Saturday 10th Feb 18
Carnival Launch
Saturday evening is the launch of Carnival, but in the afternoon there is a talk at Island waterworld on canvas and hatches, very interesting and we meet a few people. From there, we take the bus to Marigot the capital of the French side. Only 10mn away, we spend more time waiting for the bus. Small place, and again the scars of hurricane Irma are everywhere. Roofs have been blown off, facades have collapsed, debris are everywhere, even hanging in trees. It is saddening and disturbing to see that 5 months after the events there has not been more progress in the reconstruction. Some of the buildings are inhabited, on the lower floors while having no roof, and no windows The difference with St Bart is stark, we could hardly notice the damage done there except for a number of cars with dents and without windows.
We meet Manon and Cyril on the marina walk. We spend a bit of time with them and they tell us stories that are extremely distressing. They both have lost their jobs as the companies they work for have not reopen as yet, and this is the case for a lot of people on the island. Stories of looting and unrest after the event are scary. Both of their future is uncertain but they would like to he bere rather than go away to find work on either another island or back to France.
After this harrowing conversation, it does feel weird to watch the launch parade of the Carnival. As could be expected, it is very small but people have turned out in drove to attend the concert on the waterfront. This is the first French Island where people seem to be completely fluent in both French and English. It is even worse than that, they mix and match, each sentence is peppered with both languages. It does make it extremely confusing; you are not quite sure how to address people.