Crazy world

Crazy world

Saturday 12 December 2020

The death toll from Covid-19 in the USA has now surpassed 300,000 and more people have died as a result of the virus in each of the past three days than died in the 9/11 attacks. We’ve talked to a number of people on this trip that have downplayed the significance of the Covid pandemic. I wonder whether those same people doubt that 9/11 was real. Having walked around St Augustine today it does not surprise me that the infection rate in the USA has sky-rocketed to a quarter of a million new cases per day. In the tourist center of the town the streets, bars and restaurants were packed and maybe only half the people were wearing masks. It was the first time in a long time that we have felt really uncomfortable and wondered what the hell we were doing out and about. We left that area as quickly as we could. We wear our masks whenever we are close to other people even if we are outdoors and we aren’t going into bars or restaurants. But if the real benefit of wearing a mask is to limit the spread from an infectious person rather than protecting the person wearing it, then it’s pretty much useless if half the crowd isn’t wearing masks.  

Whilst I’m having a bit of a rant let me tell you about my experience this morning posting Christmas cards to my family. We arrived at the local post office and couldn’t see any post boxes outside, which is unusual. (It turned out there was one in the car park round the side, which we only saw on our way out). I went inside the building and spotted a large blue postal box. I placed my cards on the tray and pulled the level to tip them into the box. As the tray rotated it revealed a large notice, previously hidden inside, saying “parcels only, no letters”. I ask you, what’s the f…ing point of putting the sign in a place where you only read it when it’s too late! I joined the queue to try and talk to someone at the desk but soon realized that I’d be standing in a line for half an hour with about six inches between customers … so I gave up. It will be interesting to see if the cards ever arrive.

Other than that it’s been a great day! 

Mike

29 53.954 N, 81 18.482 W

St Mary's baptist church

Cloisters in the Sisters of St Joseph convent

Cloisters in the Lightner museum courtyard. This building was formerly a top notch hotel built by Henry Flagler for rich patrons from the north who travelled south on his railroad to Florida for the winter

Christmas lights in the park 

Art sale in the ope air market