dan collier

I’ve been on Saint Thomas for the last few days and until Sunday for a work conference. It is not exactly the tropical paradise I hoped for, but it is a vast improvement over the 10 degree weather I left back home.

This is my first time here, and the biggest surprise for me is how surly and unpleasant the locals have been. At least in the main town, Charlotte Amelie. I live on a vacation destination quasi-island, so I’m well aware of how awful tourists can be. And with anywhere between 3 and 9 cruise ships disembarking for a few hours each day and leaving each night, they have plenty of tourists. And if possible, even more vehicles than tourists.

On the lesser traveled parts of the island, I’ve met some nice folks that fit my image of the laid back Caribbeans. Of course, they were sitting on the beach drinking beers at noon, not being asked to fetch one (at a handsome price). The beaches are nice, but coming here from Cape Cod the beaches aren’t exactly breath-taking. The smog in the constant Charlotte Amelie traffic jam, on the other hand, sure is.

Overall, my impression of St. Thomas is not very good. But it is nice enough to make me think I could find paradise on an island somewhere down here, if I just keep looking long enough.