Most overrated tourist attractions in the world
Mar 10, 2011, 6:00 am
#316
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,443
I know what you mean about Venice though. It's splendid, and it's worth visiting, but it's like being in a museum. While the notion that there have been virtually no new buildings for the best part of 200 years might add to the atmosphere, in a way, it's also very peculiar for a city of that size. I also find the (apparent) lack of any local children unnatural and somewhat unnerving.
Mar 10, 2011, 7:01 am
#317
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,605
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6035047.stm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...centuries.html
http://www.cnntraveller.com/2010/01/...ck-the-waters/
Mar 10, 2011, 7:48 am
#318
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Texas
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Posts: 1,752
How strange. We found Athens to be great. Of course, we had a tour guide with us both days. Everyone we encountered was pleasant. The city was clean, except for the amazing amount of graffiti.
Mar 10, 2011, 9:25 am
#320
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Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
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Did you wander off the tourist path? I can see that, if you stick to just the area around the Grand Canal or San Marco, it might seem like that. However, the second time my wife and I went, we made a point of wandering all over the city. Once you get away from the touristy areas, the feel is entirely different -- the city become mysterious and tantalizing (and also very easy to get lost in).
Mar 10, 2011, 10:51 am
#321
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Texas
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Did you wander off the tourist path? I can see that, if you stick to just the area around the Grand Canal or San Marco, it might seem like that. However, the second time my wife and I went, we made a point of wandering all over the city. Once you get away from the touristy areas, the feel is entirely different -- the city become mysterious and tantalizing (and also very easy to get lost in).
Mar 10, 2011, 10:56 am
#322
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,438
Did you wander off the tourist path? I can see that, if you stick to just the area around the Grand Canal or San Marco, it might seem like that. However, the second time my wife and I went, we made a point of wandering all over the city. Once you get away from the touristy areas, the feel is entirely different -- the city become mysterious and tantalizing (and also very easy to get lost in).
FWIW, I highly recommend "Don't Look Now" as a great, mysterious movie about Venice.
http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Look-Now-.../dp/B000069I0A
Mar 10, 2011, 11:06 am
#323
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,443
Did you wander off the tourist path? I can see that, if you stick to just the area around the Grand Canal or San Marco, it might seem like that. However, the second time my wife and I went, we made a point of wandering all over the city. Once you get away from the touristy areas, the feel is entirely different -- the city become mysterious and tantalizing (and also very easy to get lost in).
But lots of people adore the place, and I wouldn't want to take that away from them, not for a moment. No doubt I'm the one that's missing out here, not them.
Mar 10, 2011, 12:08 pm
#324
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: TPA
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Why you ask? Well because any tourist will think it is amazing to have a place about cheesecake and eat decent, but mediocre food they are comfortable with, then go to the Italian area in SF (forget what it is called) and step out of a comfort zone.
Mar 10, 2011, 12:24 pm
#326
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Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
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Not really. We've been all over the world, but off-the-beaten-track Venice has a very special feel. One of the reasons is because the city was deliberately laid out to be confusing, so as to confound would-be invaders. The others are the architectural consistency, presence of little alleys and canal bridges that link the many plazas, and the fact that a lot of that part of Venice feels abandoned during the day because the people who live there are all at work. I've been in lots and lots of quaint, old Italian towns (and quaint, old towns all over the world), but I think Venice is unique.
Mar 10, 2011, 1:10 pm
#328
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Texas
Programs: American Airlines British Airways
Posts: 1,752
Not really. We've been all over the world, but off-the-beaten-track Venice has a very special feel. One of the reasons is because the city was deliberately laid out to be confusing, so as to confound would-be invaders. The others are the architectural consistency, presence of little alleys and canal bridges that link the many plazas, and the fact that a lot of that part of Venice feels abandoned during the day because the people who live there are all at work. I've been in lots and lots of quaint, old Italian towns (and quaint, old towns all over the world), but I think Venice is unique.
Mar 10, 2011, 1:15 pm
#329
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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North Beach. Very nice place for a stroll and a canoli.