As the sun sets, heavy fog has settled over the island and you wander toward the village near Whoopee Island, passing a man along the path silently sitting on a stool in front of an easel, sketching. He's intent on what he see, as if he's becoming one with his subject. You've seen him before at other sites wearing his Panama hat and crooked smile. There's something about him that tells you he'll be here painting and sketching, not just this night, but for years to come. As you move on, so does time. Soon, only traces of the sun remain in the sky. It's a beautiful midsummer-like night. Where the path parallels the shore, a man and woman have stopped and are staring at the side of a palm tree. From an area on the tree where an ugly cactus-like vine had attached itself are exquisitely scented flowers called night-blooming cereus. A strange but beautiful plant that blooms one night a year. It opens at nightfall and closes with the first glimmer of the morning sun and chose this night, along with the British Navy to show up. While the night blooming cereus' silent and scented arrival was magnificent, it finds it hard to compete with a 2,450-ton warship anchored near Boca Grande, the sound of a bugle followed by a bagpipe, followed by an entourage of 13 officers and 25 sailors appearing out of the fog along with a 15 by 30 foot ensign, a plaque with the HMS Apollo insignia being presented to the island.