Just arrived!

Travislaura, welcome to paradise! I recommend meeting people, especially recent transplants. Once you make friends, you can hang out with them (which is the main reward), and feel safer (which is a good side-effect). Look for potential friends at just about any social scene: beaches, bars, live music events, hobby groups, etc. Don't be shy about chatting with strangers in a social setting. It's fairly easy to meet people here.

If you tell us your age and interests, we might be able to point you in the right direction.

If Christiansted at night doesn't suit you, try other areas, like North Shore/Cane Bay at night. There is a regular crowd of locals there at Rowdy Joe's, Bogey's, Off The Wall, Eat @ Cane Bay, etc.

It would help if you told us how reality was different from your expectations. Where are you staying? From previous posts it seems you are looking for jobs. How does that jibe with traveling to STT?

Anyway, I'd give it a couple of weeks before you decide if STX is for you.

back when stanford was here and not in jail, he had a bunch of security guys in downtown christiansted. now i think the cops only work m-f 9-5. a few of the jewelry stores hire private security too. its just like anywhere you live. you have to pay close attention to your surroundings. now that being said we DO NOT go to the north shore at night. those places get robbed alot. we will go during the day. when we do go out at night we look for places that have parking close by to the restaurant we are eating at, no parking no restaurant.

travislaura:. You were surprised that the cities were "run down" ??

I'll have to admit, when we first vacationed here years ago, we were surprised by a few things, but we weren't thinking of moving here.

Anywhere you go throughout the Caribbean you'll find old buildings and towns that time forgot.

There's ways to look at things differently too. For example, a "run down" building here might be 200 years old and of historic significance.

And if you step inside Stephan Larsen's Photographic Studio on Company St., you'll see beautiful large artistic photographs for sale of "run down" buildings. (You see these photos in many offices and homes across the island).

I volunteer helping the homeless in F'sted, and can tell you that some of the "scary" looking ones are really quite friendly.

All of which is to say, "run down" and "scary" are in the eye of the beholder.

"run down"? How about "charming"!

I'M WITH YOU EDWARD. CHARMING IS THE RIGHT WORD

Travislaura, try a charter boat like Milemark Tours to go to Buck Island. You shouldn't miss the trip while you're here. Or maybe the charter that goes to the BVIs for the weekend (if they still do that)- Kindred Spirit. Their office is in downtown Christiansted-International Yacht Brokers.

From a boat on the water St Croix looks even more "Charming".

Don Street, who has written the cruising guides to virtually the entire Caribbean, has called Christiansted the prettiest town in the Caribbean.

Coming up on my 'anniversary' and I still think it's charming. Old buildings are great to photograph and the 'scary' ones even better. But I have to admit I worry about whether or not they want their pictures taken. Would love to find someone like that who I could shoot a documentary about and not get mugged...

Hello everyone!! Thank you all for the responses. Apparently charming is the correct word for the description of Christiansted and I would have to agree. Laura and I have adjusted quite well. Coming off a long plane ride and trying to manuever around and unknown place and ending up in downtown Christiansted at midnight is quite the culture shock. However since our landing we have met so many great people and have talked with a ton of smiling and knowledgable residents. We are looking forward to continue to explore the island. We have purchased a car, found an amazing place to stay, with trusting and extemely friendly landlords. Our new goal is to get on the job search. However Wednesday we will be checking out Buck Island. We can not wait!!! Thanks Travis and Laura

Buccaneer had an ad in the Sunday Avis for servers and beach attendants. Might be a place to start.

Thanks Linda! Oh and I hear we might be playing some trivia soon?! Cant wait!!

yeah, I heard that too. Welcome!

Christiansted usually has no problems at night! If you don't go to any dark areas and stay away from dead end roads, you will be okay. As for the Buck Island trip consider Big Beards tours. Here is the link to their site. Hope this helps!

http://www.bigbeards.com/index.htm