By Jane Bakewell

The BVI offers myriad shopping opportunities for everyone. In fact, the BVI's many fine stores and galleries offer a variety of products that reflect great cultural diversity. Some of the finest locally made arts and crafts can be found at the Crafts Alive village close to the ferry dock in Road Town. Also, several galleries just a stroll away on Main Street feature many fine oil paintings and water colours by long time residents of the BVI. This all makes for an eclectic shopping adventure.

Now shopping for food — that's another cultural cornucopia. Local markets feature staple foods of the West Indian diet, such as green bananas and root vegetables like tannia and dasheen. And yet specialty British items with interesting names like "spotted dick" and "mashers" can also be found. Although it is a small chain of islands, the BVI is no stranger to gourmet fare, as the booming yachting industry has brought along with it a market for the finest international cuisine. Supermarkets such as Rite Way and One Mart have full provisioning lines with delivery services and convenient locations around Tortola.

The largest island, Tortola, offers the widest range of shopping opportunities — from the bustling commercial and government centre known as Road Town to the brightly painted West Indian shops found in the West End at Soper's Hole Wharf & Marina. Those seeking a glittering gem or two to add to their jewellery collection have several high-end stores and local designers from which to choose. Jewels, a fine jewellery and gem store, offers exquisite gems and stones in beautiful settings. Just a short walk down the road, Colombian Emeralds offers a fine line of gold and silver pieces and beautiful stones showcased by category. Their adjoining watch shop, Tourneau, has a broad selection of brand name timepieces, and just around the corner, the recently opened A.H. Riise store offers Rolex, the Cadillac of fine timepieces.

On Main Street, a winding shopping lane with historic architecture, shoppers looking for handcrafted jewellery pieces can choose from Samarkand, which offers the Caribbean larimar stone, or the Jewellery Box, selling handmade pendants and bracelets in silver and gold. Fine household furnishings can be found at Huckster's in the historic "Old Custom House," and Amethyst nearby offers an eclectic assortment of linens, curtains and imports from Africa and India. Beautifully matted and framed fine art prints can be found at The Gallery, which features local artists as well as works from Haiti and Santo Domingo.

Heading west, a stop at Nanny Cay Marina reveals a few more shopping spots. Arawak has a fine line of tropical clothing and gift items, and you can browse the locally made pottery at Bamboushay, where artisans craft their wares right on the premises. Soper's Hole is another shopping mecca, where one can stroll around a waterside complex with restaurants and boutique shops carrying jewellery, tropical attire and artefacts from around the world. The spacious Harbour Market building offers a full line of gourmet food products, wine and a small art gallery with prints by local artist David Thrasher.

Virgin Gorda is known for its beautiful resorts with shops, but there's also a shopping area centred around the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour, which is undergoing a glamorous facelift. Here you'll find a dive shop, wine cellar and perfume shop next to a shaded restaurant and high-end boutiques. Thee Artistic Gallery carries Caribbean jewellery, crystal, collectible coins and maps. This is where you're bound to find the right souvenir to remember your travels.

Just a short ferry ride from Tortola's West End, Jost Van Dyke — a favourite watering hole for many charter yachts — offers some surprising shopping finds as well. The Foxhole at Foxy's boasts a truly great selection of high-quality T-shirts, wraps, caps and bathing suits, as well as trendy tropical clothes. Other small gift and clothing shops along the waterfront of Great Harbour make it a pleasant stroll down a sandy lane.

Known more as an ecotourism spot with its flamingo ponds and rock iguanas, Anegada also boasts a few gems for the adventurous shopper. For more than 10 years, Pat's Pottery has carried delightfully handcrafted pots, plates and cups with her signature themes of sea life in light blues and yellows. Two other gift shops offering a wonderful assortment of clothes, jewellery and gift items are the boutique at the Anegada Reef Hotel and Sue's Purple Turtle just down from the ferry dock.

There are many more stores throughout the islands in which to shop to your heart's content. Wherever you go, you're sure to find something that will make for a lifetime of BVI memories: some fun, some sentimental, all unforgettable.

Colombian Emeralds International
Road Town, Tortola
Tel: 494-7477
Fax: 494-3585
Website: www.dutyfree.com
Colombian Emeralds International has been in the islands for over 40 years and was voted the "Best Duty-Free Retailer" for five consecutive years. This jewellery store specialises in top gem-set jewellery and now features exclusively the most romantic collections appropriately named AMORO. Certified Appraisals, International Guarantees, Instant Credit and a U.S. Service Centre.

Foxy's Tamarind Bar
Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke
Tel: 495-9258
Fax: 495-9892
E-mail: beverly@foxysbar.com

Foxy's Taboo
Diamond Cay, Jost Van Dyke
Tel: 495-0218
VHF: Ch. 16
Both Foxy's & Foxy's Taboo have well-stocked boutiques showcasing an array of their own name-brand products as well as simple and sophisticated swimwear and after-swimwear, toney cover-ups, sandals, hats, bags and jewellery to combine for daytime and nightlife in the tropics. A veritable Pandora's Box for the warm-weather shopper — something for everyone in the family, and not to be missed!

Harbour Market
Soper's Hole Marina
West End
Tel: 495-4541
Fax: 495-4423
E-mail: info@harbourmarket.com
Website: www.harbourmarket.com
Located in Soper's Hole Wharf & Marina, Harbour Market provides visitors and residents service seven days a week with a great selection of international foods, liquors, freshly baked breads and pastries, fresh vegetables, meats, fish and souvenirs.

Olivia's Corner Store
Myett's Garden and Grille, Cane Garden Bay
Tel: 495-9649
Fax: 495-9579
E-mail: myettent@surfbvi.com
Website: www.myettent.com
In this well-appointed store, you'll find unique and unusual gifts; local arts and crafts; Caribbean music, books and cards; camera acessories; sun- and reading glasses; skin-care products; jewellery; toys; men's, women's and children's tropical clothing; Cuban cigars; and more.

Riteway Foodmarkets
Road Town, Tortola
Tel: 494-2263
Fax: 494-2222
E-mail: info@rtwbvi.com
Website: www.rtwbvi.com
Riteway Food Markets are the BVI's premier chain of retail stores. We offer the widest range of American and international products and a consistent supply of fresh fruits, vegetables and meats. Our liquors, wines and cigarettes are attractively priced and comparable to those offered at well-known duty-free stores. No sales tax. Free delivery to your boat, hotel or villa.

Soper's Hole Wharf & Marina
West End, Tortola
Tel: 494-0740
Fax: 495-4560
E-mail: erin@surfbvi.com
Website: www.sopershole.com
Soper's Hole Wharf & Marina is Tortola's premier shopping, dining and marine centre. This centre is a unique and architecturally colourful collection of buildings housing many boutiques, shops and Pusser's Landing restaurant.

Tourneau
Romasco Place
Road Town
Tel: 494-8661
Website: www.tourneau.com
Tourneau is the world's largest watch store since 1900. Watches at tax-free and duty-free prices. Some of the well-known brands include Omega, Ebel, TAG Heuer, Longines, Zenith, Rado, Tissot, Citizen and Seiko. They also offer certified pre-owned and vintage timepieces. U.S.-based Customer Service Centre.

Take me shopping in the British Virgin Islands.

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