Europe's Tackiest Things???
Jul 13th, 2006, 07:36 AM
#43
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I have to chuckle remembering the "gladiators" in front of the Colosseum. I did take a picture, but only because he was talking on a cell phone at the time!! I thought the historical contrast was a hoot. BTW, I didn't pay.
Jul 13th, 2006, 03:05 PM
#47
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Lourdes takes the cake - we still refer to it as "six flags over Mary!" Clorox bleach bottles with Mary's beaming image painted on the side are too ghastly for words. And the glow-in-the dark rosary beads that are the size of tennis balls...
Jul 13th, 2006, 03:11 PM
#48
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>I'm used to pronounce (and hear pronounced), "Leh-Ahl". Maybe not a good transcription but the point is it's not ALL. <
Isn't that supposed to be "LehS-ahl", or is 'liaison'no longer in fashion?
Isn't that supposed to be "LehS-ahl", or is 'liaison'no longer in fashion?
Jul 13th, 2006, 04:58 PM
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The tackiest thing I saw during my recent trip to Europe were the vendors in Florence selling boxers with replicas of David's private parts. I was surprised at how many people were buying them.
I also agree that the Pyramid at the Louvre looks totally out of place.
I also agree that the Pyramid at the Louvre looks totally out of place.
Jul 13th, 2006, 08:57 PM
#51
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> Isn't that supposed to be "LehS-ahl", or is 'liaison'no longer in fashion?
Ira, there has never been liaison in this case. That's not a fashion. You have not read other comments by some knowleageable posters below mine (sandra and hanl) who explained.
Ira, there has never been liaison in this case. That's not a fashion. You have not read other comments by some knowleageable posters below mine (sandra and hanl) who explained.
Jul 14th, 2006, 04:17 AM
#53
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I have been living in Europe for the past year and as we traveled from city to city I would intentionally look for the tackiest souvenirs and just like America - Europe has them. And while I have seen most of your top ten sites the tackiest souvenir I found was a 3D paper guillotine at the Tower of London. It is made from cardboard and once it is assembled it actually works (in as much as the "cardboard blade" fall down and the "cardboard head" falls into the basket). It makes for a very interesting conversation piece!
VCM
VCM
Jul 14th, 2006, 07:30 AM
#55
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How could i have left Lourdes off my original list? Been there three times and this may be the tackiest place i've been in Europe.
And i'd add Jim Morrison's tomb in Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris - now i'm a great fan of the Doors, who hit popularity in my youth, but to see graffiti on not only his but surrounding tombs is tacky - along with the ubiquitous beer and whisky bottles left by adoring fans. Actually last December the tomb looked as clean as i've seen it - though young fans were still lingering around it.
I agree with flanneruk - nearly every British city centre defines tackiness with the drab cement edifies that must have been designed by a blind architect!
And in London Elephant & Castle shopping center exudes this type of depressing architecture.
And i'd add Jim Morrison's tomb in Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris - now i'm a great fan of the Doors, who hit popularity in my youth, but to see graffiti on not only his but surrounding tombs is tacky - along with the ubiquitous beer and whisky bottles left by adoring fans. Actually last December the tomb looked as clean as i've seen it - though young fans were still lingering around it.
I agree with flanneruk - nearly every British city centre defines tackiness with the drab cement edifies that must have been designed by a blind architect!
And in London Elephant & Castle shopping center exudes this type of depressing architecture.
Jul 14th, 2006, 07:58 AM
#56
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The UK is an olympic gold medal winner in tackiness
How about:-
Brighton Pier - Unless you want to eat cotton candy or chips or win a pink elephant you are really stuck for things to do
Loch Ness - never has so much money been made from so little
Cheddar Gorge - as mentioned beforehand - it truly is a shrine to cheese in the broad sense
London Dungeon - hysterical not historical - still the hordes form lines to go in - Why?
Blackgang Chine Isle of Wight - Wild West comes to the Isle of Wight in a very unconvincing way
Royal Mile Edinburgh - I've never seen such a dash of buskers in kilts ready to milk the tourist cow of money.
Southend on Sea - oh dear where do I start beyond the parade of souped up Ford Escorts on a Friday night all caught on camera by England's busiest speed trap
Having said all this nothing is as bad as Niagara Falls on the Canadian side
How about:-
Brighton Pier - Unless you want to eat cotton candy or chips or win a pink elephant you are really stuck for things to do
Loch Ness - never has so much money been made from so little
Cheddar Gorge - as mentioned beforehand - it truly is a shrine to cheese in the broad sense
London Dungeon - hysterical not historical - still the hordes form lines to go in - Why?
Blackgang Chine Isle of Wight - Wild West comes to the Isle of Wight in a very unconvincing way
Royal Mile Edinburgh - I've never seen such a dash of buskers in kilts ready to milk the tourist cow of money.
Southend on Sea - oh dear where do I start beyond the parade of souped up Ford Escorts on a Friday night all caught on camera by England's busiest speed trap
Having said all this nothing is as bad as Niagara Falls on the Canadian side
Jul 14th, 2006, 01:57 PM
#57
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Can I add to your list? The tackiest things we experienced in Rome (and other cities in Italy) included:
1. Roving accordianists playing "It's Now or Never" or "Quando, Quando, Quando" (Is Humperdink all they know??). These songs were played either too fast or too slow and definitely for too long. To add insult to injury, the so-called musicians would wander among the restaurant patrons shaking cups with a few coins under their noses. Gag me!
2. Underwear and postcards with close-up photo shots of certain parts of certain male statues. Molto tacky!
3. Gladiators at the Trevi Fountain (what an anachronism!) and then he was smoking and talking on his cell phone!
4. Graffiti -- I hope that Romans are not responsible for this assault on anything that is made of stone. This goes beyond tacky, it is horrid.
5. African vendors of all types of knock-offs.
6. Vendors of African souvenirs in Pisa. Why would I buy a giraffe statue in Pisa? Frankly, the entire idea of Pisa is tacky. Don't bother going there at all. Luckily, we were on our way to somewhere else.
1. Roving accordianists playing "It's Now or Never" or "Quando, Quando, Quando" (Is Humperdink all they know??). These songs were played either too fast or too slow and definitely for too long. To add insult to injury, the so-called musicians would wander among the restaurant patrons shaking cups with a few coins under their noses. Gag me!
2. Underwear and postcards with close-up photo shots of certain parts of certain male statues. Molto tacky!
3. Gladiators at the Trevi Fountain (what an anachronism!) and then he was smoking and talking on his cell phone!
4. Graffiti -- I hope that Romans are not responsible for this assault on anything that is made of stone. This goes beyond tacky, it is horrid.
5. African vendors of all types of knock-offs.
6. Vendors of African souvenirs in Pisa. Why would I buy a giraffe statue in Pisa? Frankly, the entire idea of Pisa is tacky. Don't bother going there at all. Luckily, we were on our way to somewhere else.
Jul 14th, 2006, 04:16 PM
#58
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There must be a huge market for the stuff & not everyone buys it for a joke.
I'm in retail in a strictly tourist area & it's amazing what people will purchase. I'd make a terrible buyer because if I think an item is hideous, it'll turn into a best seller. Go figure.
I'm in retail in a strictly tourist area & it's amazing what people will purchase. I'd make a terrible buyer because if I think an item is hideous, it'll turn into a best seller. Go figure.
Jul 14th, 2006, 07:20 PM
#60
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>>Frankly, the entire idea of Pisa is tacky. Don't bother going there at all. <<
sugardog, I couldn't agree more. My mother says the same thing about Stonehenge, although I haven't been there myself. In her opinion, not tacky, but just not worth the trip.
sugardog, I couldn't agree more. My mother says the same thing about Stonehenge, although I haven't been there myself. In her opinion, not tacky, but just not worth the trip.
