Chris

&quot;Touristy&quot; to me is when you shrug your shoulders and go for it anyway (hey, everyone else is!) You figure you can get something out of it. Like hop on, hop off tourist buses -- yeah, you're a tourist, but you're seeing where everything is and it's getting you where you want to go.<BR><BR>&quot;Authentic&quot; is when your breath is taken away. When your mind reels. The Metro is an example -- when you realize everything really IS written in French!! <BR>Parts of experiences can be touristy -- going to the top of the Eiffel Tower for example. Standing in line is touristy, but being at the top and looking over the city (especially at night) isn't. Buying your Eiffel Tower keychain is touristy, but looking at it and remembering how you felt in Paris isn't.

David D.

Ireland, of course, has its fair share of touristy destinations. Depending on your tolerance for tour groups, schmaltz, and blatant comercialism, some of these spots remain worthwhile; others, meanwhile, should be avoided.<BR><BR>Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, located not far from Shannon Airport, features a first-rate castle, but is badly marred by a hokey folk park and, worse, Durty Nelly's theme pub.<BR><BR>Blarney Castle, likewise, features a fine castle, but the prospect of gaining the gift of eloquence through smooching a stone is a bit much. For many it's an obligatory stop on their tour of Ireland, but for this traveler it was a waste of time.<BR><BR>The town of Doolin, located in West Clare, was once a true Rick Steves-like &quot;backdoor&quot; experience. Today, it's terribly overcrowded, featuring so-so traditional music with the added downside of countless tourists packed like sardines into a couple pubs. The town does feature a first-rate crafts store and at least two fine restaurants (the Lazy Lobster is one), but other parts of Clare are preferable. Consider Corofin, near the Burren.<BR><BR>Finally, do see the Clifs of Moher. But do so either very early or late in the day. As an alternative, consider Slieve League, the highest cliffs in all Europe, located on the west coast of County Donegal. The cliffs here are spectacular, and the hiking opportunities are plentiful.<BR><BR>Best of luck.