Wednesday 31 March 2010

Tourists

I know this may seem like a shameful confession but I find the tourist visitors to the Lakes damned hard work. I understand why they come here of course. I understand that the national park is a national treasure and is enjoyed by everyone, and indeed should be.
I know I am equally annoying when I myself visit other places around the globe as a tourist.
I appreciate that without tourists our local lakeland economy would be totally unstuck. I appreciate that I benefit ( indirectly as our business is not tourist related) from the money that flows into the area via our visitors.
Indeed, I am a grumpy old woman.
But when driving and parking within two or three miles of your house becomes a federal issue, when you can't even find an illegal parking space to nip into the post office, when the queues to find parking swirl round and round local roads, it is difficult not to snarl and rage under the breath. I have lived here nearly twenty years and I am starting to get territorial and possessive. It isn't attractive I know, but there you are.
HAVING SAID ALL THAT.
I do feel mightly sorry for all the tourists at the moment especially those with kiddies. They have come seeking the majestic splendour of the daffodils. Said lovely flowers are still hiding largely. The weather is extraordinarily awful. Lashing rain, howling winds, freezing cold and dark. It is not happy holiday weather. It is 'driving round finding indoor places to hide' weather. Only the truly brave (mad?) would set out to walk in this. Anyone who goes walking is not only crazed but selfish. Conditions are dangerous. All in all. My advice is head for the airport..... oh no.... I forgot.... strikes.......

13 comments:

tmmb said...

I had to laugh because you *know* I'd be out in that! Not climbing, just sloshing around in the mud, then inside for tea. The pubs must be happy, at least.

Busy Bee Suz said...

The joys of living in a tourist destination.
Our streets are overcroweded right now.
The restaraunts are booked each night.
Great for the economy. But a hassle just the same. Our season lets up after Easter though....

Anonymous said...

Teehee (blushes shamefully) I have to confess to being one of those 'tourists'. Well at least last week anyway! And as for the weather . . . the wilder and more dramatic - the more I love it!

Oddly enough, although I don't live in the Lakes, it is the one place on earth that I feel 'at home'. Maybe to do with spending my childhood there? Wherever you live - tourists are annoying, and wherever you go - you annoy! Yin / Yang maybe?

Carolyn Trafford Art said...

Now as a regular visitor and contributer to the economy (I never consider myself a tourist) to the lakes I too hate the tourists. There are so many of them - they just spoil the pleasure of the views that are really just mine - all mine!

You really are lucky to be able to live there - I guess the disadvantages caused by us tourists is outweighed by the beauty of the mountains and lakes and streams and .........

Can I move in?

Expat mum said...

But remember when we worked on Oxford Street and it took twenty minutes just to pop to Boots or M&S for a sandwich. Bloody tourists were all over the place, clogging the pavements up.

Unknown said...

Ha ha! I can identify with this as I live in North Wales and regularly have the same issues with the 'bloody visitors' !! Like you, though, I realise I'm exactly the same when I go elsewhere (the Lakes, for example - Bowness being one of my favourite places!!) I think we're allowed to feel annoyed when we can't get parked anywhere near any of our usual haunts, though!

Gail said...

I used to hate it in Weymouth during the summer when you couldnt move for tourists too.

Hope you didnt get stuck in the snow!

Grumpy Old Ken said...

My, you are becoming a grumpy old woman, not too often I hope. By the way, parking is a nightmare in town too. Especially on hospital visits. We townies need our visits to the countryside.

Tracey said...

Maybe you should get a fold up bike, then you could ram it in your handbag while you go into the shops hehehe.
I used to live in Cornwall and know exactly how you feel xx

Tracey said...

I used to live in Cornwall and loved it when the tourists arrived but was ecstatic when they left..

get yourself a fold up bike so you can pop it in your bag when going in the shops - simples hahaha

Gill - That British Woman said...

I so know how you feel. You also forgot to mention that getting from A to B takes twice as long, as people are sightseeing while driving, therefore only driving at a snails pace!!

Gill in Canada

Claudia said...

Hi,

I work for a global radio discussion programme and we're planning to discuss the impact of tourism on our show today. Be very interested to hear what you all think. Contact me at worldhaveyoursay@bbc.com
All the best, Claudia

l'optimiste said...

oo - Grumpy Old Woman! Love it - I am one too.

We call the tourists 'Grockles', and if there's one thing that drives me INSANE it's the 'once a year' caravanners...grr!!