During graduate school, my officemate was a fantastically handsome, beautifully muscled man from North Africa, mostly educated in France. His father was a rather well-to-do banker who later relocated the family to St. Kitts. Oddly enough, he had moved to the States to study religion and ministry, which turned out to be less ethical than he expected. With his French-Caribbean accent, it was a delight to hear him talk about anything. So, when he first invited me to participate in his wedding “back home,” I just smiled and nodded, not really having heard him.
Well, about year later, there I was on the island of St. Kitts, in the home of a would-have-been priest, son of wealth banker. It was a rather wonderful, albeit a little strange, experience. During the week long festivities for the wedding, we took a short boat ride over to the island of St. Barthélemy, where we all met again a year after the wedding, for what my friend “continuation of the honeymoon.”
La Banane on St. Barthélemy is a wonderful, retro-chic hotel of only nine distinctive bungalows. How we all ended up here had a little to do with my friend’s new Parisian bride. Because you see, this place is not just trying to put-on the 1950’s vide, but really grew up that way… as much as a place can “grow-up” based on the people and events that take place there. La Banane’s founding father was the late Jean-Marie Rivière, a luminary of the Parisian cabaret world, who was often photographed with Zaza Gabor, Brigitte Bardot and other stars.
I think this “island-dream” suite the suited the stared and celebrity image of a “paradise” getaway. In fact Rivière’s had his first show performed at the hotel, which was auspiciously named La Banane. But, this is not just Hollywood make-belief, there is real style here.
La Banane was recently renovated with Le Corbusier in mind. And there are even some original Corbusier pieces there from the 1950s.
Each bungalow at Le Banana is named after an artist, designer or craftsman, ranging from Hungarian designer Mathieu Mategot (1910-2001) to American painter and sculptor Alexander Calder (1898-1976). Each piece of furniture is individually identified and its origin and design explained, so that the guests can appreciate the pieces that surround them.
Our stay here was short but simply delightful. If you’re in the mood for an artsy, paradise island, this is not to miss.
You May Also Like
