Perhaps this is the ugly American problem. I don't find Annapolis show people rude for the most part and I have been going to this show since the 70's. I also was impressed by the size of the show and the boats on display. I think it got a lot smaller in years past (down economy), but my observation is it is coming back and there is a lot of new product out there. The comment about no shoes I didn't get either. Because it rained so hard, no one asked to remove shoes. Usually that is SOP, but not this year. Pain Killers are always sold above the Pussers Bar at the Marriott, but with the weather, they may have rolled that back. Usually there is a Bahamian or Island Band Playing too, but I only heard that on one day (wasn't at the show on Sunday - on the water- or Monday - was at the Baltimore Marine Center). I was at the East Port YC benefit party, however and that was crazy rain too. Ended up leaving early and going to a wine bar off of Forest Road. I have friends in Annapolis and they love it. I only have one person I know who lives there that says the people are not nice. Makes me wonder. But, while I like to visit there (and I have in various times of the year), and I have sailed the Bay many times and have sailed from Annapolis to Key West, I would not live there because there are too many people. That is my only problem. Otherwise the Bay and the boats and the food are wonderful.
