ST. THOMAS:
I saw this Island when I was taking a Cruise.
This Island is one of the Virgin Islands that are in the American Virgin Islands.
It is not a large Island and you could drive around it, (without stopping), in less than 20 minutes. .
THE HISTORY:
The earliest settlements were built about 2500 BC by the Arawak, the Carib and Ciboney Tribes.
Columbus land here in 1493. Over the next 150 years the Spanish, English, French, Danes and the Knights of Malta built settlements.
Denmark owned the Island when WW I began and the United States bought it from them for $25 million in gold bricks. The felt they needed this Island to protect the Panama Canal.
WHAT WE DID:
The Ship docked at Charlotte Amalie for five hours. It is a small Town on the build on the side of the Mountains. From the dock I could see there were a lot of Shops and Cafes for at least four blocks going up the Mountain and at least 5 along the Pier.
We had booked a 2 hour Tour. The Tour took us up to the top of a Mountain and we had a wonderful view of Magens Bay. The Beach had white sand and the Sea looked green.
We were given some time to shop at the Shopping Centre. We bought a few T-Shirts there.
We went to see the two Castles, Fort Christian, an open Market and then walked through the Legislature Building.
When we finished the Tour we were on Veterans Drive, (the waterfront). For some strange reasons the streets are called Gade, (our Guide told us this was the Dutch name for Street).This is a Duty Free Port so I couldn't wait to go Shopping.
We didn't go back to the Ship for lunch but ate at Café LuLu and had some wonderful crab cakes.
After lunch we went to the shops along the waterfront. My Husband and I bought some light cotton cloths.
WOULD I GO BACK:
I did go back on another Cruise and would love to stay here for a week.
©LL2003
- Thank You! We appreciate your effort.