And an AI will regurgitate what humans have said on the topic before, and so we’ve come full circle.

Many do it to ensure they get overhead space for their carry-on, a result of airlines charging for checked luggage.

I’ve stopped having carry-on beyond what can fit under a seat, because of this.

Ah, that’s right, Sint Maarten and that crazy runway, that’s definitely worth a visit.

A related but not very fun fact; “Sint” means angry, in Norwegian, and double A is how you write the letter Å (if you don’t have access to a keyboard with that letter) and Å is pronounced like the O in the Scandinavian name ‘Morten’, and so Sint Maarten sounds very much like “Angry Morten” to a norwegian, and a Dane.

Yet another reason to visit.

I’m that generation, too. Well, to be frank, I was 19 when Goldeneye hit the big screen, so I suppose I was already grown up? Although, considering how much I’ve changed, I guess not…

I just finished watching that show, and it is in part what made me decide it’s about time I explore the Caribbean.

I’ve been to southern Florida, and Key West, a couple of times and I suppose I’m looking for more of that feel/vibe.

Ooooh, nice! Thanks!

Thank you oh so much, this means a lot, it really does. Grenada just made it onto the list.

Thanks, everyone, for all the advice! I have to say, it’s pretty friggin’ cool to post a question like this and have so many people chime in :)

I’ll keep you in the loop on where I end up, and what I end up doing!

Ah, how I love good news on a Monday…

Probably a result of turning wrenches since I was first able, but that rule, to me, feels akin to “up the stairs take you up, down the stairs take you down”.

The toilets/restrooms at restaurants (or at least many fastfood restaurants?) are often shared and used by both employees and customers. It grossed me out a bit a bit at first, especially as they are, in my experience, quite often pretty filthy. So all the nastiness customers drag in could potentially be picked up by employees.

I’ve been to BKs and Wendys’ where I left the establishment as soon as I entered, just because the whole place looked and smelled like somewhere you shouldn’t eat. I suppose these were more often than not in pretty rural areas…

While on the toilet topic, I’ve found public restrooms at e.g. gas stations and shopping malls to often be, uh, less than inviting. I think I’ve seen more overflowing toilets on a 4 week vacation in the US than I’ve seen in 40 years over here, in northwest Europe.

To be fair, I’ve driven east/west at least 10 times over the years, so I’ve been to a lot of public restrooms and the bad experiences tend to stay with you for longer than the good ones.

Doh, two communities, but none for us who need it explained like we’re four. /s

Waiting for the guide on retractable keels…

Types of retractable keels: Fixed

He doesn’t need the ramp, he just knows we love to watch him go.

For an amusing read on how well their navy did against the Japanese, in 1905, check out Battle of Tsushima.

The Russians lost 5.045 and 21 ships (more captured and/or damaged). Japan lost 117 and 3 torpedo boats.

Here’s an entertaining video on their journey to Japan.

This reminds me of the early days of the Model S; a friend of mine was an early adopter and he himself was surprised if it went two weeks without having to bring it in for something or the other.

Oh, and the dashboards that would occasionally freeze while driving. Luckily, Tesla knew it was a piece of shit, so you could just press and hold two buttons to reboot it.

Commercial jet fuel does not contain lead, though, thank god.

Lead fuel is still used in many piston engine aircraft, so try not to live near a small private plane airport.

Salmon of Knowledge:

… an ordinary salmon ate nine hazelnuts that fell into the Well of Wisdom (an Tobar Segais) from nine hazel trees that surrounded the well. By this act, the salmon gained all the world’s knowledge.

Imagine possessing all the knowledge in the world, as a fish at the bottom of a dark well. Must’ve been maddening…

Don’t eat sushi, got it.

On 14 August 1903, while on a cruise from Chicago to South Haven, Michigan, six of the ship’s firemen refused to stoke the fire for the ship’s boiler, claiming that they had not received their potatoes for a meal.

Rather than give the poor guys a few potatoes they threw them in the brig and charged them with mutiny.