This was the first of our sail in’s on this cruise. Docking was at 7am and we were surprised when we walked out on Deck 16 that the sun had not risen yet. We forget that it is winter over on this side of the earth. Finding a good vantage point to take photo’s was challenge with no access out to the pointy bit of the ship. Positive … think of the exercise as we race from one side of the ship to the other!
St Thomas would be equivalent to a Noumea, every south pacific cruise visits … and here every Caribbean cruise visits, hence why we were not alone at this port. Not one, nor two, or three but six ships were in port on this day, including the Symphony of the Seas with it’s 5000 passengers.
We docked at Haven Sight Port, if you didn’t want to venture too far from the ship, you didn’t have to as there were rows and rows of colourful shops selling everything you could find downtown. Reminded me of Alaska with every second shop selling Jewellery, top brand watches and the usual cruise ship wares.
David from David’s Fun Tours was there to pick us up and we were quickly off to enable us to beat the crowds.
Our first stop was a look out on Skyline drive where we were not just treated to sweeping views of city but we got to meet Monica Lewinski the Donkey. For a small fee you can have your photo taken with her…. Who could resist?
Next, we stopped at Drakes Seat, named after the famous explorer Sir Francis Drake. Here we had fabulous views of Megan’s Bay. This beautiful beach and it’s surrounds has remained development free thanks to one of it’s owners donating the land to the government on the proviso it stays that way.
Reaching the islands highest point, we stopped at Mountain Top, the epitome of souvenir stores. Shopping, views and Banana Daiquiris … what else could you ask for.
Heading back downtown to discover St Thomas’s history, seemed to consist of a lot of drive by’s which made photo taking a little difficult. The Dutch Reform Church, 2nd oldest Jewish Synagogue and the oldest active hotel in the Virgin Islands named after the year it was built 1829 all just blurred together as we passed by, but we did manage to snap a picture of the famous 99 steps that lead you to Blackbeard’s Castle.
We enjoyed a lunch of goat curry washed down with a local beer for Garry and for me, how could I resist a St Thomas Bushwacker. Just like a chocolate milkshake, but with a bite!
The shopping streets of downtown Charlotte Amalie were crazy, imagine, 6 six ships … average 3500 people that’s over 20,000 wandering the streets.
We finished our day back at Megans Bay for a swim. Paying our $5 per person, David took us to a quiet spot on the beach. Water was cool and not as crystal clear as we thought it may have been, but it was refreshing against the days heat.
Back in plenty of time we bought a couple of bottles of wine which we easily took back onto the ship. One down … three more to go before our next sea day!
No comments:
Post a Comment