St Croix Half Ironman Triathlon
Four times a year the people of St. Croix to the streets of Christiansted for Jump Up festival with a Caribbean flavor featuring music, art, food and dance. The city is full of revelers on the promenade by the sea and along the narrow streets of 18th century Dutch natives and tourists alike as "jump" and conclude all things Cruzan.
Traffic is closed to vehicles and pedestrians visiting the shops, drinking in bars and streets, eating local dishes and each in turn, is filled with sounds of island music.
The highlight of the entire Jump Up are Jumbio Mock, stilt walkers known for its famous and distinctive dances. The meaning comes Moko's a god and Jumbi African who is a West Indian term for spirits or ghosts, so they are "good gods" or "good spirits". This art form originated in Ghana, West Africa and was adopted by the Caribbean people. It is said by many that Mock Jumbio ward off evil spirits that roam the Jumbio St. Croix the forest at night. History aside, the Jumbio Mock continue the tradition of an art that is pure joy to watch.
Along Queen's Cross Street are vendors selling pates (a local dish of fried bread stuffed with meat, chicken or saltfish), from simple skewers on the grill (go to the local lobster), and beverages rum with cane juiced right before your eyes. It is delicious and educational. A tip for beginners … the bars for your drinks "stateside", or you may find yourself not remember your jump experience above all. In St. Croix, rum is cheaper than anything in your drink, so it is poured freely. Ask for the Cruzan Rum, is site is exceptional.
Nothing evokes mood of the Caribbean as a lively Calypso steel pan orchestra at the Jump Up and you can have the pleasure of seeing three or four different groups. Quelb the official song of the Virgin Islands, is always in the air. Just look at the Quadrille dancers on the street and there you will find a band of zero Quelb stay alive. Gang, an ancestor of traditional gangs, was once popular throughout the Virgin Islands, but now, in St. Croix is perhaps their only chance to see him. There always a Soca or reggae band or two to zero that itch street dancing when your feet just have to jump up.
Jump Ups start at 6 PM island time and are held in February next Valentine's day, the first weekend in May in conjunction with the Half Ironman Triathlon, shortly after the July 4 to celebrate a local boy who made it big, Alexander Hamilton's famous account of ten U.S. dollars, and the weekend of Thanksgiving, a great time to visit St. Croix and to buy unique Christmas gifts. Pick up something for family or friends or simply give yourself the gift of a great time in St. Croix.
David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com
David & Veronica are experiencing the collision of baby boomer with empty nester. They have decided to grab life by the horns, sell the nest and become GypsyNesters.
Read more and see pictures at GypsyNester.com
Half Ironman Saint Croix – The Beast (part 1)
