America's Caribbean Paradise

The U.S. Virgin Islands, like any tourism-based area holds as many adventures and experiences as the mind can conceive. The topography is exceptional with lush foliage, hilly terrain, hairpin turns, free roaming animals, and gentle (for the most part) people. The beaches are just breathtaking and the water is warm and clear. The food was outstanding. I love conch fritters and the fruit was plentiful and as fresh as could be.

A rainbow was in the sky during our brief stopover in San Juan--wow! And here we were joined by our Canadian companion who greeted us each with a long-stemmed red rose . . . another wow! Eighteen minutes later we arrived in St. Thomas.

Here it got a bit sticky. En route to our first domain via taxi there was shooting. What a spook! It seemed there was some gang disorder over the weekend which provoked this unusual activity. Thank goodness it was shortlived and quickly put aside. The rest of our stay was packed with beauty and wholesomeness, great food, and great companionship. The islands comprising the USVI are lavish and a bit kooky. The lifestyle is basically relaxed and ever-so-pleasant. I sent my daughter and son-in-law there for their honeymoon and can hardly wait to go back to this treasure. I loved it so much I invested in a timeshare on St. Thomas.

Quick Tips:

My best suggestion is to relax with this low-keyed tempo and go with the flow. Yoo, mon. My son-in-law so enjoyed his venture and I adored sharing it. Let these islands enter your spirit and engulf you. Eat well, shop well, and go about with an open mind. Enjoy the sun, the water, the lovely land, and the people with such a rich heritage. Bargains are found off the beaten path and life is certainly good.

Asking questions will reward you as the natives are eager to please and share. "Chatting them up", as our Canadian companion refers to it, brings great rewards while learning the culture and heritage of the area brings history to life.

Best Way To Get Around:

I'm certainly not the best advocate for driving in major unfamiliar territories, and this area was no way an exception. The taxi drivers were knowledgable, comfortable, and made excellent tour guides, being proud of their homeland and handling the terrain and traffic with skill and grace. Shuttles to Charlotte Amalie and other popular destinations led to fruitful walks in marvellous abundant parks. Some of our fellows witnessed detaining accidents and this added emphasis to my choice of being pampered and leaving the driving to those better equipped . . . a way better way to relax. Isn't that what it's all about anyway?

This is one of three clusters of resort accommodations with frequent shuttles between them, each emphasizing different aspects of interest. While we did shuttle to another of them (Limetree) for a smorgasbord/buffet one evening, we were quite content to enjoy the facilities and activities at our own resort, including the beachside bar and the outdoor pool (with Jacuzzi), which was a very attractive lagoon-like construction.

Our room was large and clean with two double beds and a roomy balcony. It would have gotten rave reviews except one of our party was a snorer, not that it was the original plan for us all to stay in the same room anyway, but that's the way it played out. So, while I was mighty tired, I looked forward to seeing the sun each morning. Our package included a continental breakfast each day plus a wine tasting event and a very nice manager's welcome party.

The management and staff were very helpful and friendly and had created a full range of activities to keep the guests happy. We took advantage of a few activities and most certainly the ($8rt) "shopping shuttle". This is a nice place - actually anywhere would be nice in St. Thomas - but not spectacular.

This resort was called Sugar Bay Plantation when we visited and was extremely nice. I'm afraid to mention part of my perception might be due to the fact that our snoring companion had moved on and we were able to catch up on our sleep. As this was part of our travel package and is also a timeshare, the cost per night may be inaccurate. But Sugar Bay is beautifully kept and has an outstanding breakfast buffet which was included and does tend to start the days off very well indeed.

We had two double beds and a lovely balcony. The staff might not have been so personable, nor the activities so varied (maybe because we were to tired to care?), but we were indeed in heaven. This place sits on a hill and at the base is the bar/light snack Turtle Rock cafe where steel pan music played nightly and we could hear it softly from our balcony with the surf in the background. This was certainly the good life!

Our Canadian travel companion really did her homework finding out about this place. Magens Bay has, according to National Geographic, one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world. Taking in such a panoramic wonder from 1500 feet above sea level is awe-inspiring and a true treat for the eyes.

MountainTop's balcony is equipped with magnifying viewfinders and a gift/snack area inside. Here, and elsewhere later, I first noticed the strange characteristic of the way the clouds appear so close to the planet's surface - as if I could simply reach out and touch them. There was a very quick burst of rainfall while we were there and then just as quickly it stopped, only to be replaced with bright sunshine once again.

This popular rest stop is at the peak of St. Peter Mountain. We found the offerings quite varied and pleasant, picking up our souvenirs and light refreshments before being taxied back off the mountain. While we didn't even spend a half day here, it was definitely worth our while to investigate this place for the sheer splendor of the view. This unanticipated treat put us all in a great mood and our visit there was so early in our travels...good omen, that MountainTop.

We had some time to simply soak up sunshine and enjoy the Sugar Bay pool. The gentleman who tended the pool, towels and lotion for the guests was an early-retired and very charming former Indiana business owner-turned St. Thomas resident...very eloquent and amusing. He had a way with children and peace-keeping and his tales of indiginous iguanas really tickled me. From him I learned that these peculiar reptiles don't have teeth and can't hurt people (and that they like the lazy life too).

Joe told me of many incidents, one: "You know how when you come to a place like this you sometimes go ahead and pick a pretty flower and, feeling festive, put it in your hair? Well, one lady did so with a lovely red hibiscus. Then she lay on her mat by the poolside to enjoy the warmth of the sun." Then out came Iggie, and he likes red and she was still, maybe thinking he'd been invited to dinner. He was slowly and comfortably nibbling the flower when the lady sensed a presence. She rose four or five feet off the mat and her feet were doing 60 mph before hitting the ground! perfect vacation picture, right?! Not for her!

Another Iggy was sunning high on a mangrove branch and drowsing peacefully when he fell asleep far out on his branch...so deeply asleep he fell out of the tree to the astonishment of everyone around, to say nothing of his own surprise. (Of course, Joe was demonstrating the iguana righting itself and looking quickly left and right to see if anyone'd witnessed this mayhem. Another funny visual.

Then there was a time when loads of hotel guests were enjoying the refreshing hotel pool in the heat of the day and the activity level was high...too high for Iggy to resist or maybe he was thirsty. So he hopped into the pool to enjoy the frolic and fun with the guests; and iguanas can swim very fast; his presence evacuated the pool immediately! What a gas!

Basically Joe's tales put my mind at ease with humorous tales of these unfamiliar (to me) reptiles, making such fun with them and sharing these little stories with me. Joe was certainly delightful and might have been one of the greater aspects of the Sugar Bay experience. Really he should be giving classes so every resort could have a "Joe" to enrich the vacation.