There's no basement in the Alamo?
Posted on 12/28/2009 7:38:51 PM PST by NCjim
ASKING what time the Loch Ness monster is fed and where the Boston Tea Party takes place are some the stupidest questions asked by tourists.
Tourism boards from around the world have revealed their quirkiest questions of 2009.
According to Jennifer Haz, of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, one holidaymaker wanted to know "which beach is closest to the ocean?''
Paul Gauger, of VisitBritain.com office said he was asked: "Why did they build so many ruined castles and abbeys in England?"
One tourist complained to Philadelphia Tourism that the Kennett Square mushrooms were "not square".
Would-be visitors to Japan have also been disappointed. Nori Akashi, of the Japan tourism, says she has been asked: "How long does it take from Tokyo to Korea - by the famous bullet train?''
Heather Bryant, of Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau, says one tourist asked about taking a ferry around downtown. Another wanted to know what time the whales swim by.
Going to the Netherlands? Be sure to visit the tulip factory. At least that's what one visitor wanted to do, Rosina Shiliwala, of the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions said.
Someone also wanted to know if they would end up in Holland if they drove through the Holland Tunnel in New York.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
About 20 years ago a friend of mine who runs a travel agency had a client ask him seriously about booking Amtrak to Hawaii.
>> What time is the Midnight Mass? <<
Again, not such a stupid question. Some midnight masses start at midnight. some have consecration at midnight, and some end at midnight.
By the way, President U.S. Grant is not buried in Grant’s tomb. Grant is entombed above ground, as his wife, Julia.
>> When does the 10 o’clock train arrive? <<
Anyone who laughs at this question has never travelled Amtrak.
I work with a very intelligent, older Russian engineer. Once, when one of our co-workers collapsed, the Russian shouted out, “What’s the number for 911?”
Europeans often have no concept of the size of the US. I’ve seen questions about taking a day trip to Chicago from NYC or if it was possible to see the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone in the same day.
On the bus approaching Times Square: Busdriver: “Forty-second Street.” Tourist: “So this must be Herald Square.” (She was remembering the song “Give My Regards to Broadway. Think about it. “Remember me to Herald Square,” and then comes the bit about “Forty-second Street.” Not that stupid if you’re not familiar with New York.)
LOL! I too volunteer at our local visitor center in the High Sierra of California and we have people come in the middle of December and January wearing shorts and sandals wanting to know of "a good mountain trail to hike" while looking out the front window of the visitors center, you can clearly see a life threatening, horrendous, blizzard going on in the nearby 14,000' peaks.
We too get questions about places that are hundreds of miles from our area, like "When does the Grand Canyon open?"
There's no basement in the Alamo?
I had to try to sell cars for a living for a few months in 2000.
A customer was recently arrived from Puerto Rico. Officially still lived there.
The (ahem) individual at the finance company didn’t know how to deal with his documentation with his address in a “foreign country”.
I got around it by faxing a hastily printed official-looking letter (think Rathergate!) with an address in the “United States Commonwealth of Peurto Rico”.
(Yes, I know it’s a “Territory”, not a “Commonwealth”. The clerk-type at the FinCo just couldn’t get the concept.)
meh...
yeah, “Puerto” both times please....
Quite a few years ago we went on a tour of Robert E. Lee’s residence. A lady, probably in her 30’s wanted to know where all the bathrooms were. Several others in our group of about 12 nodded in agreement.
I remember looking at them with wide eyes and my mouth open until my husband kind of pulled me away.
A friend of mine used to work at the Statue of Liberty and people were always asking if there were bathrooms up in the crown.
Is that a bomb in your pants or are you just happy to see me?
Hershey Chocolate World! I must get to know you better!!
I guess they think they sound intelligent just because they asked a question.
.
“What’s the number for 911?” is a perfectly reasonable question if one is in a foreign country in the company of American expats who are more knowledgeable about local matters. In the U.K., for instance, the answer would be “999”.
"Look, the orders say put him in a dress and wig. Just follow instructions, darn it!"
I was on board a plane leaving Charlotte, NC to Chicago. The lady next to me, a Chicago native, was inquiring why we dye the clay red down here.
I explained we do it for the tourists.
Retired. Love working there. All you can eat is FREE.
Just don't get caught taking one piece out of the building.
Great conservative company. Obama tried to rent out the park for a day during the election. They basically told him to get lost.
My kind of people. Yeeesssss!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.