I don't see why a historical site can't be an attraction. I think there's a range of attractions, from Mickey Mouse to the Sistine Chapel -- some are historical sites (i.e. not MM) and some are (i.e. SC). There's no negative connotation or disrespect in the word 'attaction' for me.

hdm, not negative...but it doesn't sound accurate when you are talking about things that are not there for attracting people to visit. And if you look at the same word in other languages, for example Spanish, we say "una atracción de feria" (a fair attraction) which is not negative but certainly is not good for a centuries old palace :)

<<< Speaking English slowly to a person that doesn't speak English, as if every foreign language = slow English. >>>

Spekaing English slowly to a person in the UK - though I'd admit in London the odds are the other person doesn't speak English

Some of you need to lighten up on we poor touristas.

I kind of like the "cheesy" photograph of Tracy and me in front of the Eiffel Tower (potential Christmas card) or me with a Mai Tai at Harry's or Tracy in front of the Absinthe store. Oh well, I think you get my idea.

As for the attractions vs. historical site question. Frommer's has all churches, museums, etc. under a heading called "Attractions." Stupid Frommer's.

I will say, however, I did make it through a week in Paris without ever baring my chest in public, although attempting to beat up a blind guy at the Metro might have negated that good will.

Seriously folks, I think those of you who fret over trivial notions whether other people look like they "scream tourist" should just enjoy being one.

((H))

I know that it's a funny stereotypical sit-com type of thing to speak slowly to someone who only speaks another language. But if the person speaks a little English, or is rusty in English, speaking slowly and clearly certainly would help. When I'm trying to converse in my terrible Spanish, it certainly is helpful if the actual Spanish speaker replies slowly and clearly.

expecting that people speak English
(except in Eanglish speaking countries, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Stockholm)

What makes foreign languages often difficult to understand is the way a native speaker runs the words together.

The way I could always improve <u>my</u> intelligibility by a factor of about 10 when speaking to my Taiwanese trading partners was to say...each...word...separately (not louder or slower).

Sometimes a slower speaker helps me understand when I'm trying to parse a French dialect I'm not fluent in, or German or Russian.

So I don't see anything objectionable when an English speaker slows down talking to a Frenchman. But louder is rarely either necessary or helpful.

hi kenderina,
I see what you're saying but something doesn't have to have been purposely built as an attraction for it to be one -- the Grand Canyon, is a good example, or if you want a man-made one, the Hoover Dam. It's not that these things are there for the purpose of attracting people, only that they do. That's what makes them attrations.

Not being at work on a work-day

Not being able to count the local currency. Okay, maybe this is just my poor math skills, but my brain WILL NOT let me count the 10p and 5p coin accordingly in England.
We used to go to Salem, Mass. every Halloween and felt like we were &quot;locals&quot; until one trip we were told that we were &quot;tourons&quot;. Cleared that up for us right away.

Impatient Americans

I love threads like this. Here we are, all touristas talking about traveling and how not to look like we are?

I guess in the 5 step recovery plan, I'll admit, I'm a tourist. I go to places to see different stuff, I do my best to be mindful of local dress and conduct and I take photos so I can re-enjoy my trips. Yes, I'm a tourist, I have sinned!

Incessantly asking locals and other travelers where all the good &quot;un-touristy&quot;, &quot;undiscovered&quot;, &quot;not in the guide books&quot; sites are.

Aramis- that made me laugh, I've asked that one before, &quot;where can we go to get away from all these tourists?&quot;

What's your native currency? Brit's just like pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters (only 20% smaller).

If you have trouble with nuppence, be grateful you weren't in Blighty before decimalisation.

Twelve pence (d) to a shilling.
Twenty shillings (s) to a pound.

Coins of ¼d, ½d, 1d, 3d, 6d, 12d (1s), 24d (2s), 30d (2½s), and historically about sixty more, with a plethora of slang terms for all the coins and banknotes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coins_o...decimal_system

I deal with tourists daily from all over, not just the U.S. No need for the Europeans to feel smug over American tourists as I'm getting the impression a few here do.

Not much difference in behavior overall i.e. the Europeans aren't more sophisticated than the Americans in my experience.

Not really just 20% smaller Robespierre. In terms of size:
5c same as 20p (though 20p is not round)
10c same as 5p
And I think the quarter is the same size at 10p and the 50p piece isn’t much bigger. So all in all very confusing

Asking for ice in your glass of red wine.

Asking &quot;do you take dollars?&quot;

Robespierre what I should have said was the 10p looks like the U.S. 5c and the 5p looks like the U.S. 10c. My brain knows this but it just won't let me count it correctly. Thank God for debit cards.

Leely, your &quot;I scream 'I hope you enjoy your visit'&quot; was priceless. Loved the rest of your reply too.

I work in Sonoma County and my husband works in San Francisco, so we encounter tourists frequently. I LOVE seeing them walking across the Golden Gate Bridge admiring the sights, and I always feel such pride that people come from all over the world to see &quot;my&quot; city/state/country. (OK, I didn't actually build the GG Bridge all by myself, so not sure why I feel almost personal pride, but I do.) And I don't even care whether the visitors are wearing saris, djellabahs, burqas, polyester suits, shorts, tie-dyed t-shirts, backpacks, white tennies, stilleto heels, tattoos, piercings, shaved heads, or rastafarian braids. I also don't care which languages they speak or how well they speak them. I don't care whether (from the perspective of my culture) they are pathologically shy and quiet or obnoxiously boisterous and loud.

I care that they have spent the time, money, and trouble to come visit my &quot;home&quot; and my hat is off to them for their good taste in destinations, if nothing else.

ANY group of people considered en masse is easy to poke fun at for stereotypical foibles, whether they're stockbrokers, soccer moms, football players, ... or tourists.

I admire tourists. At least they get off their duffs and are somewhat open to exploring the world in its almost infinite variety, even if they (we) are not always extremely well-informed, elegantly-clad, ultra-sophisticated, culturally-adept, and fluent in every human language.

I mean the rest of you. I am all the above.