Second day. St. Thomas, USVI, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

So, the first island and the first impressions of the Caribbean islands.

In terms of landscapes and people, I liked St. Thomas, perhaps, the least. The island is hilly, here and there houses are scattered over the hills, and the roads constantly wind right, left, up and down. Everything around is dried by the sun, there is at least greenery - maybe this is the season?

This was the only island, where the employees of the transport department scammed us for money, but for the first day of any trip, this is a normal situation. In addition, it was necessary to better prepare for the trip, and this time I did not prepare for it at all.

We only had beaches in our plans - Coki Beach and Sapphire Beach. From someone else's report, I learned that something public should go to Coki Beach, but I had little idea where. At the exit from the port, we asked the white aunt-watchman where to look for public transport to Coki Beach for a dollar or two known to us from the report, and the aunt, not at all embarrassed, told us that nothing public goes around the island and we need to go to a safari truck converted into a bus without windows and doors, which, in fact, is a taxi that we will share with other tourists. The aunt was only partly right. But somehow we didn’t think that a white man could eat a white man, and we were seduced.

As a result, at the port parking lot, everyone got into a safari truck, and the black driver announced the price to us - $ 9 per person. It was necessary to immediately go out and go to the city to look for alternative transport, but the brain, which did not work well due to the change in time zones, climate and the desire to quickly plunge into the sea, did not work. We went. The ride was within half an hour. There were about 10 people there. 90 bucks for half an hour - a good income for a hole like St. Thomas. Credit to local breeders!

The safari truck is cool. There are benches across the sides, there are no windows and doors, everything is blown through. An excellent means of transportation for exploring the beauties. Just look at nothing.

Everyone, except for the two of us, unloaded at ferry crossing to the island of St. John, and for another five minutes we drove first along the highway, and then along the turnaround to the beach. Here it was already felt that we, like cool white tourists, took a whole safari truck as a taxi))

St. Thomas is part of the US Virgin Islands, a US dependency (or rather, an unincorporated organized US territory). From the 17th century until 1917, these islands belonged to Denmark, and then they were bought by the United States. Now the inhabitants of the island are US citizens.

75% of the inhabitants are black, 13% are white, the rest are the rest. Of all the 5 islands, these were the only ones where the white population was noticeable. The rest of the islands on the cruise seemed completely black to me.

75% of the population speaks English, 16% Spanish or Spanish-Creole, so communication is not a problem.

Currency - US dollar. Movement is left-handed.

Of the brightest impressions - great amount Negroes with a black "bag on their head" like Bob Marley. Apparently, dreadlocks are hidden in the bag. Negroes with "bags" were also found on other islands, but singly, but here they were massive.

At the end of the day, it turned out that everything was fine with cheap transport, you just had to walk to the city and go on a safari for local residents there.

I really liked both visited beaches, although both with a reservation.

We were one of the first to arrive at Coki Beach. At 8.30 in the morning the beach was empty, we were met by a white beach-boy, told about the local infrastructure, free showers and toilets, paid sunbeds and umbrellas, showed where (on the right) it is best to swim with a snorkel and asked to contact us if necessary.

We are not fans of sunbeds, and given that Carnival allocates to everyone a spacious beach cover, which is changed daily for a clean one, we sat in the shade of a sprawling tree right on the sand.

The underwater world, of course, is poor compared to the Red Sea and the waters of Indonesia, there are almost no corals, but it was nice to look at the fish. Early in the morning, when there were few people, the fish were busy with their own business, swimming near the dead corals. Closer to 10-11 a conditioned reflex worked for them, and flocks of fish accumulated over the sandy bottom near the shore, waiting for tourists who often feed them. Real fish soup!

By 11 am, there were a lot of people on the beach, and in the sea, groups of Latinos sat in a circle and drank beer. On all the islands, I noticed that people come to the beach en masse at noon, in the heat of the day, when we were already trying to go somewhere, so our regimen did not coincide with the regime of the majority, and the beaches were half empty for us.

In addition to the crowds of people, Coki was terribly strained by aunts and dreadlocks uncles, vparivayuschie sunbeds, umbrellas and drinks. They are quite annoying, noisy and, apparently on the occasion of competition among themselves, quite aggressive.

When two noisy companies of Latinos settled around us in the shade of the same tree, we gathered, walked to the track in 15 minutes and left on a public safari for a dollar per person to the lapel to Sapphire Beach, from where an incredibly beautiful view of the bay opened.

Sapphire Beach proved to be the perfect antidote to the overcrowded Coki Beach. The beach is also located away from the road (10 minutes walk), belongs to the hotel and is not crowded. You can rent a sunbed, you can sit in the shade of numerous coastal trees. Of the beggars, there are local birds and funny ducks, pacing along the bedding in a businesslike way, waiting for additional food. The views around are more beautiful than on Coki Beach, the beach is 5 times longer, the people are 10 times less.

The water is beautiful, but not as uniform as on Coki Beach - there was the smallest sand at the bottom, so the whole bay was monotonously turquoise. Here at the bottom there were pebbles and dead corals, so the water was turquoise-spotted.

It was on Sapphire Beach that I fell in love with St. Thomas. On this beach it was quiet, peaceful, not crowded, absolutely no one offered anything, there were birds and shy iguanas, beautiful views and the feeling that you are in paradise. Although I do not regret that we spent the morning on the noisy Coki - spending the whole day on one beach would be boring, and there would be nothing to compare with.

At 2 p.m. we set off on our way back, returned on a safari truck to the capital of the island ($2 per person), the town of Charlotte Amalie, walked around the pleasant center, completely filled with long jewelry stores, going into infinity deep into, sat on the square in the shade of trees to the cries of roosters walking right around the city and along a very pleasant embankment lined with boards, we returned to the port and to the ship in about 20 minutes. There was not enough time to run or ride the funicular to the top of the hill to check out the view of the island, the capital and the bay from above. Left for next time.

At 5 pm we were traditionally on the upper deck and watched the departure. By the way, a specially trained local comrade brings the ship to the port and takes it out of the port. Even at breakfast, we watched as a small motorboat with the inscription Pilot headed towards us from the port, went in a parallel course, docked, and a pilot got off it. Now the situation was reversed - as soon as we left the port, the pilot unloaded onto the motorboat.

After dinner at the restaurant, we started a cultural program. But we did not master the main show at 10 pm and after the first dance number we set off to sleep.

The island, which can be explored on foot, is home to over 51,000 people. St. Thomas has a prime location on the busiest maritime trade routes, so it is not surprising that it has become the most developed of the American part of the islands. The island annually attracts adventure lovers who dream of being transported to a special atmosphere, to feel like “pirates of the Caribbean”. St. Thomas is known for its violent pirate past, as even the names of the shops speak of - “Pirate Loot”, “Pirates in Paradise”, “Shipwreck Treasures”, “Pirates' Chest”. It was here that the sea robbers hid their treasures!

Climate

The climate of St. Thomas is humid, tropical. The average temperature in summer fluctuates around +25-30 °С, and in winter it can reach +35 °С. In January, the holiday season begins on the island, until April there is a large influx of tourists. The sea is very calm at the beginning of the summer months, there are no storms and waves, so this is an ideal time for diving. By the way, at the same time, you can save on accommodation. Hotels offer discounts for accommodation in the most expensive and average rooms.

Tourists

St. Thomas Island will definitely appeal to those who prefer to spend their holidays quietly and secluded, to admire picturesque landscapes, sunbathing on the beach, and those for whom relaxation is luxury hotels, restaurants and shopping. Since the island has introduced duty-free shopping, St. Thomas is filled with shops and boutiques.

Nature

The island has a unique, breathtaking nature. Most of St. Thomas is covered with dense tropics and impenetrable forests, along the coast there are small bays and bays, where the water is especially clean and suitable for diving. We recommend visiting the dazzlingly beautiful Magens Bay with a gently sloping beach and clear azure sea water. Incidentally, according to national geographic he is in the top ten the best beaches peace. Entrance to Magens Bay is paid - $ 4 per person.

You can admire beautiful exotic vegetation in the botanical garden, which is located on the mountain slopes of St. Peter Greathouse. In total, there are more than two hundred species of plants that grow on the island of St. Thomas and the islands surrounding it.

Attractions

Top 10 places to visit on St. Thomas:

1. Fort Christian
Built in 1680, it served either as the seat of government, or as a temple, or even as a police station. It now houses the Museum of the Virgin Islands.

2. Vendors Plaza
it main square islands, its heart. Its surroundings are also interesting. There are several churches around Vendors Plaza, and in the western part of the island you can see the top of the old Beracha-Veshalom-Vegimilat-Hasidim synagogue. The Danish Museum - Seven Arches - operates in the area of ​​the square.

3. Blackbeard's Castle
According to legend, this castle belonged to the English pirate Edward Teach.

4. Bluebeard's Castle
Built in 1689, it was formerly called Fort Frederick and served as a watchtower.

5. St. Thomas Synagogue
This is one of the oldest synagogues in the Western Hemisphere. It was built in 1769.

6. House of Camille Pissarro
The famous French impressionist spent his childhood here. The house now houses an art gallery.

7. Oceanarium coral world
In the "Coral World" you can swim with marine animals, get acquainted with the flora and fauna of the ocean and visit the underwater observatory Undersea Observatory Tower.

8. Skyride cable car
In search of thrills, ride through cable car located at an altitude of 200 meters.

9.99 steps
Climb the steps, which are actually 103, and you won't regret it! From here one of the most luxurious views of the Caribbean opens. The steps were laid out by the Danes in the mid-1700s to make it convenient to move around the city's hilly terrain.

10 Drake's Seat Observation Deck
From here you can admire the view of the famous Magens Bay and the nearby islands.

You can also play golf on St. Thomas at the legendary 18-hole Mahogany Run Golf Course. The field is known bermuda triangle” from the holes. They say that it is unrealistic to pass them without a free kick.

The island also has all the conditions for diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, kitesurfing, parasailing, kayaking, sport fishing and yachting.

If you are in St. Thomas, do not miss

• February - Classical Music Festival;
• March - Rolex Regatta Sailing Races;
• August - International Blue Marlin Tournament;
• November - Yacht show.

The hills covered with lush greenery play with all sorts of shades under the rays of the gentle sun, bird overflows flow in the fragrant air, the satin canvases of the beaches are replaced by carved rocky shores, and the crystal transparency of the Caribbean Sea completes the magnificence. This is St. Thomas - an island that lives up to expectations one hundred percent. Numerous attractions, unique environmental indicators and excellent service are the ingredients that make a vacation on the Virginia Pearl so tempting, delightful, and unforgettable.

St. Thomas on the world map with hotel prices

St. Thomas Island on a world map or detailed map islands can be viewed using the navigation buttons (+/-). caribbean

The land, which is part of the US Virgin Islands, popular with travelers, is located in the Anegada Strait, 60 miles to the east separates it from Puerto Rico. Washed on the south side by the caribbean, from the northern rocky - Atlantic Ocean. The area of ​​​​the territory is just over 80 km², it is this caribbean island, compared with other US-owned overseas colonies of the Caribbean archipelago, is the best developed. The capital is the port of Charlotte Amalie, which is home to about 52,000 people.

Holidays in St. Thomas

Pastime options for every taste: proposals for organizing a wedding-romantic, corporate, family, sightseeing, beach, active, extreme vacation. The length of stay varies from a multi-week nirvana to a one-day call, if we are talking about a cruise voyage. Only for so short term it is unrealistic to have time to get acquainted with all the sights of a fantastic land, to feel the unique spirit of the island, to taste all the charm of a Caribbean vacation.

All traditional sea ​​resorts entertainment: kayaking, diving, seaplane turns, snorkeling, sport fishing, windsurfing, multi-caliber walks water transport, parasailing, ethnic, tasting, sightseeing, health and eco tours, disco bars. Shoppers call St. Thomas heaven because the shops duty free shopping is very profitable. It is advisable to rent a car, since a taxi here is not a budget pleasure.

And, of course, the main feature is to swim in plenty in the azure waves after sultry sunbathing. The beaches on St. Thomas are ultra-modern, well-groomed, the water is amazingly clear. Anyone is good, but the top zone is in picturesque bay Magens Bay is one of the ten most luxurious beaches in the world.

Nature has clearly not bypassed the island with generosity: the places are very beautiful, there are plenty of subspecies of flora and fauna. Half of the land of St. Thomas is occupied by the National Unique Park, replete with rare specimens of tropical plants and exotic animals. Curious iguanas easily scurry around the open terraces of the cafe, tourists are happy to share food from their plates with them. On the coast, you can admire an unusual sight: fishing schooners wait while diving brown pelicans and brown boobies have a meal, and only then set out their nets. Crabs with antennae eyes running along the beach are a familiar sight.

A bright galaxy of fish, huge turtles, lobsters, twisted garlands of algae, wonderful corals - even the most advanced camera cannot convey the color spectrum of the luxury of the sea kingdom, because underwater walks are extremely quoted among vacationers. If you want something less extreme, you can enjoy views of the kingdom of Neptune from the porthole of a mini-submarine.

The island is also generous with amazing places, a visit to any of which will leave only bright memories. You should definitely go to the underwater, reaching a height of nine meters, the Undersea Observatory Tower, then swim in the company of marine animals in the Coral World Aquarium, survey the breathtaking panorama, climbing two hundred meters with the help of the Skyride funicular. No less charming view from the Drake's Sea observation deck.

You should definitely count the three-hundred-year steps, walking on 99 Steps, and find that in fact there are several more of them. And do not forget to plan a trip to the intriguing castle of a real pirate - the legendary corsair Blackbeard, visit Fort Christian, built at the end of the 17th century, look into Butterfly Park and St. Thomas Synagogue, considered the oldest in the Western Hemisphere. It will entertain the promenade along the Charlotte Amalie shopping area and the main metropolitan Main Street. To complete the experience, it is desirable to get to the February Festival of Classical Music, to take part in or cheer on the participants in the Rolex Regatta sailing race in March and the blue marlin fishing competition in August.

When is the best time to go to St. Thomas

The most comfortable period for staying on the island is January-April: it is not dry, but a flurry of rain will not spoil your mood. The average temperature for summer on St. Thomas is plus 26-28˚, for winter - plus 24-26˚.

Rest on the divine island is not overshadowed by anything. Although, no, there is still one moment - when it comes time to say: “Farewell, Caribbean!” However, it is not necessary to leave, because you can always return to the hospitable coast of St. Thomas, so “Goodbye!” would be more appropriate.

US Virgin Islands- a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea, 60 km east of Puerto Rico; autonomous territory of the United States. The largest islands are St. Thomas, St. John, Santa Cruz. There are also many small islands. The area is 344 km².

The US Virgin Islands is a territory purchased by the United States from Denmark on January 17, 1917 (all formalities were completed on March 31 of the same year). Managed by the US Department of the Interior. Residents have the status of citizens of the United States.

Geographically, the US Virgin Islands are part of the Virgin Islands (which also includes the British Virgin Islands).

The islands are hilly ( highest point- 475 m), composed mainly of limestone, there are outcrops of ancient crystalline or volcanic rocks.

The absence of rivers and lakes, as well as the deep occurrence of groundwater, for a long time greatly complicated the problem of water supply, despite the rather a large number of precipitation. Rain water was collected in special tanks. After the construction of desalination plants, this problem has been largely solved.

vegetation cover and animal world The islands have been largely destroyed by humans. The remains of evergreen tropical forests are preserved mainly on the island of St. John, two thirds of the territory of which is occupied by national park. On the island of St. Thomas there are woodlands and shrubs on the site of former plantations. Sea waters near the islands are rich in fish, crustaceans and molluscs.

Climate of the US Virgin Islands

Climate in the US Virgin Islands- tropical, trade winds, hot and humid with two dry seasons. Average monthly temperature fluctuates slightly during the year - from +22-24 °C in winter to +28-29 °C in summer. Diurnal temperature changes are also weakly traced.

Precipitation is up to 1300 mm per year, and there are two dry (winter and summer) and two rainy (spring and autumn) seasons. The maximum amount of rain falls in the period from September to November-December, although even at this time, no more than five to six days a month are rainy. Between July and October, tropical hurricanes are likely to pass over the territory of the islands, although here they are recorded much less frequently than over the nearby Windward Islands.

The most favorable time for a trip to the islands is from mid-December to the end of April, but the peak falls on the same period. tourist season, so prices are much higher than, for example, from May to August, when weather also excellent for sea ​​recreation.

Last changes: 15.05.2013

Population

Population of the US Virgin Islands- 109.8 thousand people (2010).

The average life expectancy is 76 years for men, 82 years for women.

Ethno-racial composition: blacks 76.2%, whites 13.1%, mulattoes 3.5%, Asians 1.1%, other 6.1% (according to the 2000 census).

Religions: Baptist 42%, Catholic 34%, Episcopal 17%, other 7%.

The official language is English. Also popular are Spanish or Spanish-Creole 16.8%, French or Franco-Creole 6.6%, others 1.9%.

Last changes: 15.05.2013

About money

Currency unit US Virgin Islands: US dollar ($ or USD), in 1 dollar 100 cents. In circulation are denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars, coins - pennies (1 cent), nickel (5 cents), dime (10 cents), quarter (25 cents), half-dollar (50 cents) and 1 dollar.

Banks are usually open from Monday to Thursday, from 09.00 to 14.30, on Fridays - 09.00 to 14.00 and from 15.30 to 17.00.

Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks and specialized exchange offices. The islands have branches of almost all major international banking systems.

Credit cards are widely used in major islands, but their use on small islands can be difficult. Traveler checks can be cashed at almost any bank office. To avoid additional costs associated with fluctuations in the exchange rate, it is recommended to bring checks in US dollars with you.

Last changes: 15.05.2013

Communication and communications

Telephone code: 1 - 340

Internet domain: .vi

Phone codes cities

Area codes are not used.

How to call

To call from Russia to the US Virgin Islands, you need to dial: 8 - beep - 10 - 1 - 340 - subscriber's number.

To call from the US Virgin Islands to Russia, you need to dial: 011 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.

Fixed line

All payphones on the islands are included in the general telephone system of the United States and work with telephone cards that are sold at post offices, newspaper and tobacco kiosks. Almost all payphones have direct access to the international automatic telephone connection and some of them accept AT&T cards and credit cards for international calls.

cellular

The cellular communication system in the US Virgin Islands is excellently developed and integrated into a single network with US operators.

Internet

The Internet on the islands is developing at a rapid pace - almost all telephone and cellular companies provide their customers with Internet access. Internet cafes are concentrated in large settlements and in resort areas.

Last changes: 15.05.2013

shopping

Shops are usually open from Monday to Saturday, from 09.00 to 17.00, but on Thursday many of them close quite early - usually around 15.00-16.00. Many large retail outlets are usually open on Sundays, from 10.00 to 17.00, shops in the port also often open their doors on Sunday, but only during the parking period cruise liners. Bargaining in local trading establishments is not accepted, but in the markets it is possible and necessary.

Popular souvenirs: rum, jewelry, paintings (there are many art galleries on Santa Cruz Island).

Last changes: 15.05.2013

Where to stay

The cost of living in local hotels is quite high compared to many Caribbean countries.

Last changes: 19.08.2010

Sea and beaches

The islands attract numerous lovers beach holiday their clean beaches with white fine sand.

Almost all beaches are open to the public, only private areas and some large resort complexes have restricted entry (permit required).

Some local beaches are natural breeding grounds for endangered sea turtles, so most of them are protected and access to such areas is certain time prohibited.

Last changes: 15.05.2013

Story

The Virgin Islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493.

In 1625, English and French colonists settled on the islands, taking up agriculture. Then the islands were successively owned by England, Spain, France and the Order of Malta.

In 1666, Denmark took possession of the island of St. Thomas, which soon captured the island of St. John, and in 1733 Denmark bought the island of Santa Cruz from France. The Danes tried to establish a plantation economy on St. Thomas, but it was not successful due to the low fertility of the land, and the island became one of the centers of the rum and slave trade. The port of St. Thomas became a base for pirates. Santa Cruz Island had more fertile land, and after the transition to Denmark, about 200 sugar cane plantations were established there.

However, by the beginning of the 20th century, sugar production on Santa Cruz had declined, and the islands of the Danish West Indies were sold to the United States in 1917 for $25 million.

Last changes: 15.05.2013

Useful information

The most favorable time for a trip to the islands is from mid-December to mid-May, however, the peak tourist season falls on the same period, so prices are much higher than, for example, from May to August, when weather conditions are also excellent for sea holidays. An additional argument in favor of visiting the islands in the summer is the significantly greater transparency of sea water at this time, which ensures Better conditions for diving.

Local tap water is chlorinated and safe to drink, but bottled water is still recommended.

Catching any marine organisms (including surfacing and even collecting shells and corals washed ashore) in the waters of the US Virgin Islands is prohibited, as is the use of harpoon weapons for spearfishing (license required). Sport fishing is possible only with the permission of the regional authorities (usually included in the package of licenses provided by the organizer of the fishing tour). Mooring of ships and boats in the area of ​​protected areas managed by the National Parks Fund is prohibited. The rise to the surface of any objects and things from sunken ships located in the territorial waters of the islands is allowed only with a special permit from the government of the country.

Last changes: 15.05.2013

How to get there

There are no direct flights from Russia to the US Virgin Islands. The easiest way to get here from Russia is with one change in the USA. From American cities(New York, Miami, Boston, Atlanta, Washington and others) there are direct flights to the islands of St. Thomas and Santa Cruz.

The flight with Aeroflot + American Airlines is quite convenient: Moscow - New York - St. Thomas. The duration of the flight from Moscow to New York is about 10 hours, from New York to St. Thomas Island - 4 hours 10 minutes.

The US Virgin Islands can also be reached via Puerto Rico (64 km away). And from there you can get by water (ferries or boats) or by air (small planes) to the US Virgin Islands.

Last changes: 15.05.2013

The most popular cruise port in the Caribbean is Miami. However, cruises from there manage to sail a maximum of up to Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands and back in seven days - they have no time left for the rest of the Caribbean chain. San Juan is the second most popular cruising port and its position already makes it possible cruise ships reach within seven days any point of the archipelago. Usually large cruise companies they lay out the route in such a way that five different islands of the Caribbean chain are visited on five days of the cruise and the sixth day passes completely at sea - in our case, on this day we returned from last island in chain (Grenada) to Puerto Rico. Royal Caribbean cruises are designed in such a way that the same ship does not go all the time along the same route, but every week it goes one way, then the other route - thus not repeating the same islands all the time. Yet one port is included in almost every route - this is Charlotte Amalie, which is located on the island of St. Thomas - one of the US Virgin Islands.

To be honest, we did not even notice how the liner left Puerto Rico. At that moment it was already dark, we were having dinner and suddenly realized that outside the window it was no longer the lights of the night San Juan, but open ocean, which at a speed of several knots rushes past us. When we woke up the next morning, we looked out the window and realized that "we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto!" - a tropical island behind glass was clearly different from Puerto Rico.

Charlotte Amalie is first of all expanse for those who want to go shopping. Although this is a US territory, there are special duty-free rules for a certain number of goods. Since we were not interested in this, we went to explore the city - a promenade leads there, first through the tourist shopping area, then along the coast.

From all points of the city, our ship is visible - which, of course, is the cause and focus of life on this particular day for this particular town.

The main shopping street looks like this. One of the main commodities are diamonds and various products from them - as in general in most Caribbean resorts, it seemed to me so (in Nassau, for example, they also sell diamonds on every corner). True, experienced shoppers do not advise buying diamond jewelry so far from home - since it will be almost impossible to return, exchange, or repair them later due to the distance, even with a guarantee.

The history of the US Virgin Islands is interesting because for most of the colonial history they were not American at all, but - attention! - Danish. Denmark first took possession of one island, then another, and eventually controlled the collection of islands that are now called the US Virgin Islands (as opposed to the British Virgin Islands, which are right next to it).

Following the example of such prosperous nearby colonies as the French Santo Domingo (what has now become Haiti), the Danes tried to organize a plantation economy on St. Thomas, but nothing came of it - the land was too poor. But the island became the center of piracy and trade in rum and slaves. In 1917, Denmark sold the islands to the Americans for a then very significant sum.

Although no one in St. Thomas speaks Danish anymore, nevertheless, Danish street names are preserved here - from every corner such an unexpected "bastard" peeps through.

And there is also a Lutheran church on Norra Gada:

Very picturesque too!

Colorful Pastor:

Colorful parishioners:

And of course the church is visited by Danish tourists:

The city is located on a slope. We climbed the stairs up - this is the so-called Ladder of 99 Steps:

That's who we met on one of the side slopes! (It's an iguana - huge!)

Monument to freedom fighters

This is how the main local attraction looks like - Blackbeard's Castle, on top of Government Hill. We decided that $10 to climb the tower was too much!

From its foot you can see our ship in the middle of a magnificent bay - as you can see, another one came in between times:

Let's go back:

In the meantime, we visit another house, in which everything is also dedicated to the memory of pirates:

On the way down we looked at the governor's residence - a delightful colonial building:

View from its foot:

In general, in Charlotte Amalie there is a "place for everything"!

We had lunch at a local restaurant - I ordered a local traditional soup called callaloo soup. The main ingredients are spinach and okra. If you add, as expected, local sauces, it turns out incredibly spicy!

And then - the delight knew no bounds! - a hummingbird appeared to us. For me it was the first time in my life!

It is absolutely true that their wings move so fast that the eye does not have time to register the movement - it seems that the bird's body is fluttering in some kind of blue-green cloud!

It so happened that one local acquaintance then drove us around the island. In particular, we went to the most famous beach Virginia archipelago - Magens Bay.

I especially liked the impressive yachts that were anchored there.

And also the pelicans that kept landing right next to us in the water! We certainly did not miss the chance to swim.

Then we also went to a luxury hotel, which is located on the pass on the way to Magens Bay (which is actually on the northern coast of the island).

From different viewing platforms view of the island:

Here we are returning to the ship. Ships usually leave the port quite early - either at 4 or 5 pm. I don’t know what this is connected with, but obviously not with the distance - even on a day when we had to walk less than 100 kilometers, we still left at 4 pm. I suspect it's just that these small Caribbean towns are considered unsafe after dark.

From the roof of the liner you can take great photos - and on this day I broke away as we sailed away at sunset.

Here are the yachts there - called Infinity, George Town - I wonder who owns it?

Charlotte Amalie stays behind us.