PJKeay

I wonder if any of you have tales about the most ignorant tourists you've come across in your travels.

About 5 years ago I was spending a couple of days in Hong Kong. I took a harbour cruise on a chinese junk that finished up in a rather nice harbour side restaurant for a dim sum lunch.

I sat at a large round table with a party of about 6 middle aged American tourists. I was surprised when they all insisted on vegetarian dim sum. I enquired that it was unusual to have so many vegetarians together. They said they weren't vegetarians, far from it, they were Texans. They just didn't want to eat dog, rat and cat. I explained that it was very unlikely we would be getting either! They weren't convinced.

I enquired as to their holiday. They were about to board a cruise liner and sail up to Korea where they were to spend a week or so. I suggested they should try Korea's finest food at their Poshintang Restaurants, without explaining what is served at these places.

I should add that I certainly don't advocate the eating of dogs, and this was me being mischevious with grotesque ignorance.

CafeBatavia

I hope this does not become a "let's make funny of Americans" thread.

So please mixed it up a bit and include funny stories about a wide range of people from various countries.

Did I tell you about the time these french guys were walking on the beach with black socks and sandals and tiny little swimsuits that showed ....... .

ira

well, there were these six French tourists who stopped off at our local Cracker Barrel, where everyone was having a proper American breakfast of OJ, pancakes, eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, grits, biscuits, fried apples and potato casserole, with cream gravy and coffee, and wanted croissants and cafe au lait.

They seemed somewhat disappointed when the waitress suggested French Toast.

anotherjudy

Quite a few years ago my family and I were staying at a farm B&B on the west side of Lake Windermere. There was another American couple staying there who asked us "When you booked this place did you know it was not in town?" Did he think a farm would be IN town?

SuzieC

On the "Maid of the Mist" ship that putters up to Niagara Falls, an Asian gentleman was frantically sketching the falls with charcoal and paper. As we got nearer, the Mist that named that boat closed in. I glanced at his sketch pad and he had black rivelets flowing down and the paper was swelling up. I glanced at his wife, the proper few feet behind him, she did the best eye rolling and shrug I had ever seen.
Universal language!

bettyk

Everyone is ignorant when they first start traveling -- not just Americans. You can read all the books and ask all the questions you want, but when you first set foot on foreign soil, you are in a brand new world! Some people handle it better than others, but I think what's important is that these people have made the attempt to broaden their horizons. They may make mistakes and they may be loudmouth boors, but at least they are trying!

Jean_Valjean

I remember a hot day in Rome, we were in St. Peter's. This Asian girl walks in looking absolutely exhausted from the heat. Suddenly, she notices one of the basins with Holy Water, and proceeds to wash her face and neck in it. One guard noticed, and did nothing. I'm guessing that he was either very understanding (it was a really hot day), or just in shock.

jimcolorado

I get so sick of these damn threads! There are stupid tourists of every conceivable nationality and ethnic background. I wish the moderators would pull them as soon as them pop up. Have you ever been to DisneyWorld? It is practically a show case of stupid tourists from every country in the world, and yes, even the dreaded American.

missypie

This isn't a tourist story, but it loosely relates: In 9th grade a group of us were discussing which foreign language we were taking. One girl piped up and said she was taking Latin, because she wanted to be a nurse "and so many of the doctors are Latins these days." My mind fast forwarded and I saw her 15 years later, speaking perfect Latin to a Hispanic doctor in an operating room!

AAFrequentFlyer

A friend told me this story.

Few years ago he worked as a waiter at a local Longhorn Steakhouse. A group of 6 Brits came in. He got the table. After couple of hours, full dinner service and many drinks, he presented them with a bill for $298.50(+/- few pennies). They collected their money together which came to exactly $300, and had the nerve to tell him on their way our to keep the change. He ran out to the parking lot and gave them the $1.50 back, as he told them that maybe they need it more than him. That was a big no-no with the management, but he survived. I'll never forget when he came over the next day. He was still upset about the whole thing.

Patrick

What a disappointing thread. I opened it with excitement, but soon found out that "Tails" must have been a typo. Too bad, that would have been much more interesting than more of the "let's talk about how silly other people are, and how much more wordly I am" threads.

jenstu13

jimcolorado, If you do not like these threads, then do not read them. Some people find them amusing, but would rather not have to read profane complaints.

PJKeay

I would have thought if we get a good collection of stories, most of us could look down the list and probably think "hmmm I've said that", or something similar. Yes we are having a dig at tourists - not necessarily pointing the finger at any nationality.

There is probably no one on this planet, no matter how wordly they are who hasn't done something stupid or naive on their travels. Perhaps we can all learn something here.

I for one, being English, and not understanding the tipping issues have been guilty of "keep the change", when its been quite a small amount.

I've gone into suposedly wonderful fish restaurtants and ordered "fish and chips".

I once took a photograph at a funeral ceremony in Thailand, because it was so different to anything I had ever seen in England,without thinking how I would have felt had the boot been on the other foot.

We're all human afterall.

For those that think this sort of post shouldn't be on the board fair enough - but as has been said no one makes you read these posts.

If you think "well its all been said before" - again, you are probably correct. But how many times have we seen "Whats the best hotel in such and such a place"? time and time posted on these boards.

Like so many bulletin boards on the internet, people who have been posting for a while begin to think it's their bulletin board and that "new members" should follow their personal view of what the board is to be used for.

Patrick

Gee, I hope those last two comments didn't relate to my post. I only hope people were able to read my post with the sense of humor which was intended.

PJKeay

No, my comments we're firmly related to an earlier moaning post by jimcolorado

Shane

I plead guilty to a case of travel ignorance when I was 13 and traveling in Spain with my Spanish Class. This was in the last days of Franco. I was sporting a hat and entered a Church only to be reproved by an old, gristled man for not showing my proper respect.

Margie

Well, these tourists didn't have "tails" but should have considering how they were climbing like monkeys on "Winged Victory" in the Louvre - this was done of course for the all important photo op.

sandi_travelnut

PJ - I hope you can understand that some of us didn't see the humor in your post at all. It very much seemed like you were calling the tourists "grotesque ignorant"..oh, wait..you were. How is that supposed to be funny?

emmitt

I'm curious as to the Enlish tipping issue .... sounds like they don't?

Joelleinitaly04

Well if we are telling stories on ourselves...

When I was 21 I did a Semester at Sea and found myself in Hong Kong for Easter and my friends and I thought we would have a nice dinner. Once we were seated by the waiters and handed menus we realized this place was out of our range but were too embarrassed to leave.

So I ordered the cheapest thing on the menu. "I'll have the Steak Tartar"

"Medium Rare"

"Madam" the waiter smirked "The steak tartar is served RAW"

"Oh well" I said" "Then I don't want it"

I think I had ham...

Joelle