When you travel there are going to be places where the action is packed and where you’ll be doing a lot of bumping and grinding. The bad news about this is that a.) you’ll do it in the daylight b.) you will be in close quarters with somebody in a Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts and c.) the venue is not going to be a club.
Let’s face it. We are not alone in wanting to see the great sights the world has to offer. Most of the time we have to share the Taj Mahal with the hordes coming out of the tourist buses and violate the quiet atmosphere of the Notre Dame with the multitudes of heathens following a guide.
Despite the bustle of the crowds, there are truly some spots worth seeing. However, there are smarter ways of braving tourist traps than merely diving into the sea of bodies. Here are some tips on helping you find ways to enjoy these top tourist destinations without having to go crazy.
New York City
Times Square is probably one, if not, the most famous crossroads in the planet. Don’t expect that you’ll be hogging all that street space to yourself. You will encounter cramped sidewalks while bumping shoulders with the locals or trying to avoid being swiped by vehicles.
It may not be the best way to experience New York but you can wake up early and see the street for yourself.
Paris
If there are any places that should fill one with solitude, the cathedral of Notre Dame, should be one of those places. However, expect your meditation on the spiritual life to be broken by raspy whispers and the cartoony voices of the tourists taking a look.
However, despite what we may feel about the crowd, they are also people who know how to respect the solemnity of holy places and rituals. If you want to take a look at the cathedral and do some praying at the same time, try visiting when there are religious services.
London
The Tower of London, also known as Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress, is a place world renowned as an object of romance. After having been constructed in 1078, the castle was alternately used as quarters for the royal family and a prison for dangerous royals. Now the tower holds the greatest treasures of the British Empire – the Crown Jewels.
If you want to see the treasure for yourself, you will have to go through the lines of people wanting to see it themselves. The experience is rather peremptory as the guards will escort you in and then after a few minutes of gawking, promptly escort you out.
Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid queuing up as the tower is packed with tourists at any given point during its hours of operation. However, experience what others don’t normally do. The Ceremony of the Keys. The ceremony involves the Chief Yeoman Warder and the military escort making their way into the queen’s quarters to hand in the symbolic keys. This particular ceremony occurs at 9:53 pm and has been a long standing royal tradition that has never broken. The only time there had been some sort of delay was during World War II when a bomb dropped into the guardroom.
This ceremony can be publicly viewed but the slots are limited. You need to book two months in advance.
Prague
Without a doubt that Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. However, the allure of Old Town is itself old news. Because of this, expect a lot of tourists clogging up the cobblestone streets and alleyways of this medieval town. The walkways of the town were not designed to hold a large invading army.
Waking up early and hoping for the best is not always the best bet. First, before going off into Old Town itself start off at Vltava Rivers opposite side. Choose a spot to enjoy the views of the town and then slowly ease your way into the area.
Beijing
The Forbidden City was the residence of the Chinese emperor for thousands of years. It got its name since it has been closed to the outside world for a very long time. This palace has a thousand buildings on a sprawling 720 hectares. Because of its status as royal residence, the city is emblematic of the wonders of China and is one of the top tourist destinations of the country.
What you can do to avoid being swamped is to sleep early the night before your visit and get to the city an hour before the gates swing open. Get to the more popular spots first or end up being squished by the Mongols errr the tourists.
India
The Taj Mahal was constructed in 1631. It is a tomb housing the remains of Mumtaz Mahal, Shah Jahan’s wife. This beautiful mausoleum is a profession of eternal love created by thousands of artisans. However, you don’t have to be in love making proximity with another person just to get some sightseeing done.
What you can do is to go to Yamuna River’s opposite banks and see the mausoleum’s white towers from the distance. The spot might be a little muddy but at least no one will be charging you fees and no one will be standing on your toes.
Venice
Venice has got to be one of the most well known landmarks in Italy. People are always looking forward to riding on the gondolas. The landlocked areas can be quite intense in regards to tourist traffic.
Don’t be surprised of all the bodies you’ll be navigating through when you visit the sights. The Doge’s Palace, the Bell Tower, or even just the plain side streets can be tough.
However, there are alternate ways to get around the city. Try kayaking. You can also visit some sites and get the lowdown from the locals in order to enjoy the city.
Egypt
The Pyramids of Giza is a world wide hit considering their unique architecture and the rich stories involving the pharaohs and the Egyptian civilization which they engender has captured the imagination of millions. Every single day the pyramids play host to at least 5,000.
What most people do is to get a faraway view of the pyramids like catch a camel through the desert first or ride a chopper. However, getting a view of the external area doesn’t quite satisfy curiosity or one’s sense of adventure. You have to see them up close.
To escape the crowded areas, you can start go 5km south and visit Saqqara where a less visited pyramid called the Step Pyramid of Djoser is.
Mexico
Cancun is known as one of the best spots to hit during spring break. The white dunes rolling along the bluest waters is truly a top tourist draw. And even though there are some bodies you’d want to be in contact with, there are also a lot of the unsightly ones you’d wish you’ve never seen.
Unfortunately, there is no way to get around this particular problem. The best thing you can do is to check the other beaches along the Yucatan. There are beaches in Playa del Carmen, Celestun and Isla Holbox. Enjoy them before the hordes breach the shores for a tan.
No related posts.
