Food is always an important part of any vacation, simply because you are almost forced to eat out every day. How can you improve the odds of finding good restaurants when you are traveling?  I will describe the process I use, which has been fairly successful.

      Because I trust Fodor's more than most other guidebooks, I always begin with its website (Fodors.com). I browse through his (often numerous) entries for each location, jotting down (actually cutting and pasting) into a file of the ones that appeal to me or seem likely to satisfy our needs (I always make sure there are several restaurants which feature "local" foods, since I enjoy sampling the traditional specialty foods of an area). My intial list, depending on the popularity of the location, may include 15 or 20 possibilities (I usually leave out extremely expensive places or those with dress codes).  I print these and then go on to step 2.

      Next, I head for a large bookstore, usually Borders or Barnes & Noble. I take into the cafe with me any other guidebooks for one of the destinations on my trip. Over a cup of coffee, I cross-reference the restaurants, often jotting down relevant comments if I think they are pertinent.  I am just checking the list from Fodor's against these other guides, making the basic assumption that, if a restaurant is recommended in several different guides, then it may be a better choice for me.

      I do this over and over, for each destination on my itinerary, and then I create a spreadsheet with the information cross-referenced. This provides us with an easy to see comparison of restaurants, which includes their phone numbers (in case reservations are necessary) and addresses (I also throw out restaurants that might be difficult to get to or are far from our hotel or the major attractions).

     Lastly, I let Lee go through the list, crossing out those which she prefers not to consider. This process has been extremely worthwhile for us, and we have seldom gone to a restaurant that we truly hated. It does require a considerable investment of time, since a two-week trip might demand 4 or 5 sessions at the bookstore, at 2 hours or more per session, but, to us, it is a much better alternative than taking an uninformed chance on a restaurant during a trip. Hope the method works for you, too.

      I absolutely love to plan. I truly enjoy deciding on a particular trip a year or more in advance and beginning immediately to do the research necessary to plot the route, designate the sights to see, etc. As soon as flights become available, I want to book them, so there are no problems, and I do the same with hotels. Thus, my trips are all extremely rigid, in that we must be in the next place on the next day and so on. Is this really the best way to travel? Suppose that you really love a place and would like to stay longer -- this is not an option on my trips.

     So why do I always create trips of this type?  Well, the roots are in my profession. Being a teacher for so many years (37), I was forced to travel only when everyone else seemed to be traveling. The places we would go were always jammed with tourists, hotels were booked solid, flights were always full. Thus, the only way to insure that the trip could be accomplished was to book everything early. There truly was not an option, unless you were traveling to a place where nobody else goes. Obviously, this type of planning became a habit which I have found difficult to break, especially because I enjoy the long-term anticipation of an upcoming journey.

    Now that I am retired, I still have not ventured out without advanced planning, even though I probably could now. I actually used to dream about taking a trip with no fixed agenda and just going from place when the spirit moved me. I suppose that one of the reasons that we don't just become vagabonds is that Lee does not like to be gone extended periods of time anymore. Two weeks or so seems to be her limit, so that makes serendipity travel less feasible.

    We are beginning to take small trips with a more flexible attitude. For example, our trip back from Florida in February was more leisurely and slightly open-ended. Our trip to West Virginia for Labor Day weekend will be the same. But I still think it would be great to leave for a month or more, with no fixed itinerary and just let our impulses be our guide. I'm thinking that this might be a good way to explore far-eastern Europe, areas such as, Croatia, Transylvania, Slovenia, etc.  If I were to try something like this, I would still have to plan, at least rough out a route and create a list of must-sees, but we wouldn't have to be on a particular schedule. This area of Europe is still a bit off the beaten track so it might be possible to go from place to place without reservations.

    To do something like this when going to a popular destination, like Italy or England, for instance, you would have to travel in the true off-season, like November or early March, or you might end up having to settle on a flea-bag hotel, or skip a place entirely.

    As of now, this type of trip remains a dream for me, but who knows ...?

       Good maps are one of the most important items on a vacation, especially if you are driving on your own through areas that you are unfamiliar with. They can make or break a trip because the stress and delays associated with poor maps or no maps at all may be impossible to recover from. They may be the difference between the insecurity and embarassment of relying on strangers for directions and/or help and the confidence and security of being able to handle things by yourself.  Several bad trips may spoil the concept of designing your own trips entirely.

       So where can good maps be obtained? My suggestion is that you try out map services by using the same company for local travel, where you are familiar with the routes. In this way, you can get an idea of the reliability of the map service.  The only problem with this method is that not all places are alike. A map company may work very well in the US, where there is a more logical highway system but not work very well in Europe where the system is less developed, or is more jumbled. The only way to find a good map service in these places is to test them out on a trip, which can be a very stressful experience. In this situation, I would bring several versions of the routes, from several different companies and try to assess them on the early legs of the trip, hoping to discover the best service early enough in the trip to make the latter part of the journey easier.

      These days, there are numerous options, besides the traditional printed map. There are online services such as MapQuest, Google Maps, and Via Michelin, and there are also portable GPS systems which use satellites to orient and plot routes. I personally have not used GPS, although I have been in cars where this system was in use and have found it very accurate, at least for the US. In addition, a friend of mine used one recently in Europe and was entirely satisfied. So this may be the best choice in the future.

     For now, for those of us who do not have this technological adjunct, we are left with traditional maps and online mapping services. I have tried Via Michelin in Europe and found it to be inconsistent -- sometimes it was right-on and other times it was downright incorrect (not a very good choice in an unfamiliar country where language is an issue). I have also tried Map Quest in Europe with slightly better, but still not totally reliable results. I have only tried Google Maps in the US and they are impressive, but I honestly don't know how they would perform in Europe or elsewhere.

     As far as paper maps are concerned, Michelin maps are renowned in Europe although my experience is that they are no better than AAA maps, and, if you have a membership, the cost difference is significant. The only problem with AAA maps is that they cover a wide region (not particular countries) and so are not as detailed as Michelin).  I have only used Rand-McNally in the US and Canada (they are excellent here) so again I don't know how reliable they might be outside of North America.

     City maps are even more important, in my estimation, since one-way streets and difficult-to-find street names make driving in cities extremely stressful. My suggestion here is to write to the Tourist Information Offices of the various countries you may be traveling to and specifically ask for their city map. Sometimes these maps will even have attractions, hotels and restaurants identified. In this regard, also check out the maps in guide books like Fodor's and Frommer's (and others) -- I have found them to be extremely helpful in this regard. I usually try to enlarge them (my eyesight is always an issue) and take copies with my reference material whenever I travel. Walking tour maps can also be very valuable in finding your way around the interior of a city. Insight guides and DK guides also provide excellent maps of city or town centers.

     In conclusion, just like in much of life, preparation is the most time-consuming and the most important aspect of any trip, so making the effort to obtain the best possible maps prior to a vacation may enhance your overall enjoyment and establish a precedent for success.

   

      Why is it that so many people forget things when they go on vacation. It probably has to do with the anticipation and then the stress of actually getting out of the house and on the way.  Lee & I have discovered a (fairly) foolproof plan which we would like to share with readers. We have created and saved on our hard-drive for easy downloading a list of travel essentials which is displayed below. The list has evolved over the years and will continue to change as our needs or requirements change, but here it is, as it exists in 2007:

 

                             Trip Essentials

                               Alarm Clock                                                                   

                               Bandaids

                               Bathing Suit & Beachwear                                                 

                               Batteries for camera (spare)                                            

                               Bug Spray    

                               Cameras                                                                        

                               Confirmations    

                               Cooler (collapsible)                                                         

                               Cribbage Board & Cards                                                  

                               Earphones

                               Electrical Adaptors/plugs

                               Extra Bag (for souvenirs/gifts)

                               Flashlight

                               Foreign Currency

                               Glasses (extra pair)

                               Guide Books

                               Hat

                               Ice Packs (Lee)

                               Jacket (adaptable for rain)

                               Journal

                               Magnifying glass

                               Maps

                               Medications

                               Money Belt

                               Passports

                               Pillow (Lee)

                               Reading Material (Books, Magazines)

                               Slickers

                               Sunglasses

                               Sunscreen

                               Tickets

                               Towel (Beach)

                               Traveler’s Checks (?)

                               Travel Iron

                               Tripod

                               Umbrella

                               Video Tapes

                               Walking Shoes

                        To Do Prior To Leaving:

                               Arrange Lawn Watering

                                Call Police

                                Close Windows

                                Hold Mail

                                Pay Bills (in advance)

                                Set Timers (lights)

                                Stop Paper Delivery

      About a week prior to the trip, I print a list and we begin to check things off as we pack them or do them. Obviously, the list gets modified depending on the kind of trip and location. For instance, if we are staying in the USA, we do not need an assortment of electrical plugs and adaptors. We simply cross these things out on the list when it is first printed. Now that we have a sprinkler system, we don't really have to arrange lawn-watering, but we still have to set the automatic timer.

     Feel free to use the list, modify it for your own situation, but you will find that it is very helpful and reduces the anxiety of "Did I remember to bring ...?" 

 

 

     Every traveler has experienced it. Many are highly offended, while others chalk it up to their own naivete and vow never to let it happen again. But it happens over and over. Is there any way to avoid getting taken? Or is it simply a fact of life?

     The older I get, the more upset I get after realizing that I've been had, but the pragmatist in me says that, unfortunately, it will probably continue to happen, so don't get stressed about it. It recently happened to us again, in Mexico, in the same way that we have been bamboozled before. Our tour bus to Chichen Itza stopped at a roadside shop, ostensibly to use their "clean" rest rooms. In the process, we were encouraged to browse through the shop. Even though we assumed that the prices were not wonderful, and that some of the cost of the items reflected kickbacks to the guide or his company, we couldn't resist several treasures that we thought seemed reasonable.  Of course, when we reached Chichen Itza itself, we saw loads of vendors with the same merchandise at prices much cheaper than we paid. We were both very embarassed that we had been scammed once again, and made the same vow to be more careful on the next trip.

     As I reflect on the experience, I am more and more inclined to relax a bit in our indictment and to accept a certain amount of this cheating as entrepreneurship and marketing and to conclude that it may be okay.  After all, if we were willing to pay a particular price for an object, then it was worth that to us, no matter what the actual price might be.

     Everyone likes to take home some kind of souvenir from their journey which, when seen, recalls the trip and which might also be a conversation piece for guests or visitors to our house. So what's wrong with paying a bit too much for this memory? Sure, we should always shop around, if we can, before we buy something, but shopping takes time and this is time away from the purpose of the trip. When does saving time justify buying on impulse? Can we attach a monetary value to our time?

     So I have decided, with all my wisdom, to not lose any sleep over getting gypped while on vacation. I will still try to be careful and shop around if it does not take away from my enjoyment of the moment, but I will also take comfort in the fact that travelers all over the globe are getting taken all the time, and maybe it's simply a necessary part of the trip.   

     One of the most perplexing decisions a traveler has to make concerns the choice of designing your own trip or joining a pre-arranged tour. As with everything in life, there are positives and negatives for each version.

    Group tours have the advantage of leaving the work of organizing and coordinating up to an "expert" who has probably done this many times before and has made the necessary contacts to insure that the trip runs smoothly. Transportation is usually by bus or van (depending on the size of the group) and all admissions, fees, etc. are taken care of by the tour company. Another advantage is that the tour guide is usually extremely knowledgeable about the sights and attractions so you can get a great amount of information to better appreciate the sights.  Accomodations are usually very good (with a reputable company) and, typically, several meals are also included, so that your up-front cost is usually very close to the final expense of a trip. Another benefit is that you don't really have to learn the language of the countries you are visiting since the tour guide takes care of the majority of negotiations and communications.  In addition, if difficulties arise, they are the responsibility of the tour company.

    Disadvantages of group tours include the rigid schedule which is typically adhered to, the fact that choices about what to see and when is pre-determined and may not be what you, the traveler, would have done in a particular place. One often gets the feeling of being a "sheep", dutifully following the rest of the herd. Another complaint is that there is never enough time built in for relaxation, stopping to enjoy a beer or a coffee in an outdoor restaurant, for instance.  Another common circumstance is that tours frequently stop for shopping at designated vendors (which, you can be sure, are providing a kickback to the tour operator) which are certainly not the cheapest places to find travel treasures.  Because of these negatives, many wonder if this type of travel can ever be "authentic", although the majority of tour participants probably don't really care as long as they are seeing the sights they paid to see.

     Traveling on-your-own is fraught with stress and sometimes danger. If things go wrong, YOU must rectify the situation, YOU must solve the problem. Driving in foreign countries can be extremely trying because maps may be inadequate, roads may not be well marked (sometimes you will find yourself driving on the opposite side of the road from what you are used to).  You must plan, usually well in advance, your accomodations, route, sights to be included, and meals. Although it is possible to have a good estimate of the trip's overall expense, it is always just an estimate and is frequently incorrect. Language issues must always be addressed and these can be formidable (requiring much advance preparation). 

     The beauty of traveling on your own is that you will be engaged in what YOU want to do, going where YOU want to go, and staying as long as you like. If you don't mind the advance planning, you will find that it enhance the overall experience -- there is a much greater sense of anticipation because this is YOUR trip.  You can schedule rest and relaxation time to prevent travel-overload, that feeling of being impelled from sight to sight with no breather or time for contemplation.

    In conclusion, it seems that there are numerous reasons to choose either method of travel. Probably, the most important consideration is how YOU feel about traveling. I, personally, prefer, whenever possible, to travel on my own because I truly enjoy the planning process, learning about the various places, using maps to find the best route to get from point A to point B, and then creating an itinerary with every detail considered. I even create a list of possible restaurants which we can choose from at each destination. My trips tend to be extremely ambitious (that is, I like to cram many stops into my schedule, even though I understand, in advance, that some of them will have to be left out), but I have learned (as a result of negotiations with Lee) to schedule time for shopping and for relaxation.  I also recognize that sometimes it is better to take a group tour. For instance, we will be traveling to China and Bangkok next year, and I will be using a packaged tour because I feel that travel in these countries is probably much more difficult than travel in the US, or Europe, or Mexico.

    No matter what YOU choose, traveling is the important thing!  

     When Lee and I travel, we spend much of our time in cities.  Yet, when we think back on a trip, it seems that the most memorable places are often small villages and towns which which leave a lasting impression because of their charm and accessibility. Is there a dichotomy here, or should both venues be included in any trip?

     We typically choose accomodations in cities because they are much more numerous, providing multiple options. There are also many more dining opportunities as well, and other travel resources (such as airports, rental car companies). Thus, it seems that cities provide more conveniences in general. Frequently, cities are also a treasure trove of tourist attractions and are often home to the finest museums. The major down sides are traffic, congestion, and expense (typically, hotels and restaurants are much more expensive in the cities). Many cities also have fast, efficient public transportation, so that it's possible to avoid traffic. Driving in a city can be very difficult, especially without good maps, because of one-way streets, hard-to-locate or missing street signs, and the added stress of pedestrians, bicycles, or motor bikes.  Parking is often the greatest challenge, however, we have learned to settle for parking lots, despite their expense, because riding around looking for on-street parking is both frustrating and stressful.

     Even if we stay in a city because of its convenience, we almost always plan excursions into the countryside to visit small villages or towns which are within 100 - 200 miles. On one of our trips, Eastern Europe, we stayed in Vienna for seven days, using it as a base to explore a number of places within driving distance.

     Another benefit of staying in cities is the fact that it is easy to justify spending several days, reducing the amount of packing and unpacking on the trip. It is unrealistic to spend a number of nights in a small town, so we tend to move on to the next destination after only a night or two.

     Another issue which arises in this discussion is where to stay in a city. We have learned (the hard way) that in places like Europe, where there is much to see in the city center, it is much better to stay right where the action is. In the US, on the other hand, we don't hesitate to stay outside the city (within 10 - 15 miles) and commute in and out daily. In this case, we save money because hotels on the perimeter are significantly cheaper and roads are well-marked and easy to negotiate.

     But the bottom line is that we seem to always love the villages best of all, because of their charm and the opportunities to stroll leisurely to see the sights and soak up the ambience.

 

      Today I would like to discuss the effect that the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has had on world travel. UNESCO was established in 1972 and began designating (inscribing) World Heritage Sites in 1979. Since that time, hundreds of world treasures have been added to the list (830 as of today). Many of these places are the classic tourist destinations of the world, such as, Angkor Wat, the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Giza, etc. Others are not so well known, and some could hardly be called tourist destinations at all.

     The net effect on travel, however, has been significant. Countries boast and promote sites on the list to attract more visitors and to increase tourism revenue. One of the negative effects, briefly discussed earlier in one of my travel chronicles, has been to create more crowds and, most importantly, more deterioration, especially in the case of ancient sites which are more sensitive to traffic. We saw this dramatized in our recent trip to Chichen Itza, where we found greater restrictions on the visitor (roped off areas) and a change in the policy concerning El Castillo, the giant pyramid on the site (until about 7 months ago people were allowed to climb the stairway, but not anymore). We were a bit disappointed but understand and agree with the new policy, which is aimed at long term preservation of this important cultural site.

     My feeling is that this type of reaction to increasing tourism will continue to become more commonplace. The opportunities to get up-close-and-personal with many of the world' greatest travel treasures is rapidly diminishing. Another example is the policy in Egypt of allowing access to the inside of only one of the pyramids at any one time, giving the remaining two a chance to recover for a period of time.

    Will we eventually lose the ability to access major travel icons at all?  Will they be moved into museums, as Athens has done with much of the fragile material of the Acropolis, or will the sites themselves become museums with a strict hands-off policy, as has been done with the Terracotta Warriors, in China? It certainly is unfortunate that these trends seem to be more and more common, but the ultimate responsibility for these trends, I feel, rest with the uneducated, inconsiderate, and selfish few who disregard warnings and requests and just do what they want. Think about the rampant disrespect which is evident at Ayers Rock (Uluru) in Australia. Since the site is sacred to the Australian aborigines, visitors are requested not to walk on or climb the rock, but a large number of visitors ignore the request and climb it anyway. Our guide at Tulum had to speak to several people who climbed over the ropes despite postings to the contrary.  We were even told that the real reason for the closing off of the stairway at Chichen Itza was because of graffiti which was becoming more and more of a problem at the summit of the pyramid.

      What does all this have to do with UNESCO? Well, the reason for the body which reviews and inscibes new sites annually was to create a global agency which will help countries to PRESERVE treasures which are considered important for the whole world and for generations to come. There have been numerous success stories over the years with which the organization has assisted and in which it has intervened to prevent the destruction and/or deterioration of an area. Thus, I feel that the few negative effects, such as increased crowds and more limited access, pale next to the obvious benefits of preserving a legacy of world history and culture for generations to come.

      Hopefully, we will all understand how important these efforts are, and will do everything in our power to honor and respect these sensitive areas and help the authorities to police them. Most importantly, we must all lead by example!    

     Our arrival in Cancun was marred by an unfortunate event at the airport -- we were corraled by an official-looking man who promised to get us to our resort shuttle if we would give him 5 minutes. He ended up inviting us to a presentation of a time share (no pressure, he promised) which would entitle us to two free excursions. We decided to do it based on his insistence that there would be no pressure. What a mistake!  More about this part of our vacation in the lessons learned section which follows the trip chronicle.

    We stayed at the Royal Sands resort, one of a number of high-rise time-share complexes along the beach in the Hotel Zone of Cancun. Our place was located on the 7th floor with a breath-taking view of the ocean (Photos #1, 20, 21)and the pool area.

    After our presentation on Sunday morning we basically lounged in the pool area and on the beach for the remainder of the day, soaking up the tropical atmosphere. The beach at Cancun is magnificent (Photos # 2, 3, 4), with miles and miles of pure, sparkling, white sand fringed by a gorgeous turquoise blue ocean. The resort has small thatch-roofed umbrellas and chaise lounges on the beach to make the scene even more idyllic. We had dinner on Sunday at El Conquistador, in the Royal Mayan resort. Food was very good, and the live guitar music was excellent.

     Monday was another "veg" day on the beach and at the pool. We had an okay dinner at Captain's Cove, which does have a great setting on the lagoon -- beautiful at sunset.

     On Tuesday we headed for Tulum (Photos # 5,6,7,8,9,10,11), considered the most beautiful of the Mayan cities because of its setting, right on the Caribbean coast. Our guided tour included much background about the Mayan civilization and its culture. Our group was small, only 8 people, so we had a chance to meet and talk with the three other couples extensively, and we saw several of them throughout the week.

    Tulum is a relatively small archeological site so our tour was fairly short (which was probably fortunate because the temperature was in the 90's and it was extremely humid). The Mayan word "tulum" means wall, and this was a walled city, built primarily for trade and as an early warning system for defensive purposes. We discussed the major buildings on the site, then returned to Cancun.

    Another relaxing beach day, made notable because of our dinner and Mexican show at the Hacienda Sisal, on the Royal Sands property. We had a Mexican buffet which was very good and the show was excellent, with dancers performing many of Mexico's regional dances in traditional costumes -- very entertaining.

    Our next and most-anticipated excursion was to Chichen Itza (Photos # 12,13,14,15,16,17), the huge, Mayan ceremonial center west of Cancun. Chichen Itza is the best-preserved of the Mayan sites and may have supported a population of 35,000 at its zenith. The most impressive ruin is El Castillo, a huge pyramid dedicated to the Mayan god, Kukulcan, the local equivalent to Quetzlcoatl of the Aztecs. The pyramid is 24 meters (about 75 feet) tall. Its four sides are stairways, each with 91 steps, making a total of 365 steps in all, the number of days in the Mayan year (the Mayan culture was obsessed with time and there are many examples of time related symbols on the site). The stairways rise at a 45^o angle and, unfortunately, may no longer be climbed because of accidents and damage to the building.

   Another structure on the premises is the Observatory (El Caracol) which was obviously used for astronomical purposes. The slits in the walls are associated with the positions of key stars on certain, important dates of the year.

   The Ball Court is the largest in all of Mesoamerica with a length of about 170 meters (550 feet). The games that were played were more ceremonial and much more serious than sport, and there is evidence that the winner were decapitated (an honor, since it offered a heroes welcome into the after-life).

    The Temple of the Warriors is perched on a small pyramid and is noteworthy for its snake-like columns and sculptures of Chac, the Mayan god of rain and lightening, and Kukulcan.

    North of the Platform of Venus is a path which leads to the Sacred Cenote (Cenote means “well”). This well, however, was not used as a source of water, but had a more sinister purpose. Human sacrifices occurred here. Chosen individuals were thrown into the well to drown.

    Our dinner (part of the tour) at La Fiesta, in the small town of Piste', just outside Chichen Itza, was terrible, a tasteless buffet, a sophomoric dancing show, a waste of our time (and we were given 90 minutes here!). Overall, I loved the tour because of Chichen Itza but it could have been done in 5 - 6 hours instead of 12.

    The rest of our vacation was spent sunning and shopping in the Cancun area. We went downtown several times but did not find it worth the time (we thought things might be cheaper away from the beach, but, except for Walmart, this was not true). The mall we liked best was La Isla which is a huge complex on the lagoon side of Kukulcan Blvd (the main strip through the Hotel Zone). It was attractively laid out with a stream running through which was designed like San Antonio's Riverwalk (boat rides are even available).  The only other notable experience in our last few days was our dinner at La Dolce Vita, an (if you can believe it) Italian restaurant, which we found excellent!

 

     Lessons learned:

            1.  Unfortunately, tourists are often targeted for scams, since they typically are not in familiar surroundings and may be easily suckered in by opportunists who pretend to help them. We encountered this type of situation in the airport at Cancun. We were taken aside, promised a number of "free" things, and then subjected to an extremely unpleasant presentation from a company called the Sunset Group, who were touting their time-share complex on the lagoon. To make a long story short, our 90-minute (promised) presentation turned into a 3 hour marathon of badgering and attempted intimidation. Then when we had had enough and told them emphatically "No!", they became downright rude!  Lee was really shaken by the experience.

                 Remedy -- tourists should be on guard, especially in airports and train stations for this type of situation and should simply refuse or ask for literature instead (which can be scrutinized later).

 

            2.  Another "tourist trap" which unwary travelers may encounter involves packaged excursions, such as our trip to Tulum or Chichen Itza. Invariably, the bus stops at some local outlet for native crafts or other souvenirs. Resist the tendency to buy here. It is obvious that the tour operator and/or guide gets a kickback from these vendors, which probably means that the prices here are higher than they might be in other places.  We have found this to be true in many places around the world, and we have resolved not to be tempted by these opportunities, but simply to ask for prices so that we can be sure of a better buy somewhere else.

 

           3.  Mexico provided a good example of travel to under-developed countries. We have found that poverty creates a very unpleasant environment for the traveler. People constantly have their hands out, and confront you with their need. Those selling things are thrusting their wares into your face. I guess they are just trying to survive, but they frequent tourist sites because of the large number of visitors. Some can be downright obnoxious.