4 ms·

I worked out at Muir Woods National monument years ago, when it was free to get in. Most of the tourists were from other countries. ($10 to get in today--crazy

I worked out at Muir Woods National monument years ago, when it was free to get in. Most of the tourists were from other countries. ($10 to get in today--crazy.) It seemed like most tourists cared more about eating, and buying souvineers. (Most were on a bus schedule though. It went from San Francisco, Sausalito, and then Muir Woods.) They seemed to like being around other tourists? Never quite figured them out. I do know this, some tourists didn't appear to be on vacation. They looked misserable. They seemed annoyed at little things, like ice in soda. I was asked so many times, "Why do Americans put ice in soda!". I used to tell them that we want to delay diabetes. Then, I got to the point where I just said Americans are stupid. The second one they got. Most didn't seem to care about the large Redwood trees. The only group of people who seemed genuinely interested, excited to see such large trees were a group of Amish tourists. My buddy introduced me to BLM camping, and one day, I hope to be in your shoes, enjoying life in a RV.

ralfd 10y ago
> a group of Amish tourists I never imagined Amish could travel like tourists around. What a funny idea.
- waterphone 10y ago
  Some Amish and Mennonites can drive (sometimes they'll have community cars they share), but even those who don't can use public transportation and will take busses, Amtrak trains, etc. to travel.
  - TheCoelacanth 10y ago
    The majority of Mennonites have no religiously-based restrictions on technology at all.
ryuker16 10y ago
I have a funny feeling your talk about chinese tourists and others from poorer countries. Ice in drinks is rarer due to concerns about tap water. Chinese also seemed to greatly prefer all drinks to be warm or hot....the concept of ice cold drinks seems to be no the norm. A good many of these tourists are tours....some of them straight up rip offs so they take it out on locals. Imagine if you went to paris and found out your tour group was charging you 20% higher for everything....I'd be pissed off too. I'm susprised about redwoods... The tourist thing is a language barrier....When I lived abroad, I noticed americans did the same thing too including many expats.

ralfd 10y ago

> a group of Amish tourists I never imagined Amish could travel like tourists around. What a funny idea.

waterphone 10y ago
Some Amish and Mennonites can drive (sometimes they'll have community cars they share), but even those who don't can use public transportation and will take busses, Amtrak trains, etc. to travel.
- TheCoelacanth 10y ago
  The majority of Mennonites have no religiously-based restrictions on technology at all.

ryuker16 10y ago

I have a funny feeling your talk about chinese tourists and others from poorer countries. Ice in drinks is rarer due to concerns about tap water. Chinese also seemed to greatly prefer all drinks to be warm or hot....the concept of ice cold drinks seems to be no the norm. A good many of these tourists are tours....some of them straight up rip offs so they take it out on locals. Imagine if you went to paris and found out your tour group was charging you 20% higher for everything....I'd be pissed off too. I'm susprised about redwoods... The tourist thing is a language barrier....When I lived abroad, I noticed americans did the same thing too including many expats.