When you throw together a swarm of tourists fresh off the cruise ship looking for some island type action, add a couple of Mocko Jumbies at their wildest Mocko Jumbie best, gather them all at a cool pool with a “way kool” outdoor patio and half-moon bar, and then you start pumping in the sounds of DJ Colibri who is Hot! Hot! Hot! You wind up with a whole lot of happy tourists that are ultra glad they got off the big boat and stopped in at the Fabulous Fred in Frederiksted on the island of St. Croix.
The Fred’s take on a “Cultural Celebration” brings home the island vibes in a big way. Tourists getting off the “adults only” cruise ship the Scarlet Lady, the inaugural ship for the cruise line Virgin Voyages, just followed the music down Strand Street until they hit the front gate of the swanky environs of The Fred Hotel.
“We just got off the ship and heard these great sounds coming from this direction,” said Rachel and her friend Nita from Georgia. “Had a couple of drinks and we’re having a great time.”
Noel, who works at the front desk of the hotel, was out front directing traffic into the pool and bar area as patrons were climbing out of taxis and golf carts.
“I love my job!” she declared. “I love talking to the people.”
The incredible Guardians of Culture Mocko Jumbies were all over the place. Prancing and dancing their stuff on Strand Street as the tourists arrived and then giving a breathtaking performance on the patio around the bar and pool area. These icons of St. Croix who have been a part of the Big Island’s cultural heritage for over two hundred years were struttin’ their stuff like nobody’s business, bending around tree trunks, dipping in and out of the bar area and parading around the astonished tourists as they drank and ate at the oceanside tables.
“They are unbelievable,” Hank from Chicago told Yellow Cedar Media. “Never seen anything like them. Sure don’t have the likes of them back in Chi-Town.”
Tim from Phoenix treated all his best friends on a cruise for his 70th birthday. “These are my very best friends,” he said of the gathering at a table just above the beautiful sandy West Side beach that forms a backyard to The Fred. “I figured since I was turning seventy I’d get all my besties together and we’d have some fun.”
Yellow Cedar Media remarked that he sure didn’t look seventy. “The alcohol preserves,” Tim replied as he raised up an icy looking Caribbean concoction. “It certainly helps to keep you young.”
There’s nothing like a wild celebration in the USVI no matter what banner hangs over the celebratory event. People from the States love the electricity of the colorful island energy. It allows them to completely leave the mindset of their everyday world in the cement canyons up north and escape into a world they always find themselves dreaming about,
“We love it here in the Caribbean,” said John and Kaylee from Minneapolis. “We’ve taken this trip twice now and St. Croix is our favorite stop. The people are just so friendly. And the atmosphere is so laid back. Not like the Twin Cities at all.”
DJ Colibri, aka Hummingbird, was keeping the joint jumpin’ with some rocking sounds that were blasting out across the waters of the Caribbean all the way to the 17-deck Scarlet Lady parked up the beach in Frederiksted Harbor.
“Welcome to The Fred,” DJ Colibri announced. “We’re going to keep on rockin’ and we’re taking requests all afternoon!”
Christine from Cleveland is a regular visitor at The Fred. She loves to come down and visit her friend Oreo who is the house cat at the hotel.
“I have two cats at home but whenever I go anywhere lately I find myself coming down here to visit Oreo. I can really afford to travel anywhere in the world but I love St. Croix. I love it here at The Fred. I’m not sure if I stay here because it’s so beautiful or because I want to visit Oreo. I’m definitely a cat lady. I call this my VacaCat,” she told Yellow Cedar Media as she relaxed on a lounge chair alongside the pool and pointed to a white and black spotted feline not far away. “I love this stretch of beach, it’s not too busy. I like that I can walk up the street and find some great food at the restaurants in town…Gotta go now, I have an appointment for a massage at the Spa.”
The Fred is a historic 22-room, eco-friendly, beachfront resort, spa, bar and gift shop with its new restaurant Margarita Fred making waves on the culinary scene. The hotel was named after King Frederik V of Denmark who is also the namesake of the town Frederiksted.
“We welcome everyone to our weekly Cultural Celebration,” said the hotel’s General Manager Krystal. “Look out for our exciting upcoming events and new things happening at Margarita Fred.”
No doubt the weekly Cultural Celebration at The Fred could become addicting. It’s hard to beat great entertainment, great drinks and a great beachfront atmosphere.
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