The sun, low on the horizon, was still visible when our plane was placed gently on track Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas Island. During the stopover in Miami, due to a cargo ship on fire, I saw for the first time the fire brigade to cross diagonally at an airport sirens. Hear again the ground beneath the palms of the feet and the smell of the sea at sunset, however, are things that make you appreciate life more intensely. Fixed
luggage room, swimming in the air of fluid hall / outdoor courtyard, eager to explore new territories. I realize I'm the only white person in that building. The guests are mostly school children in St. Croix, the largest of the Virgin Islands, on a school trip, in fact. I smile to myself and I am going to take a short stroll along the promenade under the bright lights of the first stars, a pale crescent moon. During dinner
approaches a strange man that inflates balloons to build crowns and funny animals. I buy a couple for conversation. He said the group is from New York, and be succinct outlines his philosophy of life - I work for tips - I work for tips. He added that his future is no less uncertain than others, but for him, the more free and peaceful. Soon after, the only other white handkerchief so far encountered in this world, greets me and disappears into the night.
I'm not even nine o'clock, the hall is deserted. The children, I suppose, they sleep. I head to the bar and starts talking to the bartender and his wife. One rumor leads to another, here we are all sitting around a table with a beer in hand, as if we knew all along. I ask: - How do you live in the Virgin Islands?
- Pretty good - he says - to be American citizens, even if second-class, gives us the benefits - clear, tone with a little 'bitter - Our representatives can participate in the political life of our home country, United States, but without any voting rights. Life here is still nice but when they get the Hurricanes, hurricanes.
not wait for my obvious question and continues - Before the arrival of a hurricane, if you have been sighted, have a safe place to put all the dishes and fragile things in your home. Then you shut the cellar for 18-24h and it is as if a giant shake the foundations of your house. The most terrible earthquakes last for tens of seconds, perhaps a few minutes, here everything is trembling with extreme violence for a day or more. On these occasions to find the whiskey become very difficult because everyone wants to try not to think, to be the least possible. The winds come to 100-150 miles an hour lifting earth, stones, trees. Everything and fly any time of day may be, set a total darkness. I do not know how it will be paradise, but I already have a fairly clear idea of \u200b\u200bthe anguish of hell ...
He stops, leaving the last words in hibernation: he told all in one breath and without breaks. For several seconds we all look in the eyes, in eloquent silence. I try to break the ice by saying that recently I happened to work near Chicago, a place famous for the Tornado, the Twisters . I had two warnings during the period of my stay, but did not materialize into actual Tornado. There told me that Twisters are incredible intensity but very focused in their action and that, given the distances involved, it is very difficult to pass right over a house. The danger that results is given by the large number of objects thrown into the air from their devastating fury. In fact I had reported a case in which there had been several deaths caused by a car plunged from considerable height on the roof of a house. - Also Hurricanes can be concentrated in their action - I answered the letter by repeating my previous sentence - a few years ago a hurricane - (I think he was referring to Marilyn ) - destroyed everything in St. Thomas , leaving almost untouched St. John which is right here in front of just three miles away. The Hurricanes are ferocious beasts that sometimes they choose their victims carefully.
silent again, then, repenting of having painted a reality too harsh, he adds - but here you have fun, go to St. John, is beautiful, the beaches are famous and you will love. This place is a paradise all year round, except for those few days - here his voice drops and then recovers - the bad period is from August to September, missing so many months, you do not have to worry about. Laughs loudly, then suddenly stops and is silent.
The next day, having already planned to go to Tortola, Virgin Islands British, I go to the pier for boarding, punctual for departure at 9.30. Spend 10.00, 10.30. At 11.00 there is no trace of the ship nor the start, neither coming. I misunderstood? Maybe, but should have done even the dozen people, mostly indigenous, which have accumulated in the meantime on the platform. Some look at me, smile, say Tomorrow ... maybe and laugh heartily. OK, our bartender was right, we go to St. John, but that's another story.
(Continued 1)
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