Antigua and Barbuda

March 1–4, 2004

Flying to the Caribbean for three days in the wintertime is a treat. You spend one day flying and two days swimming. The warmth and sparse tourist attractions in the island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, a former English colony, are delightful.

St. John’s is the both the capital and the largest town. Half of the buildings are wooden and almost all of them have two storeys.

Antiguans and Barbudans are being primed for the upcoming elections.

A car with loudspeakers on it — out on the campaign trail.

In the city centre — St. John’s (John the Baptist’s) cathedral, whose name the capital bears.

There’s a cemetery in the middle of the cathedral gardens where no one has been buried for one hundred years.

The island is home to the cosiest Xerox rep office out.

As well as a bridal shop.

And a Gucci — Fendi — Prada store.

A public service ad for benefits disbursed to people who’ve lost their breadwinner.

The way the widow and the breadwinner’s heir are portrayed is a real treat.

Fasten your seatbelts.

Number plates.

Traffic lights.

Phone in a phone-shaped phone box.

Sugar mills where slaves used to work are dotted all over the island. It’s curious that after all this time no one has torn down these reminders of the times of exploitation.

That’s because the people here aren’t vengeful.

And also because the scenery is soothing.