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posted ago by horseyPatriot ago by horseyPatriot +202 / -0

We were on a catamaran boat ride from St Thomas to St John’s island yesterday when one of the hands pointed out the island that we were then passing by.

Forget the gorgeous beach and hopefully seeing sea turtles while snorkeling that had been my main goal up until that moment. I was twisting and turning trying to absorb everything about that island, both times we passed by. I was the only one of 39 people that was absorbed with the island. (Husband just rolled his eyes as I pointed out things… but to be fair, he was urging me to get out my phone for pics - some in comments now.)

Here are my observations:

  1. The temple is now repainted an off-white, but still has the palm trees around it. You can make out the big doors by zooming in on a pic.
  2. That temple is easily visible to the naked eye as you leave the port of Charlotte Amalie.
  3. The island is very close to both St Thomas and St John’s. Ferries between the two islands go past it regularly, pretty close by. (I was under the false impression that it was much further away from St Thomas.)
  4. The local deck hand said that the locals knew about Pedo Island since 2003.
  5. The island was bigger than I thought and much more natural, at least on the side that we passed, that faced St Thomas.
  6. There appears to be a hill or mountain part that at some point had its top removed and is now the highest point on the island and from a distance looks weirdly leveled. I’m not sure if that is where the “tennis courts” were supposed to be? (I need to do some more research.)
  7. From St John’s you can see some buildings and an American flag.
  8. If there was a sub base there, it would have to be on the side that we didn’t go past as the water is 60-100’ deep in the channel that we were in - that had obvious shallow water next to the island.
  9. Husband and I had many great conversations with people over the island. People know about it and want to talk about it.
  10. As we were leaving the port, I pointed out to a group of people that the island in the distance was Epstein Island and that the white building was the temple and everyone jumped up with their phones to take pictures. A lot of interest!

I was very mindful of the evil that had occurred on that island. It weighed on me heavily, as I tried to commit its geography to memory. Everyone that we talked to wants people to hang for the crimes committed there. Sobering but yet there is hope that so many seem to know now.