St. Eustatius

The stars are ablaze, but it's dark on the road between the Blue Bead Bar & Restaurant and the Old Gin House hotel. A chicken running across the road comprises all the traffic, and except for the sound of crickets, there is silence. No need to worry about walking alone. The island of St. Eustatius, commonly called Statia (pronounced stay-sha), is safe. How safe? The scuttlebutt is that a St. Maarten police officer sent to serve on the island thinks he is being punished because there is nothing for him to do.

With a population of just fewer than 3,300, it's difficult for someone to commit a crime—or do most anything else—without everyone finding out. Everyone knows everyone, and that's also a blessing. Statians are friendly; they beep their horns and say hello to anyone they see. Even day-trippers are warmly welcomed as friends. There are no strangers here.

Think of the tiny Netherlands Antillean island and envision quiet times, strolls through history, and awesome diving and hiking. While many of its neighbors are pursuing the tourist business big-time, Statia just plods along. That's its charm.

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