Who is Online

Details: Written by: Richard_McKie; Parent Category: Travel; Category: North America; Published: 28 October 2023; Hits: 1203

Article Index

Page 7 of 17

Here we are on St Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

Once a Danish possession, it was purchased by the United States in 1917 as a base for the navy, during WW1.

This was the first time we had Wi-Fi since embarking because we economised on the ship's 'extras'. Other passengers have been complaining about it. When do people not complain about Wi-Fi? But I think we may have been taught a lesson - it's hard to do without.

St Thomas was previously Danish so, like Denmark did long ago, they drive on the left. Yet, as in the US, the cars here are left-hand drive. It's a reverse of taking an English car to the Continent or in Myanmar where they drive right-hand drive cars, from Japan, on the right.

It's strangely disorienting, and not very safe.

It's a small island and not a big job to reverse the traffic lights. On September 3, 1967 the whole of Sweden, road tunnels and all, switched sides overnight. Even Myanmar switched overnight (the wrong way). Yet something about the US psyche resists change. They can't go metric either.

The island seems idyllic but it was far too hot. While Wendy shopped, I just had to find a bar and sit in front of the fan, drinking pina coladas ?.

No comments

Travel

Malta

Almost everyone in Australia knows someone who hailed directly from Malta or is the child of Maltese parents. There are about a quarter as many Maltese Australians as there are Maltese Maltese so it is an interesting place to visit; where almost every cab driver or waiter announces that he or she has relatives in Sydney or Melbourne.

Fiction, Recollections & News

To Catch a Thief

(or the case of the missing bra)

It's the summer of 2010; the warm nights are heavy with the scent of star jasmine; sleeping bodies glisten with perspiration; draped, as modestly requires, under a thin white sheet. A light breeze provides intermittent comfort as it wafts fitfully through the open front door.

Yet we lie unperturbed. To enter the premises a nocturnal visitor bent on larceny, or perhaps an opportunistic dalliance, must wend their way past our parked cars and evade a motion detecting flood-light on the veranda before confronting locked, barred doors securing the front and rear entrances to the house.

Yet things are going missing. Not watches or wallets; laptops or phones; but clothes: "Did you put both my socks in the wash?" "Where's my black and white striped shirt?" "I seem to be missing several pairs of underpants!"

Opinions and Philosophy

Syria - again

A fortnight ago I was moved to suggest that it was possible that the alleged gas attack in Syria might not be the work of the Syrian Army. I withdrew the posting when more convincing evidence of Army involvement became available.

Because of our visit to Syria took place just before the most recent troubles began, I have been, perhaps, more interested than most. I wanted to know why Syria is automatically assumed to be guilty when there are some very nasty groups on the other side?

We are fed so much doctored information, spin, that it is hard to get the facts even when we are directly involved.

So to claim that I know what is actually going on in Syria is fanciful. Assad vehemently denies responsibility; the Russians are doubtful; and the inspectors have not yet reported. But the certainty, and aggressive language, of the Western leaders accusing Syria of this latest incident seem extraordinary - do they know something that they are not revealing publicly?

As I have explained elsewhere I have fond memories of Damascus and of Syria in general. Damascus was the most pleasant and interesting of the cities we stayed in; lacking the extremes of poverty and wealth we saw in Cairo (and in Egypt in general) or the more western normality of Amman in Jordan.

Terms of Use

Terms of Use Copyright