|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 30, 2009 4:08:14 GMT
We're all so embarrassed about this, but why? Two of the best things I ever did were on one trip, and both were things I'd cringed away from doing. My son was about three when we took a trip to Key West in the early 70s. There was one of those little trains on wheels that rolled around town, with a guide narrating the sights to the tourists. Son o'Bix was foaming at the mouth to go on the train, so I trudged off with him to the ordeal. What fun! The guide was an elderly Cuban man who took us into all the neighborhoods and pointed out things like tropical fruit trees. He also showed us a big mound of weatherbeaten boards that was what was left of many of the craft in which people had arrived in Key West from Cuba. It was a totally fascinating tour. The other thing I did because the kid wanted to was to go out on the glass-bottomed boat. Wow! They took us out to where you could see the Gulf Stream as a darker streak on the horizon, and we saw schools upon schools of glistening jack, a barracuda who was an old denizon of the reef, coral, and other interesting sights.
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Nov 30, 2009 4:41:10 GMT
Both of those sound stunning.
I was temporarily living in Paris and une amie de chez moi came to visit. She absolutely wanted to do a bateau-mouche tour of the Seine. We had a gas. Better to do that in the evening when the famous buildings are illuminated. It was a lot of fun, with the breathlesss and useless descriptions in several langugages.
These were originally a kind of working barge or transport of people.
Looking at the sites, I don't know if we were technically on a bateau-mouche. Think we had a smaller Seine boat.
We had great fun, my only caveat is to tell people NOT to opt for the cruise with a meal, which is shite. Have your boat tour, then curl up in a little restaurant.
|
|
|
Post by hwinpp on Nov 30, 2009 5:49:54 GMT
I think the first things I visit in every place I go to are the famous sights/sites. I quite enjoy them. I've no problem at al being identified as a tourist.
;D
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2009 5:54:31 GMT
I have never minded doing touristy stuff, but over the years I have had the advantage of not feeling that I had to cram every activity into the same trip. While a lot of people are afraid they will never return to the same place (or have no plans to) and must therefore see EVERYTHING as fast as possible, I often "save" things for a future trip. If nothing else, it gives me a reason to return.
|
|
|
Post by bazfaz on Nov 30, 2009 8:41:58 GMT
Where we used to live in the Herault there were few touristy things to do. They even stopped the little train (such as Bixa describes) that went up the path in the Gorge d'Heric on the spurious grounds that someone might get hurt (so why don't they stop people dicvng into the rock pools in the gorge?).
Now, living in the Lot, we are right close to a lot of sights that people lump together as "Dordogne". So we can look forward to multiple visits with guests to Domme, Sarlat, Beynacc et Cazenac, Roque Gageac... Trouble is that in the summer months thousands of others want to do the same thing at the same time.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Nov 30, 2009 8:48:45 GMT
I think it's perfectly normal to see the main touristy sights the first time you go somewhere.
And one of the first times we took our kids to Paris, we took a cruise along the Seine on a bateau-mouche too.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2009 12:24:41 GMT
I too, love going to tourist "must see' destinations. How could you go NYC and not go to the top of the Empire State building or visit the Statue of Liberty? The best though,taking a daytime or even better,evening cruise around the island of Manhattan.(highly recommended!). Here in NOLA,we are a much touristed city and for good reason.I have visited most all and wouldn't turn my nose up at any of them although,Bourbon Street is not my favorite destination. Not so much because of the strip joints and seediness but, for the fact that I cringe at what I see was once a gorgeous building turned into a t-shirt shop or some other tacky tourist mecca for tacky souvenirs. For many of us,the only opportunity to go to these places is when we have out of town company and accompany them to these spots. Left to our own devices,probably wouldn't go . I rarely go the the French Quarter unless I have company.Then,when I go I generally tell myself,"I have to come down here more often".
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Nov 30, 2009 12:37:53 GMT
I can't say I "love" going to touristy destinations, but I think that they are something to see at least once. After all, there must have been a reason at some point that they became popular.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2009 12:47:20 GMT
Yes,I think "love" may be too strong a word. Enjoy to some degree is more like it.
|
|
|
Post by imec on Nov 30, 2009 14:15:05 GMT
Lts of tourist stuff is great fun - and sights, no matter how cliched, must be seen. Soem things however are best left NOT done. My list includes (for starters... ):
Ate dinner atop the CN Tower Kissed a plastic Puffin in St. John's, NL Sucked N2O out of a balloon on Bourbon Street Bought a plate with my photo on it - Hong Kong Tried to drink all the Tequila in Mexico Bought overpriced diamonds in Amsterdam...
more to come
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Nov 30, 2009 14:21:55 GMT
Yep, same caveat for CN Tower (in Toronto) as for bateaux-mouches. Go there, but don't eat there.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2009 14:59:51 GMT
Imec said:"sucked N2O out of a balloon on Bourbon Street"
;D ;D,I knew a guy who paid for his medical school tuition by selling N2O on Bourbon Street!!
|
|
|
Post by traveler63 on Nov 30, 2009 15:01:08 GMT
Living in Arizona is definitely a tourist state. So, one has to do the Tombstone, Bisbee run. Once you do Tombstone, well, everyone wants to go there so you find yourself back there thinking once is enough. Also, there is Nogales and again everyone wants to go. The dumb thing I did down there was the picture in the wagon with the donkey and all of the huge paper flowers.
Have to think about others.
|
|
|
Post by imec on Nov 30, 2009 15:04:47 GMT
Can we also talk about the dumb stuff we're proud of not doing?
I've never posed for a picture with one of the donkeys they paint to look like zebra's in TJ. ;D
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2009 15:06:42 GMT
I never inhaled N2O on Bourbon Street.
|
|
|
Post by imec on Nov 30, 2009 15:09:35 GMT
;D ;D ;D
|
|
|
Post by bazfaz on Nov 30, 2009 15:22:26 GMT
I have never been to any of the Disney sites.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2009 15:37:18 GMT
I have never been to any of the Disney sites. Both I and my husband can proudly say the same!
|
|
|
Post by bazfaz on Nov 30, 2009 16:05:26 GMT
But I did meet a woman at a party in England who was flying to Orlando for a week to go to Disney. And it was her second year of doing this.
I edged away from her.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2009 16:50:20 GMT
I think we're in the minority on this Baz. I have known very few people who have not "done Disney" in some fashion.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2009 17:49:13 GMT
On other travel sites, I reply to the questions of numerous people visiting Disneyland Paris and wondering if perhaps they should also visit Paris.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Nov 30, 2009 18:23:25 GMT
I have never been anywhere near any Disney place, nor have I ever wanted to. I must have brainwashed my kids because they never asked to go to anything like that either.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 30, 2009 18:36:12 GMT
I did want to go to Disneyland when I was a child (there was no Disneyworld then). And when my son was around four or five, we were visiting my dad on the Gulf coast of Florida and planned to go. The problem was that is was Christmas time. After monitoring radio reports of 12 mile traffic jams around the magic kingdom, we blew off the trip.
And speaking of magic, the desire to go disappears entirely when you're an adult, although I actually knew a couple who went there for their honeymoon.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2009 18:49:24 GMT
There is a likelihood that I might go to Disneyland during the upcoming Christmas season. My best friend has promised a visit to his daughter, who is perhaps the only little 7 year old girl in the Paris region who has not been yet since both parents hate the idea. I will offer to go to keep him company (he has separated from the mother) -- the daughter will have at least one little friend to accompany her. Strangely enough, the parents have always happily bought the Disney-inspired princess dresses and doll castles for their daughter when they should actually have been cramming communist manifestos down her throat to keep in line with their ideas.
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Nov 30, 2009 18:51:43 GMT
It is also damned expensive. Nope, haven't been. Only know parents wheedled into it by their kids, who usually got bored waiting for the attractions and whining even more.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2009 18:53:22 GMT
It's true that I have had a number of free tickets. The last free ticket I received carried a price tag of 58€ and I confess that I allowed it to expire.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 30, 2009 19:31:23 GMT
The bright side is that you all will at least enjoy watching the little girl enjoy everything. That, and y'all are old enough to fortify yourselves with the stiff drinks you'll need when it's all over & she's gone to bed.
I sort of like going with new visitors to stuff around here that I've done a million times. It's a way of seeing things anew and I feel useful because I can answer questions. The one tourist thing I will. not. do. is go to Monte Alban. The only time I ever enjoyed it was visiting there with one of my brother-in-laws, because he was so totally enthusiastic. It is high on my list of life's-too-short stuff.
|
|
|
Post by imec on Nov 30, 2009 19:36:47 GMT
A trip to Disney (land or world) was not something my family could afford when I was a kid. As an adult, I've been to Walt Disney World in Florida several times and enjoyed it immensely each time. Sure, some of it is dumb - even for kids, but plenty of it is either fun, interesting or even educational. Let's not forget, this is largely fantasy and escape - it's not meant to be taken too seriously. Is it "just like being in there" when visiting the "countries" in Epcot's World Showcase? Not a chance. Is it interesting to see how they've tried to recreate the architecture and culture? You bet. Do you really feel like you're on a boat travelling through the African jungle on the Jungle Tour? Come on, get serious. Is it cool to see the early attempts at animatronics? Yep. Are there some very hokey forms of entertainment? Check out the Tiki House and the Country Bear Jamboree. Are there some up to date truly entertaining attractions? You'd have to be pretty jaded to not thoroughly enjoy some of the 4D movies - and the simulated hang glider flight over California is nothing short of exhillarating. There really are a lot of very enjoyable things to see and do.
The expense is an interesting subject. Does it cost a lot of money for a family of 4 to spend a week at Disney? Yes and no. Disney accommodation is very poor value for money in my opinion - but there are plenty of affordable, comfortable options - house rental being my preferred way to stay. Is food expensive? Yep, but you can minimize that cost by staying in a house and preparing your own meals or simply eating off of Disney property. As for the ticket price - in an age when tickets to concerts or professional sporting events cost can cost hundreds of dollars each, I'd say $60 or $70 for a full day's entertainment is a relative bargain.
Finally, let me comment on the crowds and queues. These places are undoubtedly popular and therefore crowded - it's a tourist attraction, what do you expect? With a little planning, the crowds and queues can be beat - just as they can when visiting the Louvre, Niagara Falls or the Tower of London. First, pick the right time to go - anyone who is surprised to find that the place is unusually busy on Christmas Day, July 4th or during Spring Break is clearly an idiot. Second, buy a current copy of The Unofficial Guide to WDW - it comes with mathematically proven touring plans which all but guarantee you will see all attractions in the park with minimal to no wait at all - I've used these more than once with an astonishing degree of success.
There really is a lot of magic to Disney. It really is a shame to write it off without giving it half a chance.
|
|
|
Post by fumobici on Nov 30, 2009 19:39:07 GMT
I'd rather stay home sick than go to any Disney themed or branded anything.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2009 19:42:23 GMT
I agree with imec. Too much of the anti-Disney sentiment is just snobism. It's as though people are embarrassed to have ever been children.
|
|