West End Tortola, circa 1967

Photo of West End Customs 2001

My first visit to West End (Sopers Hole) was in the 1970s. I was tied up along the seawall at Charlotte Amalie and approached by an agent from St. Thomas Dairies who hired me to deliver a load of milk to West End on Tortola. For some reason they couldn’t do it themselves that day, presumably due to one of the many contingencies that was, and still is, likely to occur here in the islands.

Arriving at customs at West End, I noticed a monument dedicated to the arrival of the Queen of England on her first visit to Tortola. A brass plaque read something like “where the Queen first stepped foot on the BVI.” Interestingly enough, the dedication was located far enough away from the edge of the dock that the Queen would have to have a have taken a mighty leap to set her royal foot down that far away from whatever vessel she was on that tied up to the dock.

Commenting on this to a BVI local, it was explained that the original monument was indeed erected at the exact spot where the Queen actually stepped foot. (see above photo) In actual practice, however, this was an inconvenient place for the monument as it interfered with the loading and offloading of cargo on the dock.

It was in response to this difficulty the dedication was moved away from the loading area, explaining the British monarch’s seemingly extraordinary disembarkation at Soper’s Hole on the island of Tortola, BVI.

St. John Live Music – Friday April 13

Aqua Bistro – Steve Sloan – 5:30 – 8:30 – 776-5336
Beach Bar – Jon Beninghof Band – 9:00 – 777-4220
Castaways – Mikey P – 9:00 – 777-3316
Cinnamon Bay – Eddie Bruce Drum Circle – 6:30 – 8:00
Cruz Bay Prime – James Cobb – 7:00 – 10:00 – 693 -8000
Driftwood Dave’s – John W Lee -7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015
Island Blues – Slammin – 776 6800
Morgan’s Mango – Lauren – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Ocean Grill – T-Bird – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304
Rhumblines – Erin Hart – 7:00 – 10:00
Spyglass – James – 5:00 – 8:00 – 776-1100

See Weekly Schedule

Rain Squall Over St. Thomas

Life is tenacious. This turpentine tree has taken root in what appears to be solid rock, its roots reaching down into crevices and cracks searching for what little soil and even less moisture is available.

Perched high atop Whistling Cay it has undoubtedly been buffeted by high winds and strong squalls. Nonetheless it survives and grows into a mature tree.

Another turpentine on the island with its trunk twisted reflecting the results of it’s harsh environment.

St. John Live Music – Monday April 9
High Tide – Mikey P – 8:00 – 11:00 – 714-6169
La Tapa – Samba Combo – 6:30 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Maho Bay Camp – Open Mic with Lauren – 6:30
Ocean Grill – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304
See Weekly Schedule

St. John Weather
Scattered showers, mainly before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. East wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Water temperature 83 degrees. Sunset 6:34 pm

St. John Photo of the Day

Carib Tide leaves Cruz Bay, St. John Bound for Red Hook, St. Thomas

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!

St. John Live Music Schedule Saturday March 17

 Beach Bar – St. Patrick Day Party – Groove Thang – 4:00 – 777-4220
Castaways – Dance Party – 11:00 – 777-3316
Spyglass – James Cobb – 5:00 – 8:00 – 776-1100
Driftwood Dave’s – Guitarist James Milne – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015
Morgan’s Mango – Luba – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Ocean Grill – Rascio on Steel Pan – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-3304
Rhumblines – Lauren – 7:00 – 10:00
Shipwreck Landing – Mike Miknut – 6:00 – 9:30
Skinny Legs – Hot Club of Coral Bay – 6:30 – 9:30 – 779-4982

See Weekly Schedule

A Day at Sea in the trusty and beloved Caribe 15DL - Photo by Michelle Collins

It was a busy weekend on St. John. The beaches were crowded (by St. John standards anyway). There was plenty of activity with swimmers, snorkelers, kayakers, paddle boarders and sunbathers enjoying the clear, sunny and breezy weather. The popular manta ray was also at the beach making its way between Francis and Maho to the delight of all.

On Sunday, two mini Cruise ships, the Seabourn Sojourn and the Sea Dream I, lay at anchor outside of Cruz Bay along with a mega yacht so big that could have easily been confused as a third cruise ship.

The winds were gusting from the east southeast, and along with a strong tide, the offshore seas were quite rough with steep closely spaced waves. This was experienced first hand making the passage across Pillsbury Sound on the way to St. Thomas to “get a little culture in my life. Navigating the sound was accomplished thanks to my trusty Caribe 15DL and a Yamaha 60. The culture came thanks to Pistarkle Theatre’s Sunday matinee performance of “Red”, which I thoroughly enjoyed and can recommend to others. (Two more performances are scheduled for March 9th and 10th at 8:00 pm.)

Another weekend in Paradise…

St. John Weather

Clear with a high of 84 degrees. Winds from the ESE at 20-30 12-20 mph. Water temperature 81 degrees. Sunset 6:26 pm Atlantic Standard time. In other words another typical, beautiful day on St. John

St. John Live Music Schedule for tonight, Monday, March 5

High Tide – Rascio on Steel Pan – 4:00 – 6:30 – 714-6169
La Tapa – Samba Combo – 6:30 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Maho Bay – Open Mic with Bo & Lauren – 7:00
Ocean Grill – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304

See the weekly St. John live music schedule

MTV’s raunchy, sexy reality show, The Real World, will be filmed entirely in the Virgin Islands. St 27th season, titled The Real World: St. Thomas, will be based on Hassell Island and filmed mostly on St. Thomas, but segments shot on St. Croix, St. John and Water Island will also be included. The show is scheduled to premier this summer.

Former Paiewonsky Residence

The theme of the show are the recorded activities and interpersonal relationships of seven strangers who will live together in a house for several months.

In this season’s The Real World: St. Thomas, the house chosen is rumored to be the former Paiewonsky residence on Hassel Island now owned by St. Thomas businessman, Ricardo Charaf.

according to co-creator and executive producer, Jon Murray, St. Thomas would be a “perfect environment for this year’s seven strangers to get to know each other and figure out their lives…”

St. Thomas Commissioner of Tourism, Beverly Nicholson-Doty was happy with the producer’s decision to choose the US Virgin Islands as the venue for the Real World’s upcoming season and issued the statement that: “As a U.S. Territory, the U.S. Virgin Islands is an excellent choice for Season 27 of The Real World. The roommates, and MTV’s viewers, get to experience the splendor of the Caribbean lifestyle, while MTV’s production expenditure is reinvested into U.S. economy…. Viewers of the show will get an opportunity not only to see the roommates settle into their new lives on St. Thomas, but also to follow their cultural experiences across the other islands that comprise the USVI – St. Croix, St. John and ‘the fourth Virgin’ – Water Island.”

St. John Live Music Schedule for tonight, Friday, March 2

Aqua Bistro – Mark Wallace & Rich Greengold – 5:30 – 8:30 – 776-5336
Beach Bar – The Gomorrans, Social Aid & Pleasure Club – 9:00 – 777-4220
Castaways – Mikey P – 9:00 – 777-3316
Driftwood Dave’s – John W Lee – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015
Miss Lucy’s – David Reed – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5354
Morgan’s Mango – Lauren – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Ocean Grill – T-Bird – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304
Shipwreck Landing – Woody Lissauer – 6:00 – 9:30

See the weekly St. John live music schedule

Line for customs at the St. Thomas Airport

All the way to Baggage Claim

The afternoon line up to pass through customs inspection at the Cyril E King Airport on St. Thomas has been longer than I have ever seen it.

The line shown in the above photo began at the baggage claim area and extended to the doorway that leads to the customs area. From there it passes through the alcove where you normally fill out your customs forms and then leads into the actual customs area. Here there is a maze of four long lines defined by roped off paths, which extend the length of the room. You walk down the first line, switch back to the next, down that line switch back and so on until you are finally called to one of the customs desks and are cleared to enter the TSA area.

You’re not finished. There’s still the agricultural inspection, which is fast and easy and the security scan lines, which may not be that fast and easy.

All in all, I would say that the customs, agriculture and security people are fast and efficient, however, there’s no way that you’re going to breeze through all  in no time at all.

The message here: Give yourself plenty of time before your flight out of St. Thomas, especially in the afternoon.

St. John Music Schedule Thursday 1/19

Banana Deck – Steel Pan by Lemuel Samuels – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5055
Beach Bar – Don Dilego Band – 9:00 – 777-4220
Castaways – Dance Party – 11:00 – 777-3316
Driftwood Dave’s – Jante Samuel’s Caribbean Band – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015
High Tide – Inner Vision – 8:00-11:00 – 714-6169
Morgan’s Mango – Mark Wallace – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Ocean Grill – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304
Skinny Legs – Lauren – 6:00 – 779-4982

See this week’s live music schedule

JetBlue takes off from Boston to U.S. Virgin Islands

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – The sights and sounds of the U.S. Virgin Islands greeted travelers at Boston’s Logan International Airport this morning as the Department of Tourism showcased VI culture in celebration of JetBlue’s first flight to the Territory from the continental U.S… read more from South Florida Caribbean News

Best national parks to visit during winter
By Elaine Porterfield , msnbc.com contributor

Lots of folks know about Yosemite’s festive lodges in the winter, the excitement of viewing buffalo in the snow at Yellowstone or alligator spotting in the Everglades. Emphasis on lots of people. But there are a number of other lesser known national parks that are gems in the winter, when crowds are down, stargazing is amazing and temperatures range from temperate to pretty terrific.

“Some of the beauty of going to any of the parks in the wintertime is that you’re not going to encounter the crowds you would in the summer or fall,” said Kurt Repanshek, editor of National Parks Traveler, a website devoted to the national parks.

Slideshow: America’s lesser-known national parks

Repanshek, who has had a lifelong passion for preserving and protecting national parks, says some of the most memorable visits he’s made to many of the parks happened in the off-season. One of his faves: Virgin Islands National Park on the island of St. John. The park includes 5,650 acres of submerged lands that protects beautiful coral gardens and seascapes… Read more

BYM Marine and Maritime News Virgin Islands 11/17/2011

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a vessel carrying 10 bales of cocaine, weighing 709.4 pounds, near French Cap Cay this weekend.

Just past midnight Friday, a CBP maritime surveillance aircraft on patrol detected a “yola” type vessel with two outboard engines, center console, and three people on board, traveling on a northwest course without navigation lights.

The vessel was kept under constant surveillance by the CBP aircraft, observing that the vessel stopped in French Cap Cay, where two of the three individuals on board jumped in the water and swam toward the island.

They appeared to be carrying packages to shore. After they finished stashing the packages, they left the island and headed east towards the southern end of St. John ….read entire article

Benner Bay is one of the calmest anchorages on St. Thomas. Locally called the Lagoon, the bay lies within a larger one called Jersey Bay.

Vessels coming in from the open Caribbean wishing to avail themselves of the tranquility of the Lagoon must enter through Jersey Bay before accessing Benner Bay. The southernmost portion of Benner Bay, however, is separated from the open sea only by a narrow shallow reef that may not be easily seen, especially at night. Every year sailors looking into Benner Bay and possibly seeing other boats resting peacefully at anchor, make the mistake of trying to sail directly into the bay and end up on the reef.

For this reason this reef lying between Cas and Patricia Cays has been dubbed “False Entrance,” and false entrance it is.

St. John enjoyed a sort of mini farmers market this morning, beautiful fresh local produce for sale set up outside of Connections in downtown Cruz Bay. Those responsible for this phenomenon Anthony and friends, farmers and farmers helpers from Dorothia  on St. Thomas’ north side (Nordside). Anthony will be bringing his fruits and vegetable to St. John every other Friday (This week was on a Thursday because tomorrow is a holiday.

St. John Music Schedule Thursday April 21

Banana Deck - Steel Pan by Lemuel Callwood – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5055
Castaways - Mikey P Rocks the House – 8:00 – 777-3316
High Tide - Steven Sloan – 7:00 – 10:00 – 714-6169
Island Blues – T-Bird – 7:00 – 10:00 – 776-6800
Miss Lucy’s -Rich & Greg – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5244
Ocean Grill - Rascio Steel Pan – 7:00 – 9:00 – 693 3304
Skinnylegs – Lauren – 6:00 – 779-4982
Westin, Cruz Bay Prime – James Cobb – 6:30 – 10:00 – 693-8802

See Weekly Music Schedule

Note: I’m doing the best I can to present an accurate music schedule, but to be sure, it would be a great idea to call the restaurant or bar beforehand to confirm.