Magens Bay and Charlotte Amalie Harbor
 After a most restful sleep with the warm tropical breeze lulling me easily to sleep, I arose the next morning and headed to my hotel restaurant. There I satisfied my hunger with a buffet complete enough for any appetite. There were scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes, sausage, hashbrowns, danish, cereals, oatmeal, omlettes and even fresh eggs benedict with creamy hollandaise sauce. Fresh coffee, orange, mango, papaya, cranberry and apple juices next to milk and tea. And of course the fresh fruit display of bananas, papaya, mango, pineapple, kiwi, strawberries, dates, raisins, watermelon, honeydew and cantalope...just to name a few!
Breakfast now completed, I turned my attentions toward a day of sightseeing. I asked the bellstand to call a taxi and faster than I could blink, one appeared before me. "where you goin' today mon?", was the friendly greeting, and my reply was, "To Mountain Top please." This is the highest point on the island of St. Thomas and from which you can see the north side of the island and out to sea for miles. But the most intriguing view is that of Magens Bay. Now a gift to the people of St Thomas, donated by Arthur S. Fairchild in 1946, this is touted by the National Geographic Society as perhaps the most photographed beach in the world. It is here in this beautiful crescent shaped bay that you can watch the sailboats glide effortlessly over the everchanging aqua and turquoise waters below whilst sipping their famous banana daiquiris.
Feeling the need to press on, I hail yet another taxi and request that he deliver me to the capital of the Virgin Islands and heart of the island, Charlotte Amalie. A charming old Danish town with white buildings, red tile roofs and brightly painted hurricane doors is the setting for Main Street and its merchant alleys... a shopping bonanza. It is here that you can purchase thousands of items at 30-70% off the price you pay anywhere else as the government classifies this place as a "developing nation" not subject to tariffs, taxes and few duties. With an allowance of $1200.00 per person duty free, you can shop to your hearts content in the MANY diamond, jewelry, crystal and china establishments. Of course, there are also the typical clothing and trinket stores as well as some great eateries. An outdoor open-air "flea market" boasts colorful cloths and very inexpensive treasures. Making my purchases, I stopped in at the Greenhouse restaurant and dined on swordfish and chips while sitting in a booth with a view of the bay and several cruise ships at dock. 
Only a short taxi ride around the bay and past the historic fort, you then encounter Havensight Mall. This is the port of entry for all cruise ships and first shopping area passengers enter upon disembarkation. The sheer size of these ships is a sight to behold, especially up close and this docking area can handle upto 11 ships at once. Fortunately for me, there were only two in port on this day so they crowds were rather "light". More shopping and bargains to be had in 15 different, well laid out buildings. A lively taxi ride back to my hotel and time enough to make myself ready for dinner. What a wonderful day this was to take in the sights and history and bargains of this beautiful island.
Today's Quote:
Glorious, stirring sight! The poetry of motion! The real way to travel! The only way to travel! Here today—in next week tomorrow! Villages skipped, towns and cities jumped—always somebody else’s horizon!-Kenneth Grahame
6:54:20 PM 
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