Tourist Frustrations

I generally tend to avoid typical touristy things when I travel. But, here in Europe, you have to see Checkpoint Charlie when you go to Berlin, and it is basically a requirement to get a picture in front of the famous Hofbrahaus in Munich or Big Ben in London. It’s simply what you do.

Kodak moments are commonplace in a continent with such storied and famous history.

Yet, when you travel alone, capturing Kodak moments can be a blood-boiling ordeal.

In my recent adventures, I’ve been alone, but gave in to the urge to have my picture taken in front of a few famous landmarks. To accomplish this mission, I usually tried to spot the tourists with nice DSLR cameras to ensure that I will get a decent product.

The problem is that tourists, with a $1200 camera or a $150 camera, are the worst photographers ever.

My pictures prove it.



Here, I was standing on a suspension bridge in front of the most recognizable castle in the world (Neuschwanstein Castle). You can hardly see the castle, but my bright blonde head is surely a sight to behold. After the lady took my picture, I looked to see the result and in shock, I exclaimed, “The castle, lady!” while pointing with outstretched arms to the reason I was standing on the bridge with her and two hundred other people.



After hiking up a mountain for five hours in the Bavarian Alps, I finally reached a minor plateau and stopped to take in the overwhelming beauty. A middle-aged couple sauntered over and I politely asked them to take my picture in front of the majestic landscape. The man took my picture, but somehow decided to cut off the tops of the pristine, snow-capped mountains and compose the shot like I was a leper spreading the plague! I am still in disbelief just looking at it.

This is from a few years ago from when one of my brothers and I traveled in Peru. It's not Europe, but I always think of it whenever tourists take pictures of me that completely miss the point. It's crooked, blurry, and the beautiful Church behind us is completely unrecognizable.

Do tourists not understand why I ask them to take a picture? Is it too hard to understand that if I ask you to take a picture, I only want two things in it; me and a decent attempt to capture the reason why I am paying $20 to be hoarded around like a goat with dozens of other people who seem to like being hoarded goats.

For pete's sake, can I at least get a picture worthy of a facebook profile?!