Isaiah 42:12 “Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.”
Today, we arrived at St. Thomas. It is the second largest island in the archipelago known as the U.S. Virgin Islands. At 31 square miles, it has approximately 50% of the USVI population, and is home to Fort Christian, a U.S. National Landmark, and the oldest standing structure in the Virgin Islands.
St. Thomas was one of the first islands we ever visited in the Caribbean, so this time, we decided to set out on our own. Charlotte Amalie, the capital, is a beautiful place for walking around, especially along the water’s edge, but we started our day by strolling through the town. Of course, we took the requisite photos by the oversized postcards in the port plaza before heading out to the main street. Throughout the plaza there are lots of places to shop, so it can take a bit of time to get from the ship to the main part of town. Once there however, it’s only a short walk to the St. Thomas Skyride, which takes you to Paradise Point high above the city. You don’t have to wait until you reach the top to get great views. Skimming above the treetops in a cable car, you ascend up the hillside getting an amazing panoramic view of the port, the town and some of the offshore islands. When you reach the top, you can walk around, grab a snack, and even do a little souvenir shopping!
Charlotte Amalie is known for its Danish colonial architecture, and many of the streets have Danish names since it became a Danish colony in the late 1600s. There are two houses of worship that are historically important and worth visiting to get a photo or two. Both are two of the oldest structures of their denominations in the Western hemisphere. One is the St. Thomas synagogue, and the second is the Frederick Lutheran Church. A little more exciting is the pirate history of the area. Charlotte Amalie was reputed to be a place often frequented by two famous buccaneers: Blackbeard and Bluebeard. Both pirates have a castle on this island built by the Danes.
Walking along the waterfront, there are shops all along the pathway leading back to the pier where the cruise ships dock. There were places to sit and enjoy the view or take memorable photos. If you look carefully, you may even see an iguana basking in the sun on the rocks along the shore!
One of the most striking things that came to my mind was that despite the differences in geography, flora and fauna, and cultures, God remains the same no matter where I go. Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever,” but He is also the same here, there, or anywhere else! There is such comfort in knowing that my God is always with me, always aware of what is happening in my life, and always cares for me no matter where I may be!
Next stop: St. Kitts and Nevis