St. Thomas
IT’S TIME FOR ANOTHER TRIP,. THIS ONE WILL BE TO THE CAPITAL OF
THE AMERICAN VIRGIN ISLANDS.
WE NEEDED TO MAKE A CONNECTION AT AMERICAN’S HUB IN MIAMI
WHILE THERE WE HAD A PLEASANT AND INFORMATIVE CHAT WITH
THE FEMALE BARTENDER, AT A MIAMI AIRPORT BAR,LEARNING
SOMETHING OF CUBAN DEPRIVATION OF ESSENTIALS.
EVER WARY OF BEING CAUGHT WITHOUT FOOD I HAD GOTTEN A
SANDWICH WHEN WE LEFT I WAS SURE GLAD I DID .AMERICAN
AIRLINES IS DOING IT’S SHARE TO KEEP AMERICANS SLENDER WITH
SKIMPY MEALS LIKE THE ONE SERVED EN ROUTE TO ST THOMAS
AFTER A SMOOTH LANDING WE WENT LOOKING FOR A CAB. WE WERE
GIVEN ONE BY THE AUTHORITATIVE CAB MANAGER.. ENROUTE TO
OUR LODGING THE CABBIE RESPONDED TO “HOW’S BUSINESS” BY
COMPLAINING THAT Y2K HAD SCARED MANY AWAY.
BECAUSE I COULD GET A REAL LOW RATE AND SINCE IT WAS A FEW
BLOCKS FROM MIDTOWN WE STAYED AT THE HOLIDAY INN.
WE GOT A SNACK IN THE SOON TO CLOSE HOTEL RESTAURANT (10:00)
AND HEADED FOR OUR SECOND FLOOR ROOM THAT OPENED TO THE
INTRA COURTYARD. MANY ROOMS SEEMED UNOCCUPIED IN THIS
HIGH SEASON, TO OUR GOOD FORTUNE
I WANTED TO GET BOTTLED WATER AND WAS DIRECTED TO THE SODA
MACHINE HALF WAY AROUND THE INTERNAL COURTYARD .NO
DISTILLED WATER LEFT SO I BOUGHT SPRITE
BACK IN THE ROOM I IMPULSIVELY, PUT SOME ON MY UNRULE HAIR.
TO MY SURPRISE IT HOLDS MY HAIR LIKE GLUE .
I COVERED THE BATHROOM WATER FACETS WITH A TOWEL SO WE
WOULD THINK BEFORE USING THE LOCAL WATER FOR TEETH OR
DRINKING.I USED SPRITE FOR SHAVING (I HAD USED CHAMPANGE IN
RUSSIA).
THE NEXT MORNING WE SAW SEVERAL OTHER PATRONS AT
BREAKFAST, WHERE WE LEARNED WHERE TO GO TO ARRANGE THE
CITY TOUR.
THE CITY TOUR BEGINS AT 9 00.JOIN HALF DOZEN OTHER TOURISTSALL
OF WERE PUT IN THE BACK OF A VAN
ST. THOMAS IS BUILT AROUND A SMALL DEEPWATER BAY, THERE ARE
MANY SAILBOATS AND ,RIGHT NOW, 2 CRUISE SHIPS ARE IN PORT.
THERE IS A HILL THAT STARTS ASCENDING RIGHT AFTER THE SMALL
TOWN ENDS INDIVIDUAL HOMES ARE IMBEDDED IN THE TROPICAL
GREENRY THAT COVERED THE HILL. UNLIKE CARCASUS OR RIO THESE
ARE NOT SLUM DWELLINGS, RATHER SOME COSTING IN THE
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.
BECAUSE OF THE VEGETATION AND HEIGHT THE ROAD CAN'T BE SEEN
FROM THE TOWN.. THE TOUR VAN GOES OVER SEVERAL ON THEM,
STOPPED A SCENIC SPOTS FOR SPLENDID VIEWS.
FRENCH VIRGIN ISLANDS, WHERE ST CROIX IS THE CAPITAL, ARE SEEN
IN THE DISTANCE
WHAT A MARVELOUS LITTLE TOWN ST THOMAS IS . FROM THE
HILLSIDE WE SEE THE TOWN, IT’S BAY AND THE UNDISTURBED
CARRIBBEAN THAT LIES BEYOND THE PORT TO THE HORIZON.
THE SEA IS PLACID,DEEP BLUE OR TORQUOISE.,. IT'S ANOTHER VIEW
OF A LIFETIME.
THE TOUR TAKES US TO A MOUNTAIN TOP TAVERN FOR ANOTHER
MARVELOUS VIEW.THE CLEAR SKY ENABLES US TO SEE SMALL
HILLY AND FORRESTED ISLANDS ON THE HORIZON.
THE TOUR ENDS LEAVING MANY OF US IN THE ROUGHLY 8 BLOCK
DOWNTOWN AREA THAT ABUNKS THE BAY.
WE FOLLOWED THE GUIDES RECOMMENDATION FOR LUNCH THAT HAD
US WEAVING PAST OTHER TOURISTS TO FIND” MADGES” DOWN A
NARROW ALLEY THAT, LIKE SEVERAL OTHERS, BEEN CONVERTED INTO
STOREFRONTS. WE HAD PASSED OH SO MANY JEWELRY STORES.
THE INDIGINOUS VEGETARIAN LUNCH AT GLADYS WAS A
DISSAPOINTMENT TO ME, BUT I CAN T WIN EVERY TIME AND THEY
REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER CHOICE
NOW A LITTLE ADVENTURE. OUT WE GO HEADED FOR A SMALL FORT
THAT NOW HOUSES A MUSEUM. NOT USABLE CANNONS. IT'S ONLY 3
BLOCKS AWAY, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN.
EN ROUTE WE SAW HAWKER, USUALLY ON A STOOL ,IN FRONT OF
STORES ,URGED ENTRY. CAB DRIVERS DROVE SLOWLY BY AND ASKED
PEDESTRIANS IF WE WANTED A RIDE.
WE STOPPED AND ASKED DIRECTIONS OF A PLEASANT,MILD
MANNERED HAWKER THAT FOUND US GOING TO A BAKERY DOWN THE
COLORFUL STORELINED ALLEY. FELI POINTED OUT A CIGAR STORE
AND IN WE WENT .
WE DEALT WITH A MARVELOUSLY MANNERED AND PLEASANT
SALESMAN ( WHO HAD BEEN A NEW YORK POLICEMAN UNTIL HE WAS
SHOT) HE CLIPPED THE HAND ROLLED CIGAR,AND LATER CHIPPED OFF
THE HOT END OF THE VERY MILD CIGAR,SO THAT I COULD TAKE IT TO
SMOKE LATER. I ADMIRED HIS MANNER AND PRAISED HIM
WE WERE NOW OFF TO FIND THE ELUSIVE BAKERY.. WE FOUND IT
BUT DID FIND ANYTHING TO SUIT OUR TASTES . THE FUN WAS GETTING
THERE
WE HEAD FOR THE MUSEUM AND IT S ROOFTOP FOR A SPLENDID VIEW
OF DOWNTOWN ST. THOMAS (AND A NICE BREEZE). NO STRUCTURE IS
TALLER THAN 3 STORIES.
I JUST THEN REALIZE WE HAVE SEEN NO BILLBOARDS, FOR SALE SIGNS
OR NEON LIGHTS CONSPICUOUSLY HANGING,AND NO FAST FOOD
SIGNS. SUCH A LOVELY BREEZE HERE ATOP THE FT. CHRISTIAN
MUSEUM RIGHT OFF THE WATER AND IN DOWNTOWN ST. THOMAS.
THE BUILDING THAT HOUSES THE LEGISLATURE IS A STONES THROW
AWAY. WE ARE BOTH LIKING ST. THOMAS A LOT.
WE HEAD INTO DOWNTOWN NOW THINNING RANKS WHERE I GET
MORE CIGARS. I HAD AT LAST FOUND A CIGAR I REALLY ENJOYED
SMOKING. I WOULD TAKE 4 PUFFS ONCE A WEEK SO THESE FOUR
CIGARS WOULD LAST AWHILE.
I LOOK FOR A CAB TO BLUEBEARDS CASTLE IT WOULD COST $2.00 AND
WAS LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF A HILL OVERLOOKING THE BAY. WE
GOT THERE ONLY TO FIND .IT WAS CLOSED.FOR REPAIRS SO WE MADE
RESERVATIONS TO EAT AT A SPOT NEARBY CALLED “ROOM WITH A
VIEW”.
TO ABSORB THE HOUR UNTIL IT OPENED WE HEAD FOR AN OPEN
OUTSIDE BAR OF THE HOTEL, WE SIT ON BARSTOOLS FOR AN
HOUR,LOOKING OUT OVER THE TREES TO THE WATER,THEN CRUISE
SHIPS,NEXT ANOTHER STRIP OF LAND THEN THE SOUTH CARRIBEAN..
ANOTHER SPLENDID VIEW.
THE MUSIC IS FAIRLY LOW. WE SIP OUR SCREWDRIVERS,ENJOYING
THE BREEZE. MY FEET ARE HIGH AND CROSSED IN THE STOOL
OPPOSITE ME. INTO THE BAY COMES A LARGE WHITE YACHT. I LOOK
AROUND BOTH HEARING AND SEEING THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE
ENJOYING THIS VIEW AND SHADE, WHENEVER THEY STOP TALKING!
I REMEMBERED THAT DIALOGUE BETWEEN FELI AND THE CAB DRIVER
SAVED US $10 00(AND A QUICK EXIT) IN CABFARE WHEN BLUEBEARD
AND BLACKBEARD(WE LEARNED THE LATTER WAS FREQUENTED BY
HOMO’S) WERE DISTINGUISHED.AS DESTINATIONS.
ITS 4: 00 WHEN I GET THE SECOND DRINK. TIME SURE FLIES .WHAT A
LIFE !
WE WENT FOR SUPPER AT: THE ROOM WITH A VIEW WE ATE
APPETIZERS AND LEFT RATHER THAN PAY OUTLANDISH PRICES TO SEE
ALMOST THE SAME VIEW WE HAD JUST COME FROM.
WE WERE LUCKY TO JOIN OTHERS IN THE FIRST CAB TO ARRIVE FROM
TOWN . IT TOOK US BACK DOWN THE HILL. THE PEOPLE WE WERE
TRAVELLING WITH TALKED LIKE THEY ISLAND HOPPED AS A WAY OF
LIFE.
WE ENDED UP AT THE SAME RESTAURANT THEY WENT TO. I GOT
EXTRA FOOD THAT I PLANNED TO EAT LATER IN THE EVENING OR THE
NEXT DAY,
IT WAS PITCH BLACKWHEN WE LEFT. THERE WAS A CAB DRIVER
WAITING FOR US WHEN WE GOT OUTSIDE ANDA FEW MINUTES LATER
WE WERE AT THE HOTEL TO MY RELIEF . I DON’T WANT TO WALK
AFTER DARK IN A STRANGE AND FOREIGN LOCATION.
WE WOULD BE UP AT 6 :00 FOR 7 :00 CAB TO THE AIRPORT, A 2 HOUR
WAIT AND 9 :15 FLIGHT TO MIAMI .
IT’S FRIDAY MORNING NOW AND WE HAVE DONE THRU THE
FORMALITIES AND SIT AT THE BREAKFAST AREA. IT' S AS HOT AS THE
REST OF THIS BREEZE COOLED AIRPORT. I DECIDED TO TRY JOHNNY.
BREAD AND I LEARNED THAT IT IS DEEP FRIED SWEET BREAD AND
FOUND IT HAD A PLEASANT FLAVOR.
WE HAD FOUND A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO GO IN THE WINTER, WHEN WE
WANTED TO BE ENCHANTED WITH HILLS ABUNKING A DEEP WATER
PORT. IT WAS A CHARMING LITTLE TOWN THAT WAS 90 ODD MILES
FROM SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO. WHICH HAS A CHARMING HISTORIC
SECTION.
WELL, I THOUGHT, THAT WRAPS UP ANOTHER VENTURE INTO THIS
WONDERFUL WORLD WHERE WE HAVE SEEN SO MUCH BEAUTY.
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