Feliz Navidad #2
There are few things better than lying on a beach in the sun, under the shade of a palm tree, reading a good book. In between chapters I quite enjoy people watching, and this is where the Caribbean isn’t as enjoyable as other places I have been. Topless sunbathing makes life difficult for the people watcher; it seemed every direction I looked, filling my field of vision, was all shapes, sizes and ages of naked breast. Apart from ensuring that I can’t gape round the beach like a slack-jawed hillbilly, why would you want to sunbath topless? Come on ladies, I need answers. It’s not like you get them out at Tesco’s on Saturday afternoon, or stretch out butt-nekid in your garden at the first sight of the summer sun. In fact there is a distinct possibility that the only person to see your nicely tanned, nut-brown boobies is your partner. So, why?
Whilst away I read three and a half books. The half was “The cold six thousand” by James Ellroy, set around the time of the Kennedy assassination; it delves into the mob, bent cops and the Hoover era of US politics. It’s heavy going, using very short, punchy sentences and there seems little flow to it, I’m glad I saved it till last. I’ll tell you more when I’ve finished it. The first book I read was “The lost Continent” by Bill Bryson. Bryson makes me laugh out loud with his observations; I get funny looks when I’m reading his books. This one is about his return to the country of his birth a few years after leaving to live in the UK. His mixture of culture, history, observation and musings is the perfect travel book in my opinion. Second was “Ludmilla’s broken English” by DBC Pierre. This a strange story about Russian brides and conjoined twins, along with a sub-plot of war, drugs, Russian mob and secret government departments. The plot lines come together late on, so it’s a little predictable but still highly enjoyable. If you have read Vernon God Little and liked it, you’ll like this. The third was the best in my opinion, “Borders up” by Vitali Vitaliev is another travel book, but one with a difference. He splits Eastern Europe into Beer lands, Wine lands and Spirit lands, he then travels to the individual countries and drinks with his new friends. The book seemed to highlight the differences between pre and post communist Eastern Europe, and even more startling, the very distinct similarities. Fascinating, funny and very enjoyable.