Gustavia, St. Barth

Thursday 16 January 2020

To all those who wished me a happy birth anniversary two days ago on some social media or other, which Jan occasionally wallows in, thank you. I love each and every one of you like a brother or a sister or other (I'm woke), but have been rather successful in avoiding those digital domains. Please forgive me for not responding from my Facebook page which, since creation of it a very long time ago, has, due a desire not to divulge whether I wear boxers or briefs, been allowed to remain fallow.

Although Americans are represented everywhere in the Caribbean, Antigua seems especially favored with those from the South. The really odd thing is, considering that my parents were from South Carolina and I was largely raised and lived in that region of the country, they seem to have an accent. In fact, all Americans, wherever from, have a noticeable brogue. Having listened for the previous 11 years, primarily to Aussies, Kiwis, S. Africans and Brits as well as those for whom English is a second or third language, and usually not given it much thought or noticed anything unusual, it seems that Americans just talk funny. Scary thing is, I sound just like them.

Left Jolly Harbour about an hour and a half before sunrise. Jan was not amused, but napped through the actual event so it could have been worse. Wind, as is often the case, is stronger than forecast, but could, if it remains this brisk, get us to Gustavia before sunset. Expect to clear in tomorrow. French, so easy peasy. Playground of the rich and famous, so expensive. Gorgeous, so worth it.

Jack & Jan