antigua's Donkey Sanctuary & Animal Shelter, which offers a permanent home for donkeys at risk and aims to adopt out homeless dogs.
In 2014 we stayed one week in St. Martin at Villa Dream in Blue with some of my closest friends and colleagues. The airport -- where we glided in over the beach and departed over the mountain -- is gutted. The casino -- where Soorena taught us how to play baccarat -- suffered severe damage. Most importantly, the people of the island and their homes are in ruin. It's going to take a lot of work and effort to return to normalcy on this gorgeous island.
While there we visited the I Love My Island Dog Association, a remarkable rescue operation run by a woman called Ursula and a man named Tito. Incredibly, of the more than 40 dogs in their care last week all were placed in temporary foster care prior to Irma's arrival. For three days no one could reach Ursula, but at last someone confirmed that although her house was rubble she was okay.
In 2012 we spent 18 days in the Virgin Islands -- one week at the truly incredible Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda, one week at a private villa on St. John and a couple nights at BellaVista Bed and Breakfast on St. Thomas.
BellaVista was lucky, with only a trellis damaged. The opposite is true of Bitter End. As helicopter footage shows, the place was clobbered. The same is likely true of the entire island, which includes several resorts and many simple homes. St. John, also more recently home to two Lexington High School classmates, was comparably reduced to debris while a long-ago soccer teammate huddled in a hurricane bunker.
The Virgin Islands are perhaps the most remarkably beautiful places we have visited with the kindest, most wonderful people -- natives and expats alike. St. John and its two communities of Cruz Bay and Coral Bay bookend a small but incredible island full of steep, winding roads, picturesque beaches and lush tropical vegetation. And the best snorkeling, for sure. Here's what Cruz Bay and Coral Bay look like from above now.
In 2010 Rachel accepted my invitation to join me for eight days in Turks and Caicos, just three weeks after we met. It is where we fell in love, where we made love (on the beach, among other places) and where I got drunk for the first time. We stayed at The Sands at Grace Bay, which may or may not be intact today as it was last week. Even though we can't stand Beaches Resort, we hope it's okay too.
Bermuda, where we celebrated our first anniversary in 2013, was not directly effected by Irma, nor was Grand Cayman (2015), nestled far south in the Western Caribbean.
These islands are more than just places we have visited. It wasn't long into our marriage that we agreed that one of our shared dreams is to one day own a home in the Caribbean. We haven't yet determined which island, though Rachel has always been partial to St. John.
We brought back a dog from one island, volunteered and donated to humane societies and animal shelters on three of them. We have befriended locals and local donkeys. We have driven on the wrong side of the road and been driven crazy by mosquitoes.
We sipped -- or in Rachel's case chugged -- Rum Punch at Da Conch Shack, drained a few Bushwhackers at Skinny Legs (so many Rachel had to drive home) and indulged in our share of custom cocktails at Carolyn's.
We eagerly await the opportunity to share these islands with our family, and if not for the wedding of two close friends we likely would have been there on our five-year anniversary this past June.
On behalf of the people and animals on these islands we love, we ask for your help. While there are surely people and communities in Texas and Florida in need, the immense national coverage has focused on the Lone Star and Sunshine states.
The tiny island communities are devastated and desperate.
Here are three ways you can help immediately.
In the last week six were destroyed by Hurricane Irma.
On that island we shared an afternoon at Antigua's Donkey Sanctuary & Animal Shelter, which offers a permanent home for donkeys at risk and aims to adopt out homeless dogs.
In 2014 we stayed one week in St. Martin at Villa Dream in Blue with some of my closest friends and colleagues. The airport -- where we glided in over the beach and departed over the mountain -- is gutted. The casino -- where Soorena taught us how to play baccarat -- suffered severe damage. Most importantly, the people of the island and their homes are in ruin. It's going to take a lot of work and effort to return to normalcy on this gorgeous island.
In 2012 we spent 18 days in the Virgin Islands -- one week at the truly incredible Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda, one week at a private villa on St. John and a couple nights at BellaVista Bed and Breakfast on St. Thomas.
BellaVista was lucky, with only a trellis damaged. The opposite is true of Bitter End. As helicopter footage shows, the place was clobbered. The same is likely true of the entire island, which includes several resorts and many simple homes. St. John, also more recently home to two Lexington High School classmates, was comparably reduced to debris while a long-ago soccer teammate huddled in a hurricane bunker.
Bermuda, where we celebrated our first anniversary in 2013, was not directly effected by Irma, nor was Grand Cayman (2015), nestled far south in the Western Caribbean.
We brought back a dog from one island, volunteered and donated to humane societies and animal shelters on three of them. We have befriended locals and local donkeys. We have driven on the wrong side of the road and been driven crazy by mosquitoes.
We eagerly await the opportunity to share these islands with our family, and if not for the wedding of two close friends we likely would have been there on our five-year anniversary this past June.
The tiny island communities are devastated and desperate.
Here are three ways you can help immediately.
- Click on the links above. Bookmark them. Travel there next year when these places are open again for business and when you seek an incredible vacation.
- Donate. Money helps. Every dollar helps.
- Share. Aid in the recovery by sharing this and other information.
- You Caring - Support the employees of Bitter End and Virgin Gorda
- Virgin Unite - 100% of donations will help the British Virgin Islands
- Global Giving - Hurricane Irma Relief Fund
- I Love My Island Dog Association (St. Martin)
- Antigua & Barbuda Red Cross
- St. John Rescue
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