- Nevis-St Kitt’s: everything about this British Territory exudes “fat stacks”. For an American, however, it’s only historic relevance is that it is the birth place of Alexander Hamilton, America’s first Secretary of the Treasury (for the benefit of the millennials, he’s the guy with the smash hit on Broadway). It is also the place where Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson was sent to protect British regional interests from the belligerent French. The Hamilton and Nelson homes are now open to public viewing in museum form. The first stop is Hamilton’s home which was very modest indeed but evidently the Hamilton’s saved enough to have the whole place aluminum-sided. In these humble surroundings, at an early age, Hamilton displayed a penchant for banking and finance. He learned that one colorful bead could be exchanged for 3 trinkets and 3 trinkets could be exchanged for a servant. In later years, he parlayed these concepts into the everyday banking principles we all know and enjoy today such as fractional reserve banking. Leverage, and collared options trading. On the other hand, Lord Admiral Nelson’s first experience with the island was in adulthood. Yes, the man who saved the British Empire from Napoleon’s clutches and who is memorialized in a marble statue in Trafalgar Square, received direct orders from Kensington Palace to secure this strategic island. Upon observing his small, but clean new home, Nelson is credited for coining the phrase “shit-hole”. It was here too that he met plantation owner’s daughter, “Fanny” Nesbitt, who struck a fetching pose and would do things to Nelson that the other English girls wouldn’t do. The final interesting fact about Nevis is that it houses a large honey-bee population which is not native to the Island. Honey bees are capable of learning complex behaviors despite a brain the size of a sesame seed (which raises a number of questions about my next- door neighbor whose brain is only slightly smaller).
- Martinique: this port of call consisted of a historic tour of downtown and then a few hours of beach enjoyment for the “St Tropez” experience. For those who don’t know, Martinique is a French territory but it was first discovered by Columbus (the fact that the Spaniards decided not to colonize the island speaks volumes). Columbus spent 3 days (two nights) here, never to return. There is no mention in his diary as to why he left so abruptly, but my research indicates that the Carib Indians (who practice cannibalism) had Columbus over for a candle light dinner where his chambermaid was served smothered in mango-chili sauce. In 1901, after a devastating hurricane, the island politicians began importing cement and concrete to use for future construction. Interestingly, immigration records note a large influx of Sicilians to the island at this very same time. Sadly, the Italians didn’t stay when French authorities seemingly balked at the “vig”. Our first stop downtown was the island’s elaborate library where the toilettes were out of order. From there, we visited the decorative Performing Arts theater where we were not permitted to enter (had we arrived the day prior, we would have been permitted to do so, and if we returned the next day, we would certainly be able to do so, but on this particular day, entry was not possible). We then viewed the enormous statue of Josephine, Napoleon’s wife. In 1991, Josephine’s head was removed from the statue as a symbolic gesture of protest because she convinced Napoleon to reinstate slavery just a few years after he abolished the evil practice. No one knows where her head is but I suggested they look in Charlottesville, Virginia. Martinique is also HQ for the French military in the region. If the French were to invade America, it is from here where the operation would commence. Finally, it is customary for the French President to visit Martinique at least once during his/her term. President Macron has yet to make his appearance but his spokesperson offers apologies indicating that the bill for Macron’s week long stay in Davos Switzerland exceeded his travel budget and unless new taxes are raised, visiting Martinique will not be possible this fiscal year. After our whirlwind tour of downtown, Susan and I spent about 8 minutes in the Martinique sea where she swam and I kept a cautious eye on our stuff.
Tomorrow, 2 more action packed days: the Berardi’s go Snorkeling in Granada and navigate a treacherous rain forest in Tobago.