Still in St Thomas

St Thomas Tuesday 17^th December

We are still in Long Bay, Charlotte Amalie because the wind remains 20 – 25 kts easterly with 2-3m swells and regular rain squalls, and wherever we go next it will be east. When we arrived in the squall the anchorage was quite empty but as the days go by, more and more boats are coming in. On the return from one shore excursion we see Badgers Sett, who we last saw in Bonaire.

Ok-we are in the group of 3 in front of the barge with the crane - the only ketch!

That evening was the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Havensight Mall so we have our reunion there. First a couple of beers at Mojo’s , then the tree and a stroll around all the stalls. Arts and crafts and all kinds of food, nicer because it is done by locals. We all enjoy Pinapple’s famous rotis.

At the tree lighting

We have another few Safari bus excursions - in pursuit of a new o ring for the petrol generator and inland to Tutu Mall for some photographs. The traffic is amazing  and made worse by road works all over the place.

Half way up the hill behind town is an old lookout tower, now called Blackbeards Castle. 

Blackbeard's castle - Note the flag at 1/2 mast for Mandella

We decided to walk up and see the views, taking in the 99 steps, laid from ballast bricks brought from Denmark.

The 99 steps

 

 The boats would then return laden with sugar and rum. There are many pretty colonial style houses,  some are museums, with narrow streets and steps everywhere. 

Friday night was “Miracle on Main Street” when all the shops stay open late and offer discounts. There are again food and craft stalls, pan bands in the streets and a parade of boats lit up for Christmas. Another very festive evening in good company with four other boats.

Tomorrow we hope to go to St. John, if the weather is as forecast. We hope all of you are enjoying the run up to Christmas and we wish you all Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year, maybe a bit  early, but wifi has been very difficult to get here, and St John is mostly a nature reserve, so we are not sure if we will find any there.

P.s We had an Inglorious sail, out of the harbour tacked into a F5/6 with 2-3m waves and decided to go back! It was horrible even if the water was warm, it was still coming over the sprayhood!