The name of this group of islands, under American dominion as well, gives you already a hint what to expect… Criiistal clear sea and beauuutiful sand beaches. Major efforts are focused into preservation of the nature intact inspite of people’s presence. Sole Virgin Island are divided into British and American ~, and the story you are just about to read refers to the lifestyle of American Virgin Islands. Even though a single visit to the British ones was worth of making several dozens of photographs, some of which are available on this very page.

USVI, what stands as an abbreviation for United States Virgin Islands, are composed of 4 islands. St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas and Water Island. The most precious part of every island refers to beaches. Yeah, I am talking about those mesmerizing sand beaches quite often used as a background for shooting of prestigious commercials for women swim suits or for postcards. Sunshine, palms, beach and of course cristal clear sea. That’s exactly how it is. St. John was declared as national park, especially due to all these basins and coral cliffs, while the rest of that intact nature will irresistibly remind you on Dalmatian rugs. Similar to Puertorico, this group of islands had changed its proprietor several times, what was very common in that epoch. This was the best sanctuary for numerous groups of pirates who rampaged all over Caribbean as also a center of the slavery trading. But to cut the story short, Virgin Island come into proprietorship of United States in 1917 after reimbursing Danish with 25 million dollars for Denmark that kept it under the longest reign. After breach of contact between United States and Cuba in 1959 for reasons well known to all of us, Virgin Island became new turistic mecca to the American turist what actually boosted true development of these islands.

American citizens have the right to choose a guvernor who governs these islands, but at the same time are deprived from the right to vote for the American president. They have a representative in the Senate instead. Biggest place and biggest town here is definitely St. Thomas. It is situated in magnificent and naturally shaped basin that serves to the yechts at all times to hide away from hurricanes that at least once a year ‘visit’ that area. It is major port for turistic cruisers that bring approximately ten thousand guests every day, appetible for shopping of all kinds of jewels, alcohol and home electronics, tax-free of course. Local storis say that only in St. Thomas there are around five hundred jewelery and goldsmith’s shops. And why is it so? This is one of the distribution crossroads of all precious stones found in Middle and South America, distributed further to United States and Europe. Naturally, low transport costs, uncut diamonds and islands’ tax policy, had turned this place into ideal shopping spot for all kinds of precious stone, that is, believe my words, three times cheaper than anywhere in the world.

I almost forgot to mention that Megans bay, third most beautiful beach in the world is right here! It really is. Long basin that ends up with the delightful sand beach in mild heart shape. It is the legacy of the local benefactor who had always cared for the environment, and when he started to feel his end approaching, he left everything he had to the local people, but under the condition that no hotel complex or housing is ever built there, what any rich American would immediately erect. I believe photos speak for themselves. Now, let me tell you a bit more about the people and the lifestyle here.

Ahhh, this American lifestyle manages to surprise me on and on again, commonly mixed with slowliness, that apparently is a permanent disease on these islands. Certain things make you wonder enough to make you consider whether to laugh or cry. Here’s an example. I went to a bar nearby with my two girlfriends. It is 10:30 a.m., we Croatian enjoy the habit of drinking coffee at that time. Among other drinks on the menu, we favoured ‘ice coffee’. Well, key moment now is, because you need to know, that whatever you may believe to be normal in our good old Europe is different here. So a middleaged lady picks up the coffee machine, makes a coffe and puts an ice cube into plain black coffee?! You should have seen our disbelief… you simply cannot perceive what she has just done! And believe me, there is no point in arguing and explaining what is original ‘ice coffee’, it will bring you nowhere and technically speaking we have ordered coffee with ice. We are to blame… Not to mention that my first visit to the ‘famous’ " Pizza hut" chain had ended so infamously… After 45 minutes we had waited for an ordinary family pizza, of course, title in the menu was muuch longer, we got so called “pizza” that looked as awful as hell.

There are photographs to ‘serve as evidence’ to it. And what was the cause of the 45 minute’ delay? During first 20 minutes “pizzamasters” were arguing who is going to make it, then the quarrel faded away itself, and we sank into oblivion. When we came thin-nerved to the counter to ask what had happened to our “food”, they just looked at each other and figured out that they have forgotten us completely. Amazing, considering the fact that we were sitting three meters away from them and kept looking towards them every now and then! Similarly grotesque situations you may experience at the local McDonalds which is hardly recognizable as renown food chain, Subway is not better, where you cannot make a sandwich your taste if they believe such combination doesn’t fit. When you first hear it, you cannot believe your ears and naturally wonder is it possible, and their reaction to it is pure stupor or eventually they’ll call up the manager who will tell you the exact same thing! Miracle island! Since I am eager to share my experinces with you, I sincerely do not recommend you to visit these places if you want to spare some nerves, my dear reader.

This is most probably the place with highest concentration of cabs per capita. Oh, and forget the notion of taxi you normally encounter all around Europe. Those are adapted pick-ups of vast HP, open type with some 15 seats. You run into them everywhere and you can’t avoid them, and they start to irritate with time since every empty cab driver stops by and offers a cheap ride. This place is excellent choice for the couples who have decided to finally crown their relationship with marriage, a true dream wedding … It is one of the activities Americans have perfected. You may choose a way and the location of the wedding, whether is it going to be under water, or in the helicopter, on a desert island or a cruiser perhaps, what is very popular and I personally wouldn’t recommend to anyone. You just pay and people from the agency take care of all the details. Young couples most often choose these islands to be their wedding scene. If any of you intend to do so, contact me and I will arrange for the wedding, since I personally know the lady who orgnaizes it. I have dropped a glance to previously written and noticed to have omitted an important detail. How to perceive all this? Here’s a hint. Main revenue source for all Caribbean islands is turism of course. There are several agencies on each islland that offer various excursions.

You may choose a ride all over the island, take a boat to St. John and enjoy the beautiful beach, you can dive, experience romantic sailing on the catamaran or have a submarine ride. For everyone’s taste. All these excursions seem to provide just fine, you only have to check around what can you get for what the money you are willing to give. If you choose the submarine there is not much to see, and to be honest all you see is sand. Wherever you go, you are provided with the guide who will try to acquaint you to the sights and other curiosities even though some of them e.g cab driver so easily exaggerate. However, you can meet lovely and charming ladies who will brighten up your day since they are friendly and have no problem with making contacts. So if you plan to pull all the way here and run into Greace and Brenda, feel free to mention who recommended them. Girls, if you are reading this, have lots of kisses!

By everything said and heard about Virgin Islands, my dear traveller and reader, you may have concluded that this place is a sort of mondane resort of wealthy and heavy wealthy people. Their place under the sun have found here numerous film, music, business and politics stars. You can see the very house where both Charlie’s Angels were shooted, Madonna’s beauuutiful ‘all-in-red’ house. You will find out what was Bill Clinton’s resort here, and they will proudly show you Michael Jordan’s house built on the hill with the tremendous view to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Which one? Well Megans bay!!! If you do have loads of money and wish to buy and island, you can do that too. As if there is a house for sale or something sooo common, I saw a table, rammed into a cliff while I was sailing near non-populated island, which said: "Island for sale. More info on the Cell number xx xx xx" I found out later that the amount was 25 million dollars! As you may see, there is no such word as boredom on these islands. As I always say photographs speak more than words, so see for yourself. If you have any question, just send me an E-mail! As our people say… don’t be a blow-fly!