The Virgin Vault

[Dr. Blackheart]

I will again post some flavor from the holiday hoops tournament...this year at the Paradise Jam on the USVI.  St. Thomas is beautiful, the people warm, the weather mostly fantastic (a few winter mid-day storms).

1.  Cowpet Bay, 2. Red Hook Bay/Yacht Harbor from the Carribean Saloon, 3) Long Bay in downtown Charlotte Amalie

[GGGG]

I've been there once.  Trunk Bay on St. John might be the most beautiful spot on the face of the earth.

[reinko]

Wicked!  Any open practices today?

[Dr. Blackheart]

More...

1.  Fort, 2) Jewish Synagouge from 1796 (sand floor), 3) Reformist Church and 4) Alter, 5) Mid-day downpour (locals say everyday in winter, there is a 15 minute shower and then the sun returns)

[Benny B]

I'll put Waterlemon Cay against Trunk Bay any day of the week... especially the tourist-heavy ones.  Even on a busy holiday, you might have an entire beach to yourself.  It does require a 30-45 minute walk, however.


(I hope you're not sending those pic's from a Verizon phone, Doc, otherwise, you've just racked up $100 in roaming and data charges.)

[Dr. Blackheart]

Some Scoop shout-outs:   1) Dyslexic PRN plate , 2) ZFB monument

[GGGG]

I'll put Waterlemon Cay against Trunk Bay any day of the week... especially the tourist-heavy ones.  Even on a busy holiday, you might have an entire beach to yourself.  It does require a 30-45 minute walk, however.

Never got there....when I went to Trunk Bay, there was no more than two dozen people.

[Dr. Blackheart]

A bit slow this AM guys...was out late at Duffy's Love Shack, among others.  Pretty sure I missed open practices, according to my head. I have an international package and my laptop, so no bigtime roaming charges.  Funny thing is, ATT service better here than in the 50. 

[Golden Avalanche]

I've been there once.  Trunk Bay on St. John might be the most beautiful spot on the face of the earth.

Another good spot is Boipeba Island off the coast of Bahia state in Brasil. Prop plane in. Prop plane out. 

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

When we were there we went to a beach along Secret Harbor Road on Nazareth Bay. It might be a private beach, I can't recall.

If you want a good island tour, go to Charlotte Amalie and see if you can find Raymond. He's got a van/cab painted red with firefighters on it. He's a class act.

[Benny B]

I gotta get off this thread.... otherwise I'm going to start resenting a person who means the world to me but decided she wanted to spend the vacation budget on a prepaid annual spa package because she was too "stressed out."

Ironic that we'd easily be unwinding years of stress right now in Red Hook.

/rant

[GOO]

I have not been to the Virgin Islands since the 1980's!  When I was in St. Thomas back then, there was a bad street person/begger problem.  Very agressive and lots of them.  Even inside a business, once wasn't safe from requests.   More poverty than I had exepected. 
Question:  Has this improved?

[Slim]

I thought this thread was about Cobeen

[Skatastrophy]

I have not been to the Virgin Islands since the 1980's!  When I was in St. Thomas back then, there was a bad street person/begger problem.  Very agressive and lots of them.  Even inside a business, once wasn't safe from requests.   More poverty than I had exepected. 
Question:  Has this improved?

BVI is much nicer than USVI.  Well worth the extra $$.

[mugrad2006]

I thought this thread was about Cobeen

That's the first thing I thought as well. 

[GGGG]

BVI is much nicer than USVI.  Well worth the extra $$.

But Marquette's not playing there....

[kmwtrucks]

For those of you not famailar with Duffys Love Shack. Its basically a make shift bar in a parking lot in the Redhook area.  Lots of fun but pretty random.

[Lighthouse 84]

I haven't been to the USVI since 1989 but I agree Trunk Bay was beautiful.  For a wicked banana daiquiri,  go to MountainTop in St. Thomas.  We put money on the bar and they kept filling our glasses over and over again, never taking money until we wee leaving.  The bartender was drinking with us and barely took any money. Great place to be in the middle of a hurricane.

[Benny B]

I have not been to the Virgin Islands since the 1980's!  When I was in St. Thomas back then, there was a bad street person/begger problem.  Very agressive and lots of them.  Even inside a business, once wasn't safe from requests.   More poverty than I had exepected. 
Question:  Has this improved?

To an extent, very much so... but not completely.  Keep in mind, much of the Caribbean and Antilles are still third-world countries.  A lot has been done in the USVI to combat poverty, but it still exists.  But panhandling is no more a problem in the USVI than it is in Chicago... beggars are there, but shopkeepers certainly don't tolerate them and a polite "no" is typically enough to get them to leave you alone.

Just like any city, there are good parts and bad parts.  If you don't want trouble, stick to points Main Street and south while on foot in Charlotte Amalie, don't go wandering around in unfamiliar areas at night, and be aware of your surroundings -- same advice I'd give to someone going to Minneapolis.

Long story short --- St. Thomas isn't the prettiest island in the sea, but the tourist areas are clean, and I'd feel safer & more comfortable there than I ever would in Detroit, L.A., or State College, PA.

[Spotcheck Billy]

To an extent, very much so... but not completely.  Keep in mind, much of the Caribbean and Antilles are still third-world countries.  A lot has been done in the USVI to combat poverty, but it still exists.  But panhandling is no more a problem in the USVI than it is in Chicago... beggars are there, but shopkeepers certainly don't tolerate them and a polite "no" is typically enough to get them to leave you alone.

Just like any city, there are good parts and bad parts.  If you don't want trouble, stick to points Main Street and south while on foot in Charlotte Amalie, don't go wandering around in unfamiliar areas at night, and be aware of your surroundings -- same advice I'd give to someone going to Minneapolis.

Long story short --- St. Thomas isn't the prettiest island in the sea, but the tourist areas are clean, and I'd feel safer & more comfortable there than I ever would in Detroit, L.A., or State College, PA.

I have never been to any of the VI but we do try to get to Jamaica every February and this is the same advice I give others for Negril: just use the same common sense that you would in major US cities

[Dr. Blackheart]

1.  Open practices or ???? 2. Rince and repeat, 3. Rinse and repeat, 4. RInse and repeat, 5.  RInse and repeat.  MU pep rally at 6:30 and then onto the Jam.  btw, that is St. John's in the distance of #2.

[Hards Alumni]

I have never been to any of the VI but we do try to get to Jamaica every February and this is the same advice I give others for Negril: just use the same common sense that you would in major US cities

My suggestion as a person who has been to basically every island in the Caribbean (populated ones at least).. is to never go to Jamaica.  When you are surrounded by beautiful friendly islands, why take the risk of going to a dangerous one?

Personally, I would never go back to Jamaica.

[Dr. Blackheart]

For those of you not familiar with Duffy's Love Shack. Its basically a make shift bar in a parking lot in the Redhook area.  Lots of fun but pretty random.

So true...you are even being generous...in a strip mall on the outer outbuilding...but a blast.  Across the way is the Caribbean Saloon which has all the sports packages for those down here (two dishes, ESPN package, screens at each table who want to watch sports) with fantastic view,  By Duffy's is a Texas BBQ place which is a walkup shipping container covered in aluminum.  I asked a local for directions today and she said "we don't do numbers...it is near the Post Office"".  Gotta love island life. It is safe...I even strayed yesterday and all is good...but be wise like a big mainland city.

[Spotcheck Billy]

My suggestion as a person who has been to basically every island in the Caribbean (populated ones at least).. is to never go to Jamaica.  When you are surrounded by beautiful friendly islands, why take the risk of going to a dangerous one?

Personally, I would never go back to Jamaica.

different strokes I guess, trip #10 begins Feb. 4 - we love it and never plan to go anywhere else as long as that holds. FWIW, I've never felt in danger and we do NOT stay in any all-inclusives, we ride the route taxis with the locals, hire locals as drivers etc.

[Hards Alumni]

different strokes I guess, trip #10 begins Feb. 4 - we love it and never plan to go anywhere else as long as that holds. FWIW, I've never felt in danger and we do NOT stay in any all-inclusives, we ride the route taxis with the locals, hire locals as drivers etc.

I just don't see the allure of Jamaica other than the over the top Rastafarian crap... unless you are into that sort of thing.

There are better beaches, better shopping, better relaxation spots all over the place.

I've never stayed at an all inclusive place either.