People-watching

I love people-watching. It is probably my favorite sport. Some people hunt crocodiles for fun, I watch people. You can watch the human beast in it's natural habitat, doing things that may not be that interesting at first glance, but upon analysis, can give good insight into the normal practices of the species, and the creature's tribe.

People watching in Paris

People-watching is generally a sport practiced at places with high foot traffic, and with few hiding places. You don't want the creature to simply hide in it's cave the whole time, like the gorillas at the zoo have a tendency to do. Airports and other transit stations are great places for this, but here you may be seeing many foreign species that have been introduced to the location, and are not in fact natives to the region. I like spots where there is a good mix of native and non-native creature-traffic. City centers are often the best for this. I am a huge fan of sitting at an outdoor cafe/restaurant and watching for a few hours while enjoying my food and beverage.

People watching in Morocco

It can be a very cheap sport to practice, but lately, it is getting more and more costly. No, I don't need a new uniform or gear, but the best people watching is done outside, and here in Spain you actually pay MORE to sit outside. You can order the same exact coffee, beer, water, or food, and if you eat it on the terrace, you pay up to 25% more. (In Marrakech, there was one place we had to pay an entrance fee!) At first I found this a little strange. I could go inside, and have nice air conditioning, or pay more to sit in the heat. Hmmm... But it actually makes perfect sense. We are animals that don't like to be caged. If I have to pay a few dollars more to be rid of the bars and chains, it will be done. Not only that, I get to be outside with all the other liberated creatures and watch them carrying out their normal routines.

As I sit here in Seville, Spain, outside a restaurant in 97F/ 36C with 40% humidity, sweating profusely and listening to the construction 30 feet away, I think: those few extra dollars are totally worth it!

Nude Beach Etiquette

One of the coves in Cabo de Gata

Growing up, I learned a lot of etiquette. From my parents, from TV, in university, and at work. Traveling around I've been exposed to cultural differences with regards to etiquette. For example, in the states, people usually order their own meals, and eat from their own plates, however in many countries, communal dishes are ordered and shared, sometimes eating with the hands. In fact, it would be rude to want a plate for yourself. In the last few days, I have been made aware of my ignorance in a whole new area: nude beach etiquette.