Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sunny Caribbee Spice Co.,
119 Main St., Road Town (
&
284/494-2178;
www.sunnycaribbee.com), in an old West Indian building, was the first hotel on
Tortola. It's now a shop specializing in Caribbean spices, seasonings, teas, condi-
ments, and handicrafts. With an aroma of spices permeating the air, this factory is an
attraction in itself. You can buy two famous specialties here: the West Indian hang-
over cure and the Arawak love potion. A Caribbean cosmetics collection, Sunsations,
includes herbal bath gels, island perfume, and sunscreens. There's a daily sampling
of island products—perhaps tea, coffee, sauces, or dips.
Samarkand,
Main Street, Road Town (
&
284/494-6415
), is an unusually good
bet for jewelry and other items. Look for an intriguing selection of bracelets, pins, and
pendants in both silver and gold, and pierced earrings. Caribbean motifs such as
palms and seabirds often appear in the designs of the jewelry.
Pusser's Company Store,
Main Street and Waterfront Road, Road Town
(
&
284/494-2467;
www.pussers.com), has gourmet food items including meats,
spices, fish, and a nice selection of wines. Pusser's Rum is one of the best-selling
items here.
Arawak,
on the dock at Nanny Cay (
&
284/494-5240
), is known for its house-
hold furnishings, such as placemats and candleholders, but also sells sporty clothing
for adults and kids, along with a selection of gifts and souvenirs.
Flamboyance,
Waterfront Drive (
&
284/494-4099
), is the best place to shop
for perfume and upscale cosmetics.
If you've rented a villa or condo, or if your accommodations have a kitchenette,
consider a visit to
Ample Hamper,
Villa Cay Marina, Wickham's Cay I, Road Town
(
&
284/494-2494;
www.amplehamper.com). This outlet stocks some of the best
packaged food and bottled wines on the island. It also offers fresh fruit and a tasty
selection of cheeses.
Philatelists from all over the world flock to the
British Virgin Islands post
office,
Main Street, Road Town (
&
284/494-3701,
ext. 4996), for its exquisite and
unusual stamps in beautiful designs. Even though the stamps carry U.S. monetary
designations, they can be used only in the B.V.I.
Tortola After Dark
Ask around to find out which hotel might have entertainment on any given evening.
Steel bands and fungi or scratch bands (African Caribbean musicians who improvise
on locally available instruments) appear regularly, and nonresidents are usually wel-
come. Pick up a copy of
Limin' Times,
an entertainment magazine that lists what's
happening locally; it's usually available at hotels.
Bomba Surfside Shack,
Cappoon's Bay (
&
284/495-4148
), is the oldest and
most memorable hangout on the island, sitting on the beach near the West End and
attracting an uninhibited crowd. It's covered with Day-Glo graffiti, and odds and ends
of plywood, driftwood, and abandoned rubber tires. Despite its makeshift appear-
ance, the shack has the sound system to create a real party. Every month (dates vary),
Bomba stages a full-moon party, with free house tea spiked with hallucinogenic
mushrooms. (The tea is free because it's illegal to sell it, although you have to buy the
cup.) Note that the drug in this tea could be dangerous to your body. If one consumes
it, as hundreds of tourists do every year, it should be done with caution—or, better
yet, not at all. This place is also wild on Wednesday and Sunday nights, when there's
live music. It's open daily from 10am to midnight (or later, depending on business).
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