St Thomas - US Virgin Islands - 30th May 2012

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I am up at 06:30, we are suppose to go walking around the ship, there is a track on the 5^thfloor, but Di refuses to go, so I set off by myself. I do about 6 circuits of the ship 2.4 circuits = 1 mile.

We have breakfast in “Central Park” at the café, we are still trying to eat a bit more sensible, and have fruit juice and a toasted cheese and ham bagel – it is pretty good. Meanwhile the ship is edging its way into St Thomas harbour, we go up top on the ship to watch and take photographs and videos. We decide to wait a while before we go ashore, and sit in the Solarium for a while, we debate whether or not we want to make the effort to go ashore, and we decide to make the effort.

We make our way off the ship and get a taxi to downtown Charlotte Amalie. The taxi is more like an open-air bus. We arrive in the centre and wander around, yet again we are permanently pestered by guys selling island tours or trying to sell us jewellery. It is a bit of a pest, but we are the only Cruise Ship in town today, and I can appreciate that the guys need to make a living, but it does get a little wearing. There is an awful lot of competition with rows of jewellery shops. There does appear to be bargains to had if you are looking for specific jewellery, watches etc., but we are not so we go looking for a cold beer. We find a bar and have a few beers and a chat with the barman and the locals. One guys is a golf scholarship from UCLA, didn’t quite make it on the golf circuit and now has a jewellery shop on the island. He reckons that jewellery is 15% cheaper than the US mainland, but I think it is an awful lot more cheaper than the UK. We then buy a few tee shirts and head back to the ship. We make for the Solarium (which is now our favourite!). We cool off in the pool and heat up in the hot tub. We have a bit of lunch, although I break my “sensible” diet by overindulging on the shrimp, which was really delicious!

We snooze in the sun after too many Rum & Cokes!! We go back to the cabin and relax before getting ready for dinner. The theme for dinner is Caribbean dress; I have bought a shirt for $10. I think that it makes me look like Magnum P.I, but Di thinks that I look like a wally! We are suppose to have dinner with company this evening, but as it turns out we just dine together, which is probably as well after the Rum & Coke overindulgence!!

After dinner we go to the “Central Park” bar for a nightcap. Diane is really into her book, so wants to turn in and read. Tomorrow is Philipsburg, St. Maarten!

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