Editor's Letter
“Love the life you live; live the life you love.”
—Bob Marley
If you’re reading this magazine, I bet you love the Virgin Islands. Either you live here and you can’t seem to leave, or you’re visiting and you never want to go. You’re smitten. You want to squeeze the little islands up, put them in your pocket and walk away with them all for yourself. How adorable.
But don’t be shy. I get it. The Virgin Islands are smokin’ hot. From top to bottom—from the peaks of Sage Mountain to The Valley of Virgin Gorda—their seduction is almost too powerful. It’s okay. Feel the love. I suppose during this time of the year, approaching Valentine’s Day, it’s most appropriate to romance your special sweetheart. But why not also celebrate these islands for their undeniable beauty and charm. When Christopher Columbus landed on these islands in 1493, he was equally taken aback by their splendour, aptly naming them Las Virgenes in reference to the legendary beauty of St Ursula and her 11,000 virgins.
It’s fitting for this magazine to share in the loving season with our readers as we showcase some of the hottest locales, properties and sailing destinations on the planet. For this issue, St Thomas architect Kevin Qualls reminisced about some of the most romantic—and often rustic—dwellings; each location inspiring bits and pieces of more refined developments now prevailing along the dramatic coastlines of the US Virgin Islands.
ADVERTISEMENT
Property Sales
Writer Traci O’Dea and a handful of friends were besotted with the beauty of Virgin Gorda at Sunset Watch and Sundowner villas. The affordable Nail Bay rental property, which can accommodate two to six adults, sits nestled among lush, tropical gardens, footsteps from secluded shores, and provides its visitors with an intimate escape from reality.
While Traci wined and dined under moonlit skies in VG, I got to know Belmont Hill like never before: from the majestic St Bernard’s Hill House. The hilltop estate crowns one of Tortola’s most prestigious neighbourhoods and provides a stunning panorama at every turn. From this luxury bird’s nest, where privacy and pampering are at the forefront, the Virgin Islands experience is certain to leave its guests drunk with love in all that comprises this picturesque paradise.
Still buzzing from the 360-degree views at St Bernard’s, I found myself at The Tap Room in Cruz Bay to talk to the owners of St John Brewers about their up-and-coming brewery. I might have been a bit biased walking into the encounter, as I favour the delicious brews over the limited off-island alternatives. I found out that the two brew masters gave up high-profile jobs in the States to pursue the lusted-after life of a beach bum. Since their move to the islands, the two said the love they’ve felt from their comrades in Love City has been somewhat intoxicating.
Whether experiencing love for these islands with a significant other, or while simply taking in its natural beauty all for your own, you’ve found the perfect place to experience that true love.
One Love.
ADVERTISEMENT
