Generally I like Hawaii tourists a lot. In addition to driving the state’s economy, they’re usually really happy to be there, and it shows. It angers me that there are thieves who target them and make their experience a bad one.
Some tourists could use a bit more sense, though. Some do incredibly stupid things, like go off unmarked, infrequently-used hiking paths without telling anybody, or leave their valuables unattended. The big news last week was about an Illinois couple who along with their 11-year-old son were swept off a rock by a large wave. The boy alone survived. Now, if the rock shown on the news was the one they stood on, then they must’ve had turd for brains to think it was safe to stand there-- the waves crashed pretty violently against the rocks, which were jagged and sharp. The water looked deep, too. Apparently the area was chained off and there were several signs warning about the waves, but they went ignored.
Tragedies like this happen way too often. I feel for every one of these folks and their families, but I wonder how much more we’re supposed to protect people from their own stupidity.
I grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Oh dear, tourist season… the traffic on the Lincoln Highway must be seen to be believed. What’s worse, though, is that the act of observing is really disturbing to the observed: the Amish and conservative Mennonite groups the tourists come to gawk at, excuse me, experience, are finding it harder and harder to just get on with their lives as the tourism traffic increases. To make matters worse, the population of the area is expanding - driven partly by its popularity as a place to “get away” from the stresses of modern life (heh heh heh) - and the construction of suburban developments is driving land prices up to the point that few Amish can afford to buy more land for their sons to farm.
Tourism here in Greater Oslo tends to be of another sort. Most people who come here are just passing through on their way to see the fjords or the far north, and decide to spend two-three days in the capital. They can be classified as Mostly Harmless. The only ones who get on my nerves are the ones on the bus tours with Very Tight Schedules. Okay, everyone, this is the world famous Frogner Park - we’ll be stopping for twenty minutes! So everyone rushes to get a photo of the same damn statue, but there’s already a crowd of very rushed bus tourists around it… Oh, well, at least they leave the rest of the park in peace, once you squeeze past them over the bridge. And it’s not really their fault, it’s the way their tour is set up. The people who have better time are often quite nice to talk to.
True story: I was downtown one summer day. It had been sunny when I left home, but downtown there was a very light shower. I was stopped by a British tourist couple who asked if I knew where the nearest pharmacy was. I pointed them in the right direction and they complimented me on my English: “You could pass for American!”
“I am American,” I laughed, “but I live here now and have for years.”
“No! I thought for sure we’d stopped a Norwegian!”
“Just curious, what made you think I was a local?”
“Well, surely only a Norwegian would wear sandals in the rain?”
I looked down at my feet. “Well… the rain runs right through them…”
Because of this thread, I had a dream last night that I ran into some French tourists in Trumansburg NY and had to help them find a hotel.
They didn’t speak English, I don’t speak French, and there are no hotels in Trumansburg. At least there weren’t when I lived there. I think they have a few B&Bs now. Weird.
Hey Zoe Missed your post before. I go through Paris every day on my way to work. I actually live in a little place called Harbor Town closer to Big Sandy than anything else. I guess I was a tourist in your town last weekend. Went to the Preds - Blues game Saturday. Ate at Valentino’s by Vandy. Had a nice time.
I have no idea why people do that. Is it really so hard to pick up garbage? I mean I go out on the lake and camp, cook out and whatever else but when I leave you would never know I was there. I pick up other people’s stuff so it’s cleaner than when I got there.
