bilboburgler

I came across this and thought you might like to see it
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/...141318090.html

hetismij2

Reminds me of the "If it's Tuesday it must be Belgium" tours US tourists used to take, also struggling with the food, the manners, the talking quietly, but at least they didn't spit, bathe or poop in public.

Whilst the income is undoubtedly welcome the sheer numbers overrun cities, deter others from visiting, and make like miserable for those living in these places. Hard to know what the answer is though.

One reason I will never take anyone to Zaanse Schans again, at least outside the depths of winter, is the sheer numbers of Chinese visiting, making it really difficult to enjoy the mills.

willit

There was quite an interesting discussion about this on another site - the fact that for so many middle class Chinese, the trip itself is a status symbol. It's not so much where you went and what you saw, but that you did go and have pictures to prove it.

I was quite taken by the impression of the Mona Lisa: "I liked it so much more before I saw it"

I frequently get the similar comments from visitors to the UK who go to stonehenge.

Lois2

If it on the Asian itinerary stay away unless you can takes swarming crowds. Galleries Lafayette used to be fun..crowded yes but many local shoppers..no more it is off my list .....sure France will recruit them ..just take a look at the detax lines at Cdg. Any group coming in those massive "coaches" will spoil the best sight or experience in the world. Would love the top 10 destinations they have not discovered yet...was just in the lavender fields and those "pre wedding photos" had them literally jumping..screaming..good news is so many fields youjustmove on and find a better spot..

kerouac

One major indication of how the world is changing are the terminal directional signs at CDG. They used to be in French, English, Spanish. Now they are in French, English, Chinese.