Life's a Stitch

Sixteen days crossing the Atlantic allows for some serious people and sky watching. Even though it was a bargain, starting at as little as $51 per person per day for the all inclusive cruise with taxes, not many can take that much time away from work, resulting in an average passenger age of over 60.The ship's kitchen ran out of prunes and oatmeal. Other observations:

• It was evident that some were there primarily for the food. These are the same people who love buffet restaurants, only here the food was available in one form or another 24 hours a day.
• There were a fair amount of anniversary and honeymoon (many second timers) couples. Word of warning: just because the balconies have solid dividers, it is possible to see clearly what is going on on the balcony next door from the reflection in the glass barrier. There is no missing it. Sound carries, too.
• A Canadian observation: there were many retired US military people of the Republican persuasion on board, hence the lack of enthusiasm for the Obama win. Just an observation.
• Since the inception of the Idol competitions on TV, Karaoke is no longer a fun place to get up and make a fool of yourself with your friends. It is a competitive activity, the same people every night having had much at home practice or those who take themselves very seriously but are in need of more practice. To heck with that, we got up anyway.      

• I do love cruising, the value and the opportunity to visit many countries while having to unpack only once,  but the amount of lining up promotes a herd mentality. One older woman physically pushed me out of an elevator. "Excuse me" would have worked just as well.
• Carnival Cruise Lines, now under new ownership, is doing a good job of changing its focus from the rowdy spring break drunken crowd to a more civilized atmosphere.
• A bonus – crossing the Atlantic in a westward manner allowed for five nights of an extra hour of sleep. It was the "Groundhog Day" of the end of daylight saving time,
• Adult content: On a van tour of St. Maarten, we were taken past a beach. We parked for a few minutes near the sign of demarcation, one side being the "bikini" beach and the other the clothing optional beach. Upon our arrival, a Dutch couple from our van found a rock from which to observe both sides, she the naked side and he, the bikini beach. Interesting.

Here are my conclusions about the experience. Although unlikely to partake in the activity myself, I understand the naturalist persuasion and the desire to bask in warmth of the sun in one's birthday suit. However, what is the deal with strutting your stuff up and down the beach? Granted we were only there for twenty minutes or so, but the only clothing optional people we saw, with the exception of one exhibitionist man who appeared to be crossed with a horse, were huge pot bellied men with little dangly bits. One old guy, with his Brazilian hairstyle, so to speak, standing near the van, invited people to pass him, positioned in a way that there was no way to avoid a glimpse of his goods. Ikkk.

• My sky at home is very small given the mountains in the way.I appreciated the opportunity to experience the activities of a big sky, the sunsets, rainbows and shooting stars.