Some random observations:
Most of us look better in regular clothes than we do in bathing suits.
Japanese people sound angry if you just listen to them talk and don’t look at them. I was sitting in the restaurant when a Japanese family (parents, kids and grandkids) sat down next to me. They were talking loudly and I thought they must be arguing just from the tone of their voices. But, when I looked at them, they were all smiling and even laughing a bit.
The running track and the gym get more and more deserted as the cruise goes on. I guess the first day of the cruise is a lot like New Year’s Day when people make resolutions to get in shape but then find themselves losing motivation. On a cruise, it may well be that people succumb to the ABCs – alcohol, buffets and casinos (open at all times when the ship is in international waters).
We had a mandatory safety briefing before leaving port. We reported to our muster station where we are supposed to go with life jackets in case of an emergency. We were informed about procedures for getting on our assigned life boat and informed that the life boats are unsinkable. This, of course, prompts the logical question: “Why don’t they design the ship to be just like the life boats and then they could dispense with the life boats?”
Mexican developers work more slowly than their American counterparts. We pulled into Puerto Vallarta yesterday and I noticed that the high rise hotel/condo building that was being built last year is still under construction.
Mexican developers are not worried about the dire projections of rising sea levels due to global warming. The impressive pool (constructed but yet to be filled with water) at the aforementioned hotel/condo project has a concrete stairway that takes you from the pool area to the beach and the gentle swells from the surf were causing the water to lap up against the riser of the bottom step! I’m definitely no expert on this, but I don’t even think we were at high tide yesterday morning given the fact that we were just one day past full moon.
Your observations are fascinating and funny!
Very funny, Mike, and so true. International people watching is fun and educational. Sorry tomororw is Sunday and back to reality for you both. Hope the trip has been all you expected and more.