26 Comments

These acts are so disturbing. I appreciate you shedding light on this issue. I just dont understand why one would venture to Italy (or anywhere) and destroy it.

My dream is to go to Italy. Soon I hope!

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Agreed. I hope you do come to Italy and have the trip of your dreams!

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Many years ago, my wife and I were at a restaurant in Paris where we were shown into what was likely the "American" section. At the table next to us was a loud couple, one of whom greeted the waiter by flicking her finger against the menu, making a snapping sound, while shouting, "Cocktail...cocktail!" as if volume somehow would translate her word from English to French. Meanwhile, my wife and I (neither of us speaks French) had an electronic translator and were rehearsing how we would order our dinner in French. The "cocktail" woman informed us that everyone in Europe spoke English and we were wasting our time. Nevertheless, we forged ahead, despite the electronic translator interpreting menu items as measles, aftershave, and fishing line (among others). It was kind of hilarious, and once the waiter saw what we were trying to do, he approached. We apologized, mostly on behalf of all Americans given the people at the nearby table, but ostensibly because our computer's French was no better than our own. He read the entire menu to us in English. Later, the restaurant gave us a free dessert. Still not sure why, but we accepted the gift and it was delicious. Ever since, when people complain about rude Parisians, we share our story.

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Great story! Well, except for having to endure the cocktail woman. Yes, digital translators can be pretty entertaining (I hope you ordered the measles 🙂). But you must tell us—what was the dessert? We need details!

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We've seen similar clueless behavior here in Montana, where I live, just outside Yellowstone park. However, the animals are actually wild, and will toss or maul those tourists who get too close. But it's insane-making. NO! Do NOT try to pose your baby ON THE BISON.

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Human stupidity knows no bounds! It’s really sad. What a beautiful place to live; I hope to get there someday. Thanks for the comment!

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There's a very strange cultural thing happening where huge tranches of the population don't seem to realize other people and other places are real. That people (and other creatures), who are as real as they are, *live* in these places, that it's not just backdrop, not just Disneyland. It was a problem when I guided rafts 30 years ago, and has only gotten worse over time.

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Wow, even 30 years ago! Can’t blame it all on social media then. As you say, strange; also deeply disturbing.

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Amen!

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Dear Cheryl, thank you for writing this! I wish everybody in the world would read it!

Tourists must realize that no matter how expensive their holiday travel-package was, it will never include the right to treat our cities, monuments and historical heritage as their own toy.

Thank you!

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Thank you, Elena, I'm just sorry there's a need to write about such abysmal behavior. How sad that "tourist" can now carry a negative connotation.

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Excellent article btw- hope it gets picked up for publication somewhere

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Thank you, Jan—keep hoping, please!

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Anche io! ZERO tolerance!!

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makes me incredibly sad. especially juxtaposed today with stacey eskelin's piece on NYC/Ita. feels like we are all witness if not participants in the collapse of civil-"I"-zation. coupled with global warming, hate groups, homelessness, and arrogant disregard for each other. most of all i feel for and worry for our children. and theirs. begs the question: who and how will fix this?

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Yes, me too. It's a sad reflection of how selfish people have become. Penalties need to be way, way higher, and limits on access, as are now happening, are unfortunately a burden on the many well-behaved tourists out there.

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Absolutely zero tolerance for such selfish and idiotic behavior. Reminds me of the stupid tourists in Colorado who ignore no campfire postings and start horrific forest fires - causing millions of dollars in damage, killing precious wildlife, and endangering humans.

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Oh god, them too. It's unfathomable.

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I couldn’t agree with your zero tolerance more. Some people think there more important than everyone else

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That's exactly it. How do people end up being so narcissistic?

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Entitlement

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Yes, unfortunately.

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Great article. No doubt that tourists are behaving badly and need to be dealt with. But I make an exception for the guy who was caught recently carving graffiti at the Colosseum. Why would he think that’s illegal when half the buildings in Rome are covered in graffiti? In our favored area of Campo de’ Fiori, it has noticeably increased over the last few years and likewise in other areas. If the authorities want to make an example of someone on graffiti, I’d suggest their own residents who are responsible for 99.99% of the problem.

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Thanks, Stewart. To me, graffiti and carving are two different things, and the latter is far more damaging. Not to mention graffiti on everyday buildings, aka street art, is less objectionable than damaging a historic monument. Apparently the guy said he didn't know how old it was, which is sad if true. In any case, if you have to buy tickets to a world-famous monument in Rome, you probably have at least some awareness that it's been preserved for centuries and has tremendous historical value and your initials don't belong on it.

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I disagree with your response. “Street art” is still illegal graffiti no matter what building it is on, and no buildings are “everyday” in the heart of Rome. Such graffiti is big enough to be highly visible vs a small initial. In any case I find both highly objectionable whatever buildings they are on.

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I'm glad you're in the "zero tolerance" camp!

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