This morning I came upon this line from Yogi Berra:

"Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

I understand the sentiment, if not the syntax. I immediately thought of you all and the various threads about mob scenes, especially in summer. Other than airplanes, where we may have to put up with the crowded conditions, like it or not, I tend to avoid elbow-to-elbow experiences and places - or go to some lengths to arrive before or after the throng.

Herewith an invitation: where have you been recently (or not so recently) where the crowds were just about insufferable? The Sistine Chapel would likely be the location for the Overcrowded Tourism Hall of Fame. What other sites/cities/etc should be nominated for membership?

The Royal Mile in Edinburgh, as well as the Castle. I usually travel off season and to off the beaten path just for this reason...but I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to do so.

Dubrovnik with 3 cruise ships in!
Ruined our day when we couldn't get into our favourite restaurant because they had a block booking.

I agree with the nomination of Dubrovnik, especially when several cruise ships are docked. I stayed in the old town, and very much enjoyed the early mornings, late afternoons and evenings, but the midday was ruined by enormous groups that traveled in herds, blocking streets and monopolizing restaurants. It was if they were glued to one another, one large organism oozing throughout the old town. Dubrovnik in the Winter, without the daytrippers, must be charming, but it can be overrun in Summer.

How can I forget to nominate the new Mona Lisa gallery at the Louvre (she now has her own room). Masses of people, many of whom find pleasure in following someone lifting an umbrella.

Something to be said for traveling 'off season'.

St. Peter's square and Pompeii.

Travel is not inexpensive even if you are trying to be very budget minded. I for one am not willing to invest that kind of money into a trip that I have to share so intimately with the masses. I never travel to Europe between mid May and mid September. And my experiences have been nothing short of wonderful. Granted at this point in time, you will rarely have these wonders entirely to yourself but there are crowds and then there are "crowds"! It can easily make the difference between you coming away feeling like "so what's so spectacular about this place" or feeling like you've just experienced a marvelous memory maker.

I agree with the off-season comment. Here's what St. Peter's Square looked like in January of 2007. The temps were in the 50-60's F.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...0&y=4oh7pm

very nice pic, sandi

Haven't been in the winter, but the difference between mid-Sept in Rome and mid-Oct seemed to be something like the contrast of rush hour at 6:00 PM and rush hour at 7:30PM. Which is the difference between road rage and road trip.

The centre of York, especially when you have to get into town, negotiate the crowds to get to the bank and back to work in your lunch hour!

Main tourist areas of Florence and Venice. However, you can escape to the interesting sidestreets,canals and neighborhoods.
Any port when a cruise ship unloads its passengers, especially Santorini.

Venice in July/August

Any Cinque Terre trainstation last
September.

Amalfi - what's Italian for zoo?

Papinafree...surely you are not suggesting that my beloved Cisternino is overflowing with tourists?

My Overcrowded Tourism Hall of Fame nomination...Westminster Abbey. We literally could not move an inch. It was like a standing-room-only rock concert, without the music.

I'm off to Paris 1st week in December. It'll be intersting to see the difference in the city from the usual summer peak.

Earth.

As long as a few major religions preach "go forth, be fruitful and multiply" without the slightest caveat, the planet will continue its downward slide.

I am thoroughly disgusted about how the media ooh and aah about some welfare sow who just gave birth to four, or five, or six offspring. It's not quantity we're in need of - it's quality.

You've got nineteen grandchildren? Shame on you!

What if all nineteen turn out to be genuises?

Eugenics now, Robes?

Postiano this June vs. Positano two Junes ago. Like night and day. Almost couldn't move through the little streets this year. Packed. It is losing its considerable charm for me. AND it is not a place to visit in January, I don't think.