The Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix) are known as “America’s Caribbean.” After the Panama Canal opened up, the US recognized the strategic advantage of having a Caribbean military base, but took 50 years to purchase these. In 1917, the US paid $25 million for these three little islands, and at nearly $300 per acre, they (along with Alaska) were considered to be Seward’s Folly. However, when you look at today’s real estate prices and the gorgeous views, I think it’s only a shame that more Americans don’t get out to see this part of the “country.”
Today, after our Lido set, I went out into the port with my two new boys: Mike, from Canada, who plays bass, and Mischa, a Russian from New Jersey, who plays guitar.
We had limited time, so we took a taxi into downtown to try to get to the heart of the good stuff. The market was full of all the normal tourist-trap trinkets, shirts, island dresses, knick-knacks, and my only purchase: postcards.
After picking up a few things, we headed straight for one of the closest “historical” sites, the “99 Steps.” It’s a very long staircase, with beautiful flora all along the sides on the way up. Altitude changes prompted colonists to add staircases all over the island. Completed in the mid-1700s by Danish builders, these steps were fashioned from a ship’s ballast. (We counted, there’s actually 103 steps to the top!) I raced them to the top, and they had a fun time trying to keep up. Ha ha! But the reward at the top was the pure view of the port of St. Thomas. This is what Seward bought!
(P.S. Another entry to the dead blog from here!)
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