tourists
"The tusk just lifted me up and tossed me."
Can you think of a trip you took where you didn't see an interesting piece of art or fascinating architecture, or learned something new about the local culture? I bet you can't. The arts become a part of the travel experience even when that isn't the intent of a trip.
Now that the first back-to-school day is officially passed in some states, I want to talk about something simple, yet understated, and in urgent need of addressing. One of my pet-peeves when driving anywhere in the U.S is to see rental cars passing yellow school buses on the streets.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Don't get me wrong, the Mona Lisa's got a lovely smile and all, but there's something soul-crushing about how she's displayed: stowed away in glass, surrounded by hordes of sightseers throwing up "gang symbols" and cheesy smiles for their selfie sticks.
Unfortunately the laws in Thailand and Cambodia are not strong enough to protect elephants from abuse. Today they are considered nothing but livestock, no different than buffalo or cattle, which are not protected against abuse. The law is rarely enforced and fines are small.
I know that you're all used to me writing blogs about dating but I'm taking a brief respite to write a blog about another topic that provides an equally endless source of frustration in my life -- biking in New York City.
On my first trip to Paris in 1988, I had a long list of things to do and see, and the Louvre was number one on that list. The Mona Lisa! The Winged Victory! The Venus de Milo! I didn't get to the Louvre for days.
Recently, I've read a lot about Venice, Italy, and tourism in the town that's played an important role in my life for close to three decades. Many writers, bloggers, journalists speak about what attractions you should avoid, where not to eat or what not to buy when visiting.
Just because a tourist attraction is popular doesn't mean it isn't absolutely fantastic. To find out which tourist traps should go on his shortlist, television host and advisor to travel website Trippy.com Andrew Zimmern asked the site's members which ones are worth the trip.