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IT’S EASY TO IMAGINE
that when
themembers of the Virginia Company stopped
in 1607 onwhat is nowSt. Thomas, on their way
to establish the first permanent English se le-
ment at Jamestown, their sublime surroundings
would have sparked an impassioned debate
about themerits of just staying put. It wouldn’t
have been the first: Native American tribes and
Christopher Columbus, among others, also
figure in the U.S. Virgin Islands’ rich history.
Seven different flags have flown here, with the
last changeover happening in 1917, when Den-
mark sold the trio of Caribbean islands to the
United States for what was then a princely sum
of almost $300 an acre. The acquisition turned
out to be a masterful use of Treasury money:
St. Thomas offers bustling streets and brisk
commerce, and has done so ever since it was a
favorite haunt of infamous pirates like Black-
beard and Captain Kidd; St. John has rugged
natural beauty (two-thirds of it is aU.S. national
park) as well as culinary sophistication; and St.
Croix, which is larger, fla er and, unlike its sib-
lings, nonvolcanic, has laid-back ambience to
spare. Butwhat trulydistinguishes these islands
is the easy hospitality of the unique group of
Americans who live there and who just might,
in three short days, have you,
too, debating the merits of
sticking around.
SACRED GROUND
The St. Thomas Synagogue, with its sand-covered floor, is a Charlotte Amalie highlight; opposite, a sweeping view of Coral Bay
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