They’re a bossy bunch on New York’s Fire Island. But despite the list of don’ts, Sarah Barrell warms to the place.
To my knowledge, Spike Milligan never visited Fire Island, a sandy outpost of New York. But, with apologies to the late wit, this bastardised version of his nonsense rhyme sums the place up nicely.
Anyone who has travelled beyond the homogeneity of the European Union will know that welcome signs often signal bizarre warnings, not warm greetings. They indicate the law of the land before visitors have a chance to transgress. “Welcome to Indonesia … please do not import tricycles” was one of my favourites. But I’ve yet to find anywhere that beats Fire Island for sheer volume of these welcome warnings.
Independent on Sunday travel section: http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/americas/behave-yourself-this-is-new-yorks-the-land-of-no-766630.html
Sarah Barrell 