Day 118
DECEMBER 27, 2019
CRUISING THE PACIFIC OCEAN
Today and the next two are sea days, so life has become less hectic - time to contemplate.
We have left South and Central America behind. Typically, a traveler will come away with general impressions of such an intense tour, personal views or feelings that might not be shared by others. So be it. I report what we saw and my take on it.
What I saw over and over again suggested there is an underlying sense of unease among the populations. Everywhere we went, security measures were apparent - almost all homes and businesses had barred doors and barred windows, small retail stores had metal shutters, larger retailers had visible security personnel, most commercial businesses had guards at their doorways, stainless steel razor-wire was universally evident - a staple of life, it seemed. Too, there is a propensity by expansive properties to hide their domains by erecting high, surrounding walls (often covered by razor-wire).
Love of country was nowhere apparent; otherwise graffiti and widespread trash would not be ever present, defacing empty lots and the entire countryside. Patriots are as patriots do.
The indigenous peoples of this continent are devoutly religious with lives based on fantasy and superstition. The practice of roadside memorials along the highways attests to this fact.
There is little sense of the true freedoms we enjoy and take for granted in North America.
But wait! On the other hand - yes, there are plenty of beautiful places in every country we visited. We enjoyed seeing them and we met kind and wonderful folks along the way. So the balance of important matters was not one-sided.
This evening we were serenaded in the Atrium by the acapella group Virginia Gentlemen, 14 lads from the University of Virginia. New and old songs.
Soon we will move on to the other side of the Pacific Ocean wondering what treasures and surprises await us there.
Andre Gagnon - "Au Premier Jour" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5elJY74t6qQ
CRUISING THE PACIFIC OCEAN
Today and the next two are sea days, so life has become less hectic - time to contemplate.
We have left South and Central America behind. Typically, a traveler will come away with general impressions of such an intense tour, personal views or feelings that might not be shared by others. So be it. I report what we saw and my take on it.
What I saw over and over again suggested there is an underlying sense of unease among the populations. Everywhere we went, security measures were apparent - almost all homes and businesses had barred doors and barred windows, small retail stores had metal shutters, larger retailers had visible security personnel, most commercial businesses had guards at their doorways, stainless steel razor-wire was universally evident - a staple of life, it seemed. Too, there is a propensity by expansive properties to hide their domains by erecting high, surrounding walls (often covered by razor-wire).
Love of country was nowhere apparent; otherwise graffiti and widespread trash would not be ever present, defacing empty lots and the entire countryside. Patriots are as patriots do.
The indigenous peoples of this continent are devoutly religious with lives based on fantasy and superstition. The practice of roadside memorials along the highways attests to this fact.
There is little sense of the true freedoms we enjoy and take for granted in North America.
But wait! On the other hand - yes, there are plenty of beautiful places in every country we visited. We enjoyed seeing them and we met kind and wonderful folks along the way. So the balance of important matters was not one-sided.
This evening we were serenaded in the Atrium by the acapella group Virginia Gentlemen, 14 lads from the University of Virginia. New and old songs.
Soon we will move on to the other side of the Pacific Ocean wondering what treasures and surprises await us there.
Andre Gagnon - "Au Premier Jour" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5elJY74t6qQ
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