"Ascension in the Moonlight"

Simon Winchester's "Ascension in the Moonlight" draws attention to the many variations of life. When he first arrives at Ascension, he focuses on the life of the town, painting it as an empty island with little to do: "I stayed in their little rectory for the rest of the day and night, chatting and indulging in what passes for Ascension tourism" (Winchester 266). He then progresses to describe life as he spends time on the island. When he was on the mountain, he says, "From high up on top of the mountain, if the clouds part for long enough, it is possible to see a hundred kilometres in all directions, and the ocean...stretched empty to every horizon" (Winchester 267). This stuck with me because of the imagery. The mystery of the turtles coming to shore was also described in a remarkable way, giving an emphasis to the surprise he felt.