In Praise of Tourists
I love tourists.
Can I just say that again?
I love tourists. They are so darn cute, wandering around always looking up at the sights or down at their maps. Always dressed in their specially-bought vacation clothes, or corny Seattle swag. They are happy people -- who isn't when on vacation? And 99% of the time, they are so very polite and appreciative.
Yes, they can be a bit oblivious, walking slow four abreast on the sidewalks then stopping to look at a map or take a picture, creating a pedestrian traffic jam. Downtown and the Pike Place Market can be maddeningly crowded in the summer. But that is a small price to pay to see my home town through their fresh, admiring, gleeful eyes. It reminds me how fortunate I am to live here, experiencing it every day.
Last weekend while snowshoeing in the mountains, I watched a group of tourists, whom I believe had never before experienced snow, take turns getting their picture snapped holding a great big hunk of it. One wore it like a hat, another held it high, a third hugged it. They were so excited. It was SO DARN CUTE.
Granted, sometimes what visitors get excited about can be a bit of a head-scratcher. There is always a knot of camera-wielding out-of-towners in front of the original Starbucks store at the Pike Place Market, clicking away at their loved ones swilling latte at the front window. If they were to simply turn around, there is a stunning view of the flower market, but who am I to judge what others should want to remember?
I must admit, I also love tourism. It is a great motivator to a city and region to keep itself beautiful and preserve its history. As industries go, its a fairly clean one and very lucrative to merchants, the hospitality industry, and city tax coffers alike. Frankly, tourists "subsidize" the economic robustness of the city and Cascadians' quality of life as a result.
I like to help tourists, help them find the museum or offer to take a picture they can ALL be in. They are always so grateful. It's easy to make their day. Vainly, I like to play goodwill ambassador. And, it's just fun and it makes me happy... 'cause they're just so darn cute.
Can I just say that again...?
Labels: Tourism
posted by Cascadia Girl at
8:36 PM
8 Comments:
Besides, we are all tourists some where:)
~Becky
2:42 PM
So true. And, as a tourist, I am always grateful for the hospitality of the locals. - CG
3:43 PM
a very nice post. But i must say, we have grown so busy with ourselves that we hardly find any time for such stuff. I really *love* to tour sp. the countryside. ^^
9:32 PM
Good points all, but now I feel like a complete ass for disliking tourists so much.
Living here on Miami Beach, we are simply inundated with tourists. The Super Bowl just finished, and now we have an international boat show. Uggh.
Subconsciously, I know it's for the best as they drive the economy; but consciously, I wind up despising them, as they can also make life miserable - clogging up traffic and forcing the cost to increase on virtually everything - food, drink, clothing, gas, etc.
I know, I live in a beautiful city with summer-like weather in January while the rest of the country is covered in snow - I should just have a coke and a smile and shut up.
3:52 PM
I think I remember you from my one and only visit there to Pike St Market :)
What a great place to live! I have so many pics from the market it is crazy.
There was this Pastry shop that was to die for... the fellow running it had a little folding table set up with a neat stack of books. He had just had his story published and was holding his own book-signing right in front of the shop. HAD to get his book AND made him take a picture with me :) delightful!
Then there was this quartet singing in front of the Starbucks, they sounded wonderful!
The endless seas of flowers in the market were heavenly - and what fun to watch the fellows at the fish stand hamming it up while tossing fish to each other!
I would really like to go back there. Thanks for conjuring up the memories!
Oh and I believe I was one of those people sporting a bright red rain jacket I had to get while there :) I'mma dork! Cheers!
8:58 AM
Oh yeah, I remember you too.. smack dab in the middle of the tulips with your SLR. You looked like a tulip yourself in that red raincoat! :)
Yes, that brownstone style, a-cappella quartet is really fabulous, busting out old gospel and R&B tunes in four-part harmony.
Come back soon! Belltown - just above the market, has really revved up, and the pastry chef at Macrina Bakery was just nominated for a James Beard award!
9:11 AM
So the fellows STILL sing there? Wow! Nice to think that one day I might get a chance to hear them again. As I recall, not only did they have great voices and harmony, but projected beautifully as well. Their music would resonate through you as you stood there listening - and with no audio equipment.
Is the bakery you mention a Russian one? The fellow that I met was a Russian immigrant.
Man, you are really making me want to go back there! I just had to run and tell my husband all about it.
Washington State is truly a jewel in the US's "crown."
10:01 AM
Yes, individual members come and go, but the quartet persists as fabu as ever.
RE: the bakery... mo, Macrina is more of an American/French/Italian mix. Plus, it's up in Belltown i/o at the market. I can't think of which shop you are remembering. Maybe the Piroshky shop...
-CG
11:21 AM
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home