Gimme Buffett

HAITI

A former French colony, Haiti became the world’s first independent black republic in 1804. Unfortunately, Haiti suffers from political unrest and is one of the poorest countries in the world. Aggressive deforestation has led to soil erosion and exacerbated flooding problems. Still, despite the problems the Haitian people have had to endure, in the liner notes to “African Friend” in the boxed set “Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads” Jimmy says, “they are the warmest and friendliest people I have come across in my travels.” Continue reading

Ah, the Caribbean. So many mysteries. Like which syllable gets the accent, the RIB or the BE? And which islands have the gentlest breezes? The bluest waters? The friendliest natives? Should I cruise via Royal Caribbean or take more of a DIY approach?

Jimmy knows. He became fascinated by the history of the Caribbean while a history major at the University of Southern Mississippi. He’s traveled the Caribbean for years, by boat and seaplane. The various islands are the subjects of numerous songs, and receive tangential mention on even more. To sum it up, In “Migration” (on the album “A1A”) he claims, “Got a Caribbean soul I can barely control.” So what’s his take on it all? And what’s in it for you? Continue reading

It’s well-known that Jimmy Buffett loves the Caribbean, the tropical island paradise. But he also recommends changing latitudes as a way of changing attitudes. And when it comes to latitude adjustment, a traveler can’t do better than Paris. Continue reading

This sleepy little island community (which is proud to be the #1 producer of farm raised clams in the U.S.A.) off the Gulf Coast of Florida became a little more famous once Jimmy Buffett sang about it in the opening line of “Incommunicado” (on the album “Coconut Telegraph”):

Travis McGee’s still in Cedar Key
That’s what John MacDonald said.
My rendezvous so long overdue
With all of the things I’ve sung and I’ve read
They still apply to me, they all make sense in time.

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The Café Du Monde is a famous New Orleans café made even more famous in “The Wino and I Know” (from the album “Living and Dying in 3/4 Time”):

Well the coffee is strong
At the Café Du Monde,
And the donuts are too hot to touch.
But just like a fool,
When those sweet goodies cool,
I ate ’til I ate way too much.

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