By Marcia Abramson
United States Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism, Rafael "Rafie" Jackson, is anticipating a real "hot" year having escaped the devastating blows of hurricane Keith. St. John, St. Croix and St. Thomas comprise this escape from winter for a good number of Long Islanders. My favorite of the three islands is St. Croix because of its serene beaches, glorious flora presentations, its spectacular scenic views and its delightful people who have always had to live in
the shadow of the more popular St. Thomas, the port of call for just about every Caribbean cruise liner. Wednesday is the day when most ships drop anchor at Charlotte Amalie, the duty-free shopping haven. I found the streets clogged with bargain hunters making pilgrimages to the shops. Getting near the counters and being waited on was very time consuming on this day of the week. There is a Tiffany branch in the Little Switzerland Shop where I purchased a sterling silver purse pen for $50 which sells in the states for $60, plus sales tax. French perfumes and cosmetics from Gurlain, Hermes, Chanel, Dior, and Yves St. Laurent are discounted in addition to imported handbags, scarves, fine china and crystal, with no sales tax to make the prices attractive. Of course the imported whiskeys and wines are good bargains. I was surprised to learn that there is a Wal-Mart on St. Thomas offering the best prices on expensive single malt Scotches and other alcoholic spirits. The harbor also houses a colorful open-air flea market with inexpensive "knockoffs" of the costly Louis Vuitton, Dior, Premier Classe, Fendi and Gucci luggage and ersatz leather goods. Like all flea markets, I found that I had to put my bargaining skills to work for good deals.
As a respite from making my way through the crowds and the shops, I ventured up a steep hill to the famous old Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas in the historic district. Its beautiful stained glass, ancient Scrolls and Torah is worth the climb, but is also reachable by taxi for those who prefer a more sedentary mode of transportation. An interesting event will occur on December 10, 2000, when the synagogue will host an antiques and collectibles auction with authentic, high quality West Indian furniture and antiques. I understand that most of the items including a rare set of eight matching dining room chairs, a French West Indian four-poster bed, three Berbice chairs from Guyana, the former British colony, will be auctioned off by the Tepper Galaries of New York City. For those planning to be in St. Thomas then you may want more information by visiting www.onepaper.com/synagogue or call (340) 774-4312.
The island of St. John offers a wealth of information for those visitors interested in coral reef ecology, botany, island geology and birdwatching. There are two luxurious resorts, Caneel Bay and the Westin Hotel Resort, in ideal settings. However, I enjoyed my stay at one of the many magnificent furnished villas on the island with a lovely deck and good-sized pool, in addition to a fully-equipped modern kitchen. The glorious view of the beachfront and greenery is truly breathtaking and is ideal for a family holiday. The villas can be reserved through Caribbean Villas and Resorts at (800) 338-0987.
St. Croix is just a ferry ride away from the other islands, but I preferred the 30-minute seaplane flight from St. Thomas to the town of Christiansted. The harbor bordered by the calm aquamarine sea and the gardens of colorful blooming bougainvillea and hibiscus added to my special feelings about this island paradise. Special attention is given to water sports, particularly by a diving shop called Adventures Over the Edge, which has a unique program for children six to 10 years of age. The program allows them to use a tank regulator and a non-deflatable floatation device specially designed for kids which will permit them to swim with and observe marine life while on the surface of the crystal clear waters. The youngsters are given directions on how to use the equipment in shallow water and are taken on a guided tour by an experienced and licensed scuba instructor of the coral reef. After the children are attended to, there are luscious fairways for the golfers and great tennis courts. Information on diving is available from AOTE@viaccess.net or by phone at (307) 772-0505. There are many things to do and see on the island. In fact, I discovered that visitors to St. Croix will be hosted to special "Holiday Jump Ups" on the evenings of November 24, February 9, May 4, and July 20. These are fun-filled musical, happenings coinciding with Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, other triathlon and summertime events arranged by the Christiansted Restaurant and Retail Association.
