Why do I expect foreign destinations to look like they do in the travel books? I might just as well believe in unicorns.
I spent three weeks in Japan and Korea (yes, as a dratted tourist). We timed the trip to fall between my ankle surgery recovery and a show that has to be hung next week. I knew it would be Cherry Blossom time in Japan, but assumed I would be visiting other places, away from the blossoms. Apparently a lot of people assumed the same thing.
Wouldn't be lovely if Photoshop had a program to remove tourists?
Kyoto was particularly bloated with Chinese tourists. Many of the women took advantage of the kimono hourly-rental program. Our guide, a Geisha expert, dismissed their tourist kimonos, repeatedly muttering 'polyester.' I wouldn't have thought I could tell the difference, but I became quite adept. Generally, authentic kimono owners don't carry Hello Kitty purses. Or sport selfie-sticks. I will never understand the selfie phenomenon. (Aren't there more interesting things to see than yourself?)
Travel is supposed to broaden the mind, not make you crabby. I wish I had seen what I went to see.
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