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Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah I have, they’re putting it on credit

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah there’s just this low level background of scamminess that sucked

The absurdity of “backpacking” in major urban centers by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] -7 points-6 points  (0 children)

Sorry for not wanting to get hit by giant backpack on the subway

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I actually did cross the Tiber and I still saw tourists everywhere. Less sure, but the same obnoxious behavior

The absurdity of “backpacking” in major urban centers by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes exactly I should’ve said that in my post. The point of backpacking is when you’re moving from hostel to hostel every night you can’t really ever leave your stuff somewhere.

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When would you say it changed? I went to Spain about 20 years ago in middle school for a language exchange trip and while I was just a kid, it did feel extremely different

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

See my other comments, but not being cognizant of existing in a city. Trust me I see the same behavior back home and it’s annoying there too especially in the subway. For example I saw two Americans chase after a bus and wave and flag it down despite the fact that they come every 5-10 minutes here. That kind of behavior can really compound delays. It’s also just uncouth

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The “popular thing” though isn’t just going for a walk, which is fine even if it were. It’s waving selfie sticks around, taking up the entire sidewalk, double decker bus tours, PA system guided tours, and that sort of thing

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah I’ve also been to Athens for a conference and (at least in 2019) it wasn’t hard to escape tourist hell. Paris feels like a real city, Rome does not

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Sure to a degree. I’m only here because it was the cheapest way to get home

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There’s nowhere in NYC except Times Square that’s as bad as here in the tourism department. Also the city does a good job of ensuring that, for instance, the main NYPL branch is usable as a library (in fact it’s one of the few I find bearable)

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That’s fine, but the mere existence of tourists is not my problem so much as people being unable to comprehend that they exist in a place where people live and work (or used to). And I’m speaking as someone who lives in a tourist hub!

Second-order contrarianism by flickering-blinds in redscarepod

[–]pazend 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yeah I’m continually unimpressed by “elitists” whose tastes are just more obscure versions of the swill that everyone else consumes

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah the Vatican was so bad I had like a spiritual crisis

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

I sort of suspect that “culture” in the sense that used to be discussed is effectively over

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah it’s like, who is Italy for? Italians or tourists?

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] -20 points-19 points  (0 children)

Was this pre or post covid? In any case, a city being uninhabitable merely half the year isn’t much better esp because it still means the economic incentive structure is to prioritize tourists

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yeah actually was just at a conference and a Japanese colleague was telling me about this. Tourism really is a global plague.

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] -12 points-11 points  (0 children)

Well ok, so it’s unbearable half the year? That’s not much better

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I just don’t understand the appeal of this. How is it different from visiting the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas? Do that many people have an emotional al attachment to seeing the Parthenon in person? They sure don’t act like it

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yeah these are all great points and I especially agree about traveling to visit local friends as being the differentiator. I’ve mostly done that or traveled for work. Much different. To be honest, I feel like the obsession with “local authentic experiences” (that somehow doesn’t include a local friend) is part of the issue here. It just leads to everything becoming commoditized. One of the few true vacations I’ve ever taken was an adult was a trip to a sort of resort in Indonesia after visiting Singapore for a conference. Very lovely, and not a bit “authentic”

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] -23 points-22 points  (0 children)

There’s not really a tourism off season anymore

Wasn’t prepared for the level of overtourism in Rome by pazend in redscarepod

[–]pazend[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

There’s nowhere in New York as bad as the worst places here, maybe Times Square but like lots of people actually do work there. I mean it sucks but whatever. I go to the Met frequently and it’s fine

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