Bluewater Gypsies: St. Thomas - Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands

St. Thomas - Charlotte Amalie, US Virgin Islands (June 5-9, 2013)

When leaving Vieques, our plan was to make a stop in Culebra; however, with the wind direction and sea swells it allowed us to make a track to St. Thomas, so we set our sights and went cruising.

On our approach to Charlotte Amalie, we met up with the Doubloon "Bones" Schooner, a "Pirate Ship" that runs snorkeling excursions. Apparently, below deck it is themed to include a brig and stocks. We may need to check this out next time around.

"Bones" anchored in Charlotte Amalie

More Bones

One of the busiest ports of call in the Caribbean, the St. Thomas Harbor in Charlotte Amalie was once a haven for pirates, including Blackbeard and Bluebeard.

St. Thomas Harbor
Dulcinea (sporting her blue bimini) is just starboard of the front pirate ship

Overlooking Haulover Cut out into East Gregerie Channel

Charlotte Amalie at night

Fort Christian, built in the 1670s, is the oldest standing structure in the Virgin Islands. It has functioned as an administrative center, the home of the first Governors, a place of worship and the upper level at one time even became the local prison. Eventually, the downstairs became the Fort Christian Museum. Sadly, the fort closed in 2005 due to a stalled renovation project and has never reopened.

The local rooster

A hen and her chicks

Emancipation Park was named in commemoration of the July 3, 1848 emancipation of slaves in the Danish West Indies.

Conch Blower Statue
(Commemorates the 1848 emancipation of slaves)

Reproduction of the Liberty Bell
(Every U.S. state and territory has a copy of the Bell)

Liberty Bell Plaque

Denmark’s King Christian IX

Hotel 1829

More Flowers

The 99 steps, originally know as Store Taarne Gade, which means "Greater Tower Street," were built in the 1700s and lead to Blackbeard's Castle. The 99 steps are actually 103 steps.

99 Steps

Jim makes his way to the top

Sherry, half way there

The stairwell is bordered by colorful flowers

Ixora Coccinea, Pavetta

Ixora Coccinea, Flame of the Woods

The Three Queens fountain honors three historically important women: Queen Mary (Mary Thomas - the lead queen), Queen Agnes (Axeline Salomon), and Queen Mathilda (Mathilde McBean). These women led a successful 1878 demonstration, known as the "Fireburn," against the Danish Government demanding improved working and living conditions, and better wages. They carry in their hands: a lantern, a harvesting tool and flambeaux (torch). The sculpture was made by American artist Richard Hallier.

A St. Croix historian, Wayne James, has uncovered documentation proving there were actually four "queens," not three as previously believed. No less important to this labor demonstration is the fourth queen, Susanna Abrahamsen, nicknamed "Bottom Belly."

The Three Queens of The Virgin Islands

While Blackbeard’s Castle refers to pirate Blackbeard, it is actually the remains of the Charlotte Amalie watch tower built in 1679, originally named Skytsborg "sky tower."

Blackbeard, better known Edward Teach

CAPTAIN JAMES HOOK

THE VILLAIN OF "PETER PAN" HIS NEMESIS, HE IS SAID
TO HAVE BEEN BLACKBEARD'S BOSUN AND
THE ONLY MAN LONG JOHN SILVER EVER
FEARED. HE WEARS AN IRON HOOK IN PLACE OF
HIS HAND, WHICH WAS CUT OFF AND EATEN BY A
CROCODILE

Sailors or Pirates?

Long John Silver and his pet parrot, Captain Flint
(Fictional pirate from "Treasure Island")

Built in 1847, Britannia House is one of the few remaining wooden residences from that period. Robert Boyd Lamb, her Britannic Majesty's Consul on the Island of St. Thomas, lived there with his family from 1858 to 1869. The house was acquired by Blackbeard's in 2005 and features a collection of West Indian furniture from throughout the Caribbean. They were closed this day.

On a less historic note was our visit to Magic Ice, a Scandinavia-inspired sub-zero attraction located in an old warehouse where the walls and sculptures are made of transparent ice.

Sixteen famous artists from around the world created this world class ice art, known as “art below zero.” Among them are award winning artists in ice carving, painting, and sculpting in sand and stone.