Hills warmed by the rising sun, white houses scattered on the hills and a deep blue ocean trying to be brighter in spite of the sun. This was my first impression of Saint Thomas from the ocean. As we approached Charlotte Amalie, the capital of Saint Thomas, the houses began to take shape and the architecture began to reveal itself. The warm breeze blowing from the sea was replaced by the hot air reflected from the concrete, the silence of the ocean was replaced by the hustle and bustle of tourists.
Compared to other Caribbean islands, the difference in island architecture is striking. The reason for this is the history of the island. When we go down to the roots of Saint Thomas, we reach the indigenous Arawak and Carib peoples, the true owners of the island. Until 1493, when the islanders first came into contact with the outside world, these peoples lived in harmony with nature. After this first contact of Christopher Columbus, Saint Thomas was left to its own devices until 1671. In 1671, the Danish West India Trading Company established its first permanent settlement on the island to trade sugar and rum. The reason for the difference in the architecture of the island is the Danish influence. Fort Christian, the oldest structure of the island, was built by the Danes and is still standing intact.
Danish-controlled Saint Thomas reached an important point in the Atlantic Slave Trade. During the First World War, America made a strategic move and bought Saint Thomas for 25 million dollars. And the Danish rule on the island came to an end.
As you walk the streets of Saint Thomas, you immediately notice the intertwined African, European and Caribbean cultures of the island. The music is everywhere, the local folk music of Quelbe is very lively.
It is almost impossible to take photos reflecting the texture of the island while walking the narrow streets. In front of the historic houses still standing upright despite the passing years, the latest model American cars are lined up, which is the opposite of this view.
Saint Thomas is home to 51,000 people. This makes it the largest island in the Virgin Islands. Charlotte Amalie, the largest city and center, has most of the population. The official language of the island is English, but there are Spanish and Danish speaking groups due to the history of the island.
Although the island’s economy depends on tourism, I was very happy to learn a piece of information here. Most of the Caribbean islands have an economy dependent on continental countries and mostly on America. Even though they are independent countries on paper, the economic dependency continues. But Saint Thomas has reached the capacity to realize self-sufficient agricultural production rather than being dependent on the mainland. This is probably because the US created this infrastructure here, but it is important as an example for other Caribbean countries.
The currency is USD. Renting a car for transportation can make it easier to explore the island. Keep in mind that traffic in Saint Thomas flows on the right.
If you are going to travel shorter distances, renting a bicycle will be more suitable for island life and will keep you away from the traffic problem that does not suit this island at all.
December and April might be the best time to visit this place. However, as it is high season, prices are a bit high and the island will be a bit crowded. If you are looking for a quieter and more budget-friendly trip, July and November are more suitable. However, since this is the hurricane season, the weather conditions may not be very favorable for all activities.
The island’s nature, sea and beaches will make you happy. As you wander the streets of the island, you will see that both different cultures and history are intertwined. As you move away from the tourist areas and mix with the islanders, you will have the opportunity to get to know Saint Thomas more closely.
My advice to you is not to leave without seeing the underwater beauties of Saint Thomas while you are here. In my next article, I will talk about the underwater beauty of Saint Thomas and share the photos I took during my courses here.
Have a good day
