(Almost) Carnival in Dominica
Position: 15° 34’N 61° 27’W It’s almost carnival time here in Dominica. The first weekend in March promises to be a huge party up and down the island. But, the young woman serving us in JR’s Bar told us, if …
The Most Marvelous Man in the World
I ducked, but not fast enough. Lukas caught my jaw with his fat right hand and made stars shoot out of my eyes. My tongue dangled for a second and the blood in my cheek tasted like a rusty nail. …
Photos: Portsmouth, Dominica
Position: 15° 34’N 61° 27’W Portsmouth, the main town in the north, is a few streets of houses busily rebuilding after hurricane Maria’s devastating impact 18 months ago. The entire island suffered terribly from some of the strongest winds ever …
Photos: Îles des Saintes
Position: 15°52’18″N 61°34’52″W Just south of Guadeloupe are the Îles des Saintes. We found them both beatific and beautiful. We moored off the little island of Cabrit. Deserted now, the ruins of a Napoleonic citadel are a short walk up …
From Russia With Love: Brexit
Context I’ll start by saying I’m a Remainer. I have been all my adult life. When I moved back to England in 1977 questions of Europe, the Common Market, and the UK’s role in it were rife. Eurosceptics abounded. Things …
Photos: Jardín Botanique – Deshaies
Position: 16°17’58″N 61°47’50″W Guadeloupe sealed the deal for us. As soon as we stepped ashore we were in France. Everything from the road signs to l’insouciance de la police made us feel as though we’d been magically transported 6,000 kilometres …
Video: Climbing Mt. Scenery – Saba Island
Position: 17°38’00.4″N 63°14’19.7″W Climbing to the top of Mount Scenery on Saba Island, it is easy to forget you’re on an active volcano. The lava dome is not only the top of the island, but the highest point in the …
Saba Island with Photos
Position: 17°37’58.3″N 63°14’16.3″W Clouds hang on Saba. Viewed from St. Martin, Saba (pronounced Say-bah) is a giant fist of a volcano thrust out of the sea. The volcano is quiet these days, but as you approach from the north you …
A Vorpal Slice of Hogmanay
Position: 18°30’02″N 64°21’57″W Last year we celebrated New Year’s Eve in Charleston, South Carolina. Avid readers of this blog will recall the ‘bomb cyclone’, aka freak snowstorm, that brought the city to a standstill. Our big celebration was to crawl …