For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for February 28, 2025

The lack of tan. And sombreros.

Your observational skill is lacking, Elly. Lift your head and look around. You are in Mexico. Who lives there? Mexicans. Brown skinned and dark haired. They speak Spanish. They wear different types of clothes. You and John stick out like a sore thumb. Perhaps not on the cruise, but at the airport, yeah. And at your cruise stops, you will see the locals. Embrace their culture, their language and their food.

Elly, you dodo!! Can’t you see that the sun is muck stronger in Mexico than in Canada??

There’s a departing tourist who looks amazingly like Mike and Weed’s landlady!

DUH !

Less about monkeys and more about the lack of tan skin…

That John and Elly are incoming means the natives are outgoing. And getting out as soon as possible!

Elly, they can smell the treacle.

I had no idea that Canada still used four-engined propeller-driven aircraft for international flights…

The lack of tan is a clue. But I don’t tan well. I go from white to red to peeling. Then again, after spending 30+ years at a desk job, my skin isn’t showing much sun damage. I’ve been told I’m well preserved and look 20 years younger than I am. Probably just flattery or being nice but it makes a girl feel good!

Outgoing travelers have tans, burns, and souvenirs.

Incoming (pre-Customs) and outgoing travellers would never be together in the same area.

Reminds me of the time we had to go to the Spanish Mass because of a scheduling conflict. They were handing out Missals at the entry and the lady automatically turned around and got two English versions for us.

Looks like Miami International Airport. Even down to the language.

Seriously, is that a PROP plane?

Elly will probably use a an SPF 100 sunscreen and look like she’s never been in Mexico.

One year, when I was in school, my family went to Florida for a week during spring vacation. When I got back, nobody believed me because I was still as white as when I left. I don’t tan; I barely burn.

It nicely shows the outcoming line with people loaded down with clip-joint items for tourists while Elly and John have nothing (yet) from their trip. Buenos Diaz, Amigos!

I live on a Caribbean island. You know how you can spot an American Tourist? They don’t look you in the eye when you pass them on the street. No “Good Morning”. No smile. Just a blank stare. Oh yeh, and they walk on the wrong side of the side walk.

lucky guess… :J

No sunburn.

I’m guessing Lynn had fun drawing the airplane even though it isn’t in great detail.

Blinded by the white – walked out like a doosh, another sucker in our sight

That airplane looks like a Viscount which was a 4 engine turbo prop which was in use back in the 1960s. Don’t know where they dug that up.

It usually takes about 2 hours of standing in that line before you can hail a taxi out of there

Noted the old prop airliner…

After years of sunbathing, I am now embracing my white skin so I don’t look older. I love the beach, but I stay in the shade and wear a hat, sunglasses and one of those long sleeve boarding shirts when I go into the water.

Easy Ellie, you look normal.

You are pasty. After a week you won’t be.

Did anyone notice how John’s eyes bug out in the last panel, as if he just realized that he married a blind fool?

Did anyone catch how John’s eyes bugged out in the last panel, as if he just realized Elly has no observancy skills? For that matter, she has no memory either, as she clearly does not recall their trip to Barbados(see the strip from 1/11/2011, where the same thing happened).

You’re all off base. What he means is that the guy could see that they are from the US, and all US citizens who come to Mexico are being held hostage. I won’t say why that is because I refuse to talk politics on most strips. Exceptions to the rule would be Doonesbury, Mallard Fillmore and I’m sure there are a few others.

Is that a prop plane? Even in 1996 when this strip was drawn, jets were fairly common.

Sombrero…Over the rainbow!!

Yep no fun in the sun yet, be different on the way back, even for pasty faced white folks ! ;-)

A taco short of a combo plate?