I had to put Mandy behind the wheel in Revenge Cafe’  because it’s the perfect place to put a horrible driver. Driving is something of an art there. With American cars (hence, steering wheels on the left) driving according to British rules (hence on the right side of the road) on narrow lanes, steep inclines, and mountainous switchbacks, you would think the traffic engineers there have a wicked sense of humor. But at times, you’re rewarded with the most amazing views. Here are a few visuals.

When Mandy lands, Charlie brings her to the Revenge Cafe, which sits on the harbor in Charlotte Amalie, the main city on St. Thomas. This is a roadside view of that harbor: 

Throughout the book, she complains (rants) and freaks (more than a little) about driving on that island. One of her legitimate concerns is the seeming lack of safety rails on the cliffside, curvy roads. Of course, her anxiety is only heightened because she seldom knows where she’s going:  the street signs seldom match the maps, they don’t correspond with GPS, and they almost never resemble what the Islanders call the roads. Add in the lost and potentially drunk tourists who seem to be everywhere, and you get quite the adventurous road trip, even when you’re just going to the supermarket.

Here’s a blind turn going downhill (yes, this is a 2-lane road):

And here’s a switchback–a turn for when a mountain is too steep for a straight line (and yes, this is also a 2-lane road):

 Perhaps this is one of the reasons why “island time” was invented — to give your car a few minutes to cool off after a little sightseeing drive (and little, indeed; the island is only 32 square miles):

Lest you think the roads are tight only in the country, here are a few views of Charlotte Amalie:

 

Don’t let the driving conditions scare you. St. Thomas and the rest of the Virgin Islands truly are beautiful!

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