Welcome to this month’s edition of my Travel Column at Smorgasbord Travel Magazine. This month we’re visiting the beautiful island of St. Thomas – one of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Please check for any current travel restrictions: Official Virgin Islands Tourism
History
St. Thomas is one of the trio of islands that make up the U.S Virgin Islands along with St. Croix and St. John. The capital city of St. Thomas is Charlotte Amalie, boasting a population on that island of over 52,000 people and a land mass of approximately 32 square miles. St. Thomas has almost 50% more population than the other two islands.
Christopher Columbus discovered the island back in 1493, and the Ciboney people were the first to inhabit the island. In 1666 Denmark and Norway conquered the island and by 1672 the island was run by the Dano-Norwegian chartered company, taking over the island and dividing the land into sugar cane plantations, resulting in the importing of slaves to tend the plantations. Some of the largest slave auctions in the world were held in St. Thomas.
In 1691 the primary settlement on the island was renamed after King Christian V’s wife, Charlotte Amalie. The island was later declared a free post by Fredrick V, son of Christian VI of Denmark. The term, ‘free post’ was used to determine light taxation, and often no taxes at all were placed on companies and their goods to stimulate economic activity.
In March of 1801, the British invaded the Danish West Indies and took over the island, until returning the islands back to Denmark-Norway in 1802. A second invasion by the British again in 1807, lasting till 1815 when once again, the island was returned to Denmark-Norway.
Sugar trading had made the island prosperous until the 19th century when too much damage from hurricanes past and drought had brought lots of competition from American sugar traders. By the time the Danish revolution began in 1848, slavery was abolished which left the island with escalating labor costs, diminishing sugar production. By 1917 the islands were poorly managed, and the U.S. eventually purchased St. Thomas and it’s two sister islands for a cool 25 million dollars in gold in efforts to keep control of the Caribbean and the Panama Canal during World War I. By 1927, the U.S. had begun granting citizenship to the island’s residents.
Courtesy of Paradise-Islands.org
Climate
As with most islands, the beautiful Caribbean climate in St. Thomas runs steady throughout the year with average highs anywhere from the mid-eighties to low nineties. Average lows typically hover around the mid-seventies. Lowest precipitation levels run February through June. And of course, as all islands’ danger, hurricane season. Where Irma devasted this island in 2017.
Beaches
St. Thomas has many natural bays and harbors and is known for some of its beautiful beaches. Magens Bay, a heart-shaped protected bay, is one of the most popular white sandy beach beaches with a mile long of gorgeous public parkland offering an array of water sport rental equipment, food stands and beach chairs. Other beaches are located on Great Bay, Jersey Bay, Long Bay, Fortuna Bay, and Hendrik Bay. All beaches are gorgeous with their turquoise, calm waters where one can scuba dive, snorkel, sea trek at Coral World or swim with the sea turtles, sea lions and sharks!
A look at beautiful St.Thomas where the cruise ships dock. As you can see, once off the ship pier and through the gates you will see the shopping terminals at Havensight Mall – the rows of buildings with red rooves.
Land Attractions
Plenty of land activities are available on the island too. From fly fishing, to tropical botanical gardens, helicopter rides, skydiving, distilleries, hiking, biking, golfing and museums – not to mention shopping, there is plenty to see and do on the island.
Cruise ships dock in Long Bay at Havensight Pier, a short cab ride away from Charlotte Amalie.
Island Transportation
There are plenty of taxis and covered safari-like trucks that offer rides around the island.
Ferry services are available to transport people from the island to neighboring islands as well. There is also a ferry which will transport people with their cars.
Inherited from Danish practice, the U.S. Virgin Islands kept the driving laws of driving on the left side of the road, the only American places where driving on the left is practiced. This may seem a bit awkward to some, but many of the cars driven on the island are imported from America where the steering wheels are also on the left side.
Carnival
Virgin Island Carnival is celebrated from mid-April through beginning of May. This became an annual event since 1952. With music and dancing and savory cuisine, V.I. Carnival is the second most popularly celebrated carnival in the Caribbean.
Cuisine
You will find a plethora of restaurants and exotic cuisine available on the island. There is something for everyone from American food to West Indian food, Chinese, Italian. Vegetarian, Caribbean, Asian. Cajun, Latin, Mexican, and more!
Shopping!
St. Thomas is a duty-free island, and barely a person escapes leaving the island without purchasing something to take home with them. Particular items of interest with 30 – 60% off retail prices, plus, no tax are: liquor, perfume, jewelry, tobacco, cameras, crystal, china and electronics – oh, did I mention jewelry?
The best places to shop for these deals are right in the Havensight Mall terminals, a massive outdoor mall lined with rows of store after store – many of them selling jewelry! Havensight Mall is conveniently located as you step off your cruise ship! You will also find fun shopping in downtown Charlotte Amalie, Crown Bay, and Yacht Haven Grande on main street.
*St. Martin and St. Thomas are two of the best islands to shop on – in my opinion!
Accommodations
There are plenty of beautiful hotels, beach resorts, all inclusives and time-share rentals where one can stay when visiting St. Thomas. For more information and recommendations for accommodations and more, please visit THIS LINK to explore what this beautiful island has to offer.
I found this fabulous short video which captures the beauty of St. Thomas and her sister islands and all they have to offer. And yes, the color of the water looks exactly like pictured – sort of a tri-colored turquoise. Spectacular!
Funny Story
I’ve been to St. Thomas several times by cruise ship. And I’m not afraid to say I look forward to visiting there every time, if only just for the shopping.
The beauty of shopping there for anything your heart desires is that if you don’t feel like going into town after exiting the cruise ship, the Havensight Mall is right where the ships dock.
We usually travel on cruises with another couple, Lynn and Gary. Lynn is an even more compulsive shopper than I am. On our last visit to St. Thomas just over a year ago now, Lynn and I were excited to exit the ship and get our shopping on. We knew we could get our shopping done by lunchtime if we got off as soon as the ship docked around 8:00 am. We never even bothered wearing real clothes, we had our bathing suits on and threw on a coverup and flip flops and planned to power shop for about 4 hours and return to ship for lunch and sunbathing.
There is a huge wrought iron gate that passengers must walk through once off ship to enter the outdoor mall, and basically, the country. In order to pass through the gate, we have to walk past customs agents who man the gates, but only have to present our passports to them upon returning back to ship.
When Lynn and I were done shopping and walked up to the gate, Lynn discovered she’d left her passport in her cabin. Of course I had mine, I never exited the ship without it. We tried to joke around and cajole the customs officer manning the gate to allow Lynn to come back to ship with me, but he wasn’t having any of it! So Lynn had to wait on the other side of the gate while I boarded the ship and went up to the pool to find my husband and Gary sucking back beers in the sizzling sun, and informed Gary he had to go bail out his wife with her passport. He was not impressed, but I’d done my job and I wasn’t wasting another 20 minutes of glorious pool time by getting off the ship again and rescuing Lynn.
When she came back we laughed our heads off at what had transpired, ate some lunch, went for a swim, and since the ship wasn’t leaving port till early evening, decided we should go back to the mall in case there was something else we could find to spend money on. Husband’s were not impressed, and Lynn didn’t forget her passport again.
I hope you enjoyed this edition of my Travel Column. Have any of you ever been to St. Thomas?
©D.G. Kaye 2018
My thanks to Debby for showcasing this stunning Island…
About D.G. Kaye
Debby Gies is a Canadian nonfiction/memoir author who writes under the pen name of D.G. Kaye. She was born, raised, and resides in Toronto, Canada. Kaye writes about her life experiences, matters of the heart and women’s issues.
D.G. writes to inspire others. Her writing encompasses stories taken from events she encountered in her own life, and she shares the lessons taken from them. Her sunny outlook on life developed from learning to overcome challenges in her life, and finding the upside from those situations, while practicing gratitude for all the positives.
When Kaye isn’t writing intimate memoirs, she brings her natural sense of humor into her other works. She loves to laugh and self- medicate with a daily dose of humor.
“I love to tell stories that have lessons in them, and hope to empower others by sharing my own experiences. I write raw and honest about my own experiences, hoping through my writing, that others can relate and find that there is always a choice to move from a negative space, and look for the positive.”
Quotes:
“Live Laugh Love . . . And Don’t Forget to Breathe!”
“For every kindness, there should be kindness in return. Wouldn’t that just make the world right?”
Books by D.G. Kaye
One of the reviews for Have Bags Will Travel
This is such a hoot, what a laugh!
Have Bags Will Travel is such an entertaining read which gives you an insight into D G Kaye’s character, her shopping obsession, packing troubles, germaphobia, and brushes with airport security. Enjoy her recollections on the glamour and glitz, her love to travel and a nostalgic aspect to it all.
Her friend Zan shares her shopaholic tendencies too. The two of them together… can you imagine? A red head, blonde explosion of zaniness! I love the part when they end up at Buckingham Palace and chat to a Beefeater, the royal guard and after which… it gets funnier by the moment.
Have Bags Will Travel gives a historical account of how much easier it used to be to take overstuffed baggage through airports in the good old days. Now, it seems that D G Kaye will resort to anything to get her shopping home.
Zan and D G Kaye also travel to Paris and end up shopping for shoes!
There are manmade toboggan rides in Muskoka, Canada.
Trips to Venezuela: Margarita Island and Caracas with cousin Eileen.
Las Vegas, Then and Now – gambling/casinos, fond memories of the author’s love of the desert.
Have Bags Will Travel is just what we need right now, a good giggle! There is also a section at the back of the book with Helpful Travel tips.
A short, entertaining read. Highly recommended, especially for the shopoholics and travel enthusiasts in your life!
Read all the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – and: Amazon UK – follow Debby: Goodreads – Blog: D.G. Kaye Writer – About me: D.G. Kaye – Twitter: @pokercubster – Linkedin: D.G. Kaye – Facebook: D.G. Kaye – Instagram: D.G. Kaye – Pinterest: D.G. Kaye
Forgetting the passport it more the sort of thing my husband would do. I have to take charge of all travel documentation…
St Thomas sounds delightful. I have visited the British Virgin Islands for the purpose of windsurfing 🙂 The US Virgin Islands also sound like paradise on earth. Thank you for sharing!
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Thanks Jackie…The worst nightmare for most people.. St Thomas is lovely we have been once and had a great time. The islands are due another visit..xx
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🙂
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Sounds like a beautiful place to visit and shop. Good thing your friend had you to get on board to tell her husband to get her passport!
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Lol thanks Denise. Yes, she was very lucky to have me for the rescue – despite my warning her to not leave the ship without it. 🙂 xx
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What a fab read. I must renew my passport. I felt the sand, sea, and sangria…
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I think we could all use a couple of weeks in paradise right now..♥
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Oh, gosh. yes! It is raining this morning. 26 degrees on Friday and not colder. Take me with you when you go….
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I think we need a bigger plane for all the takers lol.. hugsx
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LOL, I used to fit in the suitcase but now…???
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We will of course be flying first class lol.. so plenty of room.. ♥
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I can borrow a private jet…plenty of room then.
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Perfect Jane.. ♥
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We’ll need to find some sugar daddies to pick up the tab. Monte Carlo, Capri, and everywhere we go!
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Lol.. trouble is they would be in their 90s.. any chance we could find some sugar toy boys instead xx
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Oh Yes! That would be better. Any ideas?
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Lol..wouldn’t know where to start.. xxx
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What a sad pair we are! LOL
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♥♥
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yep lol
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Get on it girl! Glad you enjoyed. ❤
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Such a backlog here due to the pandemic, I worry about sending it off and it getting lost. But, yes, I must.
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❤
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Great story! It was really bizarre in my recent visit to Egypt, because VISA and all, they wanted to keep my passport at a checkpoint to enter a church. Not impressed! (Although I had it on me, but I wouldn’t let it out of my sight). I’m sure the shopping was worth it, and nobody forgot the passport again after that. Another location I’m putting on my list. Thanks, Debby!
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Like you would be very reluctant to give up my passport especially for an extended period of time.. ♥
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Happy to entice you Olga. And I don’t blame you, I’m not leaving my passport with anyone! ❤
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Sounds like a great place to visit. Loved the funny story. I bet Lynn never forgot her passport again! Thanks for sharing, Debby and Sally!
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Thanks Jan.. xx
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Glad you enjoyed Jan. No, I don’t think Lynn ever left without it again 🙂 x
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Thanks so much for this fun rewind Sal. What I wouldn’t give to click my heels to take me back. ❤ xx
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You and me both Debby… this was the site of my telegraph pole climb and jump and tight rope walk.. but wonderful location..♥
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Lol, a mistress of so many talents 🙂 ❤
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I don’t think Cirque de Soleil need be concerned lol.. ♥
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Lol ❤
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This was a fun read, Sally. Thank you! I’ve never been to the Caribbean Islands but they are on my bucket list. Congratulations, Debby, for the spotlight and the review. ✨🎉✨
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Thanks so much Gwen. I’m happy to enlighten you. ❤
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Thanks Gwen.. Debby has certainly pulled some gems out of the file for us all .. ♥
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Too funny, Debby! Luckily, her hubby hadn’t gone on his own excursion. She would have been stuck out there for hours. Lol! 🙂
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Lol Yvette, so true, and I would not have been standing in the hot sun waiting with her. 🙂 xx
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I live and learn! Firstly, I had no idea that there were so many Virgin Islands under different countries. I was only familiar with the British ones. Thanks for putting me straight, Debby, and for the passport story! xx
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Thanks Alex..hugsx
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Thanks Trish. I’m always happy to inform and share a funny story. ❤
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I love the Virgin Islands, my favorite beach in the world is on St. John. Could stay there a long, long time!
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As I listen to the wind and rain on the window behind me, I would be very happy to join you Dorothy ♥
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Let’s go! It’s so beautiful. I remember standing on an isolated little beach and looking out at the water and magnificent rocks, and I wondered if there could ever be a place more exquisite.
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Definitely to be considered for the blogging get together ♥
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No better place!
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Oh yes, another of the trio, along with St. Croix. 🙂
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I haven’t been to St. Thomas but I’ve been to the British Virgin Islands which I loved. We went for ten days quite a few years ago and then returned twenty years later and were delighted to see that not much had changed. Great memories. Thanks for this wonderful post and funny story.
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Thanks Darlene.. it is a lovely Island.. hugsx
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Glad you enjoyed Darlene. Perhaps one day you will get there. And like you, I don’t like when good things change. ❤
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Fabulous, Debby! Poor Lynn, I bet she never forgot her passport after that.
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Thanks Jennie ♥
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You’re welcome, Sally!
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Lol Jennie, I will bet she never will! ❤
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😀
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Thats another great tip! Lets look for it after the pandemic really is over. Here the are discussing about a revival in autumn. ;-/ Thanks to Debby for finding and discovering this great destination, and you Sally for the reposting. Have all a nice Monday! xx Michael
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Thanks Michael…Unfortunately even here people seem to have dispensed with their masks except for a few and with the mingling over the summer it may be the autumn when flu season starts might be a challenge.. xxhugx
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Thank you so much Michael. I’m afraid you may be right about the revival. St. Thomas is truly a beautiful island. Thank you for sharing too. Hugs xx
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Hi, Debby! Lets hope they are wrong, I really do not like this virus, and want not to get a forth vaccination. I am mentally allergic to needles. Handcrafting included. Lol Thanks for sharing your great experiences about this wonderful isle. and have a nice week! xx Michael
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Thanks so much Michael. Happy week to you too my friend ❤
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Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Those pesky British invaders, lol. I’ve been to several Caribbean islands, but not St. Thomas. x
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Lol.. I have been to St. Thomas and spectacular would not mind another trip back..xxx
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Hi Sally, I sent you an email regarding a book cover. Did you receive it by any chance? x
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No Stevie.. not received. and checked spam etc.. hugsx
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I’ve sent from my hotmail account instead. x
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Lol Stevie. Definitely my second favorite island in the Caribbean – after St. Martin. ❤
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That sea is certainly blue I love it when the sea and the sky are the same colour…my funny tale about passports is when I was visiting a friend and had Alan’s passport and not mine…Of course, I couldn’t board the plane on his but luckily they let me on by checking my cards it was an internal flight not international as I guess I wouldn’t have been so lucky if that was the case…I now double check…lol xoxo
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Thank goodness it was internal Carol… we used our ID card in Spain to travel internally and to the Canaries..getting into the US is the worst palaver..xx
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I know, Sally I won’t be doing that again…we never had any trouble getting into the US although that was some years ago now 🙂 x
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Lol Carol, how many times I’d picked up my husband’s passport instead of mine. And yes, one truth about the Caribbean is the ocean always looks a graduated blend of versions of turqoise. ❤
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It does so beautiful…. Idylic… xoxo
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xx
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I agree with Toni, it sounds absolutely fantastic. It makes one dream. Thanks so much for sharing, Debby and Sally. Hugs
Reblogged on Improvisation – “The Art of Living”
https://williampriceking.tumblr.com/
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Thanks William and for passing along to Tumblr..hugsxx
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Thank you for sharing William. And you said it, it makes one dream. 🙂 xx
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It sounds fantastic, Debby and Sally – a real paradise. Toni x
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Good use a little of that right now ♥
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Thanks Toni. Sally took the words right out of my mouth 🙂 xx
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Thank you for sharing my review of Debby’s Have Bags Will Travel. A fun read I really enjoyed. I haven’t been to St. Thomas but I have been to the BVI, Tortola. My dad worked there and visited all the islands including St. Thomas. He loved working there!
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It is an amazing place and have been to St Thomas back in the 90s and definitely time for another visit..♥
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Yes me too! I would love to go back to that part of the world one day, Sally. ❤
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At least for the time being you have more sunshine in your future Marje..♥
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Yes, that’s true! X
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Thank you Marje. All the US and BVI islands are beautiful and unique. I’d love to visit them all! ❤
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Yes me too Debby. ❤ x
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xx
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