I wonder how many times this conversation has been played out throughout history.

The Colosseum as a couple of gladiators do combat with a toothless old lion.
'Of course in the past there were a hundred gladiators and a hundred lions. That's Why I moved here.'

Machu Picchu as a geriatric granny us offered up for sacrifice.
'Back in the day they'd sacrifice whole villages to the gods. Now look, a shadow of its former self.'

Nantucket as a whaling ship comes in with a couple of belugas and a baby wright.
'When I started the ship's had to queue up for days to land. Now it's all done.'