G'day (1) ,
Last week I visited a small, regional city and thought it was absolutely lovely. It had beautiful old buildings and plenty of history. What it didn't have in large numbers was tourists. And that got me thinking.
As a tourist, I don't like going to places where there are zillions (2) of other tourists. I don't want to have to fight through crowds to see the landmarks of a new place. It's also not fun when the shops and restaurants are full. For me, things like that take away from my enjoyment of a place.
That influences what trips I take. For example, although I had been told Heidelberg was lovely and a place I should visit, I left going there for so long because of the number of tourists people also mentioned.
I finally went in April this year. I don't think the tourist attractions were too full (thank-you Covid restrictions?) - I didn't see large groups walking around or hear tour guides speaking foreign languages.
I have also avoided some Christmas Markets for the same reason. People tell me that I should visit the Nuremberg Christmas Market. But I believe crowds of tourists head there every year. Maybe if I go on a weekday, not at the weekend it will be OK...
It's not just places that I visit. Heaps of tourists come to Frankfurt. They fly here, use the trains and also arrive on cruise boats on the Main. While they are visiting the new Old Town or in the Römer it isn't so bad. I can still move around OK. But there are days when walking along the Zeil becomes a battle, because it's so full of people. I hate those days.
Is that fair, complaining about tourists in 'my' city, when I'm happy to go and be a tourist somewhere else? Is it just about numbers - a few tourists are OK but large numbers aren't? Should we have a limit? If so, what would I think of that as a traveller?
Do you think that crowds of people are a problem? Are there places you don't go because of the number of people who will be there or am I the only (strange!) one who thinks like this? Tell me what you think....
Until next time,
Andrea
(1) G'day - short for 'good day', Australian for 'hello'
(2) zillion - a really really large number
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