Tuesday, October 22, 2019, Charlotte Amalie, US Virgin Islands
ST. THOMAS (CHARLOTTE AMALIE),
US VIRGIN ISLANDS
The United States Virgin Islands (abbreviated USVI; also called the US Virgin Islands or American Virgin Islands), officially the Virgin Islands of the United States, is a group of islands in the Caribbean and an unincorporated and organized territory of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles to the east of Puerto Rico and west of the British Virgin Islands.
The U.S. Virgin Islands consists of the main islands of Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas, and many other surrounding minor islands. The total land area of the territory is 133.73 square miles. The territory's capital is Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas.
Previously known as the Danish West Indies of the Kingdom of Denmark–Norway, they were sold to the United States by Denmark in the Treaty of the Danish West Indies of 1917. The US purchased the islands for 25 million dollars in gold to prevent loss of control of the Panama Canal during WW I. They are classified by the United Nations as a Non-Self-Governing Territory, and are currently an organised, unincorporated United States territory. The U.S. Virgin Islands are organised under the 1954 Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands and have since held five constitutional conventions.
The islands are a rich blend of colorful architecture, stunning beaches, and intriguing history. In 2010, the population was 106,405, with current estimates putting the population at 107,000 (July 2018), most of whom are of Afro-Caribbean descent. Tourism and related categories are the primary economic activities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Virgin_Islands
Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro was born in USVI in 1830 and his childhood stone house is nestled on Charlotte Amalie’s Main Street among the silver and gold shops. In Pissarro’s day, a significant Jewish community flourished in USVI. The 1833 St. Synagogue, perched on Synagogue Hill, is the second oldest on US soil. Nearby, Danish bankers and merchants who helped build St. Thomas kept multihued houses on Government Hill, some of them now gloriously restored. Beyond Charlotte Amalie, the near-perfect Magens Bay, claimed to be in the top ten bays in the world, is lined with coconut palms and kissed by azure waters.
Our Kon-Tiki boat was waiting for us as we walked off our cruise ship this morning. It is 18-20 feet wide and 60-70 feet long. It has a catamaran hull with twin engines.
Our Calypso band.
Boat's bar with complimentary drinks for the morning.
Glass bottom covers.
Blackbeard's Castle is one of five National Historic Landmarks in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is located in the city of Charlotte Amalie, on the island of St. Thomas. Built in 1679 by the Danes as a watchtower to protect the harbor as well as Fort Christian. Blackbeard's Castle was originally called Skyts-borg (meaning protection castle). It is located at the highest point on Government Hill. Skytsborg served as a very effective vantage point for Danish soldiers to spot enemy ships. Fort Christian is at sea level, thus making it ideal for thwarting attackers with cannon fire; however, the fort itself did not provide an ideal view of incoming ships entering the harbor.
It is not known what year Skytsborg took on the name of Blackbeard's Castle, but the infamous Edward Teach, commonly known as Blackbeard, did sail the Caribbean waters in the early 18th century. It has become part of the lore of the island that he used the tower as a lookout for his own purposes of piracy. It was the centerpiece of a private residence for many years, and was turned into a hotel, but is no longer open to the public.
Approach and entrance to the first dry dock in the western hemisphere.
Early morning rainbow.
Having fun on the sail back to dock.
Scenic Island Tour & Mountain Top
In the afternoon we took a scenic drive along one of the most
breathtaking routes on St. Thomas. Much
of the island’s beauty lies in its endless undulating hills spilling down to
stunning bays shining in a hundred shades of blue, con-nected by a curving
ribbon of roadways hugging emerald-green slopes—affording paradisiacal
Caribbean views. We rode with our local
guide, making frequent stops to take it all in. The pinnacle of our excursion was the
world-famous Mountain Top, 2,100 feet above sea level. We browsed the shopping area amid festive
Caribbean music and enjoyed a tasting of fine, locally produced rum, and tried an original banana daiquiri, said to have been invented here. From the observation deck, we enjoyed
spectacular views of Magens Bay and the British Virgin Islands.
Mini buses.
School kids heading home for the day.
Not quite a Costco.
Another view of Blackbeard's castle.
View of where we beached on the Kon-Tiki this morning (inlet on right side of island in background).
Puerto Rico in the distant horizon.
Megans Bay; touted to be in the top ten most beautiful in the world.
British Virgin Islands in background.
Another view of Megans Bay; note beach forms the upper part of a heart.
Iguana.
Drive back to ship.
Museum in old fort.
Government building.
Setting sail for Puerto Rico.
We will arrive San Juan, Puerto Rico at 7 tomorrow morning. We will have ~700 of our 900 passenger disembark with the same number embarking the second day. We will spend three days and two nights at San Juan.
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