Eating alone while sitting at a bar while traveling presents so many ways to eavesdrop.

Last week it was a couple of bros, seemingly doctors-residents, one Korean American the other South Asian, first talking about their work, then about women, or, rather, about cheating on their wives. Overhearing all that was uncomfortable and awkward. Also, nobody should be talking like that about women.

Today, it’s a guy in his 40s (or so it seems) talking to the bartender about mountains. The bartender has gone to Mt Washington this past weekend. His 6th time. His uncle has climbed it once for every year of his life (54 times).

The guy sitting next to me is going to Mexico, its highest point, for the thanksgiving. And in January he’s going to Ecuador.