A few years ago when we traveled to Rome for the first time we of course spent a morning at the Vatican, as it’s a world renowned travel site regardless of what religion you might practice. During our visit to the Sistine Chapel within the Vatican walls, I was so looking forward to a peaceful and spiritual moment within those four walls of the famous Sistine Chapel, wondering in awe at the historic artwork, taking in the awesome moment of thinking about everything that had transpired there, and having a moment in silent prayer in such a holy place. I grew up Catholic and while I fell away from the church years ago for a number of reasons, I still consider myself very spiritual and that moment in the Sistine Chapel should have been one of meaning. Instead, we were crowded in like sardines, people pushing us from behind, talking loudly and whacking us with their heavy backpacks. In short, it got so claustrophobic in there that we could barely wait to get out of there. A holy and historic site was diminished to how quickly we could exit through the crowds, which is such a shame.
A similar event happened as we visited the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto while in Japan recently. I have seen so many photos of this beautiful monument, heard so much about it and couldn’t wait to visit its 5,000 gates. And then as we boarded the train headed there, the tourists started to board as well and the silent peaceful aura on typical Japanese trains was filled with American accents and loud voices, packed in like sardines again. I knew at that moment that I wouldn’t get the experience at the Fushimi Inari shrine I had hoped and yet I still held out hope that people would be respectful. In short, my suspicions were validated.
Upon entering the shrine, people started pushing each other and in a place that should have been peaceful and zen, loud voices and shoving took over. It turned in to people just getting a photo in their silly poses instead of taking in this historic monument and relishing in the meaning behind it. As a tourist, my first goal is always to tread as lightly as I can. And over the years, I’ve always tried to fit in as much as I possibly can in a place. If the people of a destination are generally more quiet, I’m more quiet. If the destination is orderly and queues up, I queue up. If we’re in a holy place, whether it’s my religion or not, I’m respectful and reverent. And after so many years of traveling, I’ve been able to get so much out of visits to destinations all over the world by making more of an effort to fit in and follow local customs. If for no other reason, it allows you to see the world through the lens of the place and shows your reverence to the local area where you are.
I have noticed more and more around the world as the tourist sites fill up and as more and more people travel, there is more and more a lack of respect. People traveling often want everything to be in English, they want to be the first in line, they don’t want to wait for a photo. In this society where we all want everything and we want it our way and we want it fast, sometimes when we travel we have to remind ourselves that that’s not the mentality around the world and that sometimes in different places, we need to change the way we act, the way we talk, the way we dress to be respectful. As travelers, we need to be the ones to lead the way for this way of thinking and we need to realize that no matter where we are, we must have the dignity to put our ways aside and act accordingly in the place we are. If we could fully experience mountain temples and shrines in the serenity they are meant to be experienced or stand in awe looking up at the Sistine Chapel in silence and reverence while witnessing history first hand, we all would get more out of travel and so would everyone around us.
So the next time you’re traveling, make a mental note to be more respectful in whatever way that may be. Make a mental note to be a little quieter, to dress accordingly to local culture, to embrace your destination without trying to make it something that it’s not. And the next time you’re in a place that you’re a tourist in a different country, remember to stop and really take in what’s around you and what it means, instead of just trying to get an Instagram-posed photograph.
Emily of Em Busy Living says
I know the “tourist vs traveler” argument can be overdone and is sometimes a bit ridiculous, but THIS is how I distinguish between the two… the tourist is loud and disrespectful, only there for photos, and can ruin the experience and/or authenticity for everyone around them. Travelers are there ready to learn, soak it in, and respect the place/culture/environment they are in. Unfortunately, there are usually far more tourists than travelers. There are things I have crossed off my bucket list at this point because I just know the experience won’t be what I hoped because of tourists. Example, after years of Art History courses in school, I could go to France 10 times and never attempt to see the Mona Lisa, because…tourists.
Casey says
That’s a great point on the tourist vs. traveler – you’re right, this is a huge distinction!
Jenn says
I had a similar experience at the Sistine Chapel. I’m not an art person, or a religious person but I was very much looking forward to seeing the Sistine Chapel and my experience ended up being very negative due to disrespectful tourists. The fact that people were being super loud as well as taking flash photography (or any photography) just blew my mind. I tried to enjoy it despite the disrespect going on around me, but it was very difficult. My husband was blown away by the disrespect at Dachau when he visited. He told me he wanted so badly to say something to people about how incredibly insensitive and disrespectful they were being but since it was an Army sponsored trip, he couldn’t. I’ve also seen tourists from other countries be super disrespectful at some of the monuments/memorials in D.C. I don’t understand why we can’t all show each other respect.
Casey says
Yea it’s something I can’t quite wrap my head around and happens all over the world… so sad in places that really do deserve respect.
Kristin says
Had about the same experience at the Sistine Chapel. After all the warnings not to take flash photos and to be quiet and respectful, the last thing I expected was to walk into the room and be shoved right and left by loud obnoxious people who were, you guessed it, snapping loud and flash-heavy pictures. I don’t understand how people can walk through the world being that oblivious – or just feeling so entitled to whatever they want, they trample all over things that should be just basic manners.
Casey says
Yea it really blew me away in the Sistine Chapel how disrespectful people were (to be honest, I felt that way all the way through the Vatican and didn’t leave with great things to say, ie. we have ever since called it the “Money Pit” because everything they were selling within Vatican walls was like 4 times the price it should have been), but yes, I don’t get it in general!
Taste of France says
I glimpsed the crowd at the Sistine Chapel and took a detour…ended up in the Vatican’s Egyptian collections, among the world’s largest. Just me and the guards, who were shocked to see somebody in the galleries. I got asked out twice! I had royal peace and totally enjoyed my Vatican visit. If I can go back and see the Sistine Chapel at some weird hour completely off season, then I will do it. Otherwise, I will take the path less traveled.
I recently wrote about solo travel, and I think much of it goes to the heart of what you’re saying about respect. There’s respect for the culture and the people, too, and treating people in their own country in a good way. Rather than get mad at the guys jostling to get you to hire them as guides, go ahead and hire one (on YOUR terms, by which I mean pay what they want but they take you where YOU want). You’ll be left alone by the other guides, you might learn something unexpected, and you might even make a friend.
Casey says
That’s a great idea to do a detour! Though sometimes it’s so disheartening as you want to be able to see the famous sites, they are famous for a reason, right!?!? And not being able to because of obnoxious crowds is really sad!
Kelleyn Rothaermel says
Yes, sadly it is so true! I think humanity in general is starting to have less respect for one another. We forget we aren’t the only ones. I was at a castle the other day wanting to take a photo of my little ones, but the view was blocked by these two men taking selfies for over 15 minutes of one another. Looking for just the right pose. They were completely oblivious that others were also wanting to take photos.
http://travelingbugwiththreeboys-kelleyn.blogspot.ae/2018/05/tiptoeing-through-tulip.html
Casey says
I think you’re right – people in general don’t seem to have compassion or understanding for one another, which is truly so sad.
Camila @ AdventitiousViolet says
This is so true! I try very hard to be patient and kind (way more than usual) when I travel! And learn a few words in the language too! I hated when we were in Cuba and on the bus to the airport we kept hearing people complain that they only spoke Spanish, like wtf??
Casey says
WHAT!?!?!?! People are so weird!