Nonnymus wrote:
>
>
>DaFlaBear wrote:
>> Warren wrote:
>>> DaFlaBear wrote:
>>>> If you don't enjoy other cultures or are afraid of Black people who are
>>>> just trying to make a living, then stay on board.
>>>>
>>> That's interesting. When I go through the Nassau straw market, or the
>>> shops on other islands and don't buy - I get a polite smile and
>>> encouragment to come back soon. On the beaches of Granada or other
>>> islands inhabited by people of color, when the hawkers come by I smile
>>> and say "not thanks" and they smile back and wish me a nice day on the
>>> beach.
>>>
>>> In Jamaica, I get yelled at and bombarded with intimidating demeanor. I
>>> appreciated someone trying to make a living. I don't appreciate being
>>> hustled.
>>>
>>> Warren
>>
>> Nassau has some of the most aggressive sales folks in the Caribbean.
>> So does Belize. They are not dangerous and just trying to make a buck.
>>
>I agree, though it was no worse than Trinidad Tobago or Cartagena, IMHO.
> When I encounter that kind of push behavior, I depart.
I haven't been to those place except for Nassau and Belize. Maybe it
is different now, but I never encountered any vendors at all in
Belize. Of course I was there 8 years ago, and I didn't come by
cruise ship.
In Nassau we were in a marina on our own boat, and did not get to the
straw market, but we didn't have a problem anywhere in Nassau either,
although friends said that the other people at the marina where they
were had some things stolen off their boats by men who came at night
and by water. Generally I did not feel unsafe or hassled even though
the locals told me not to walk on the streets at night.
I've been to St. John (USVI), Barbados, Costa Rica, and Cozumel, also
not by cruise ship, and at least in Cozumel the folks at the store
entrances (so cheap it is practically free) always asked if we were on
a cruise ship, and seemed a little confused when we said we were not.
I would expect that if I went to a market, that people would try to
get me to buy something, and normally I guess I go in and ask whether
they have something specific. I think that demonstrates that I am
somewhat serious.
Do you think that arriving by ship has an effect on how the vendors
behave? Or maybe I've just been lucky. I will be interested to see
how things are in Barbados when we go back this winter - by cruise
ship this time.
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