Thursday, February 26, 2009

DON'T LET THE TOURISTS ESCAPE!


Not The Magical Mystery Tour but roll up anyway


I told you we have tourists. Not just for two weeks in June when the TT Road Races are here either. Real live people spending their hard earned salaries(actually pensions these were more your retired folk) to help boost the economy here North of the Island. All the way from Barnsley, Yorkshire, England. To a Manx person here the island is the mainland and the UK is commonly known as "across" which means wherever the tourists came from, they came from across but are very welcome. Very, very welcome. So where would they go this side of town?


The little group you can see were heading off towards St Paul's shopping centre. That would be a left turn at the conveniently named St Paul's church you can see that's the tallest building on the left. This lot went straight for the Shoprite, one of local Supermarkets. Actually they hit the toilets first but we'll gloss over that one. Next was St Paul's Bookshop, then we had a split in the ranks and they stopped by the one or two cafes we have dotted about the town which would be off towards the right of the image. Of course the odd one or two sneaked off for a heavier tipple in the oh so many pubs we have. Incidentally the grass verge you see that is adjacent to the old Swimming Pool. Apparently that's the place they normally went first for a slap up lunch, but that's now closed and they didn't want to leave the main body of the town and go over the bridge to the new Swimming Pool. The words told you so come to mind. Apparently it suited a Pensioner's pocket. I'm sure they'll love the New Pool soon, 0nce they are brave enough to cross the swinging bridge of doom.


Next time I'll try and get a tourist eating a Davison's ice cream or should I say fighting the seagulls for it. I swear the gulls can spot a tourist from a local a mile off and dive bomb for bag of chips. So no posed contrived smiley images but natural sneaky peeks of grumpy kids, moaning pensioners, stressed parents and argumentative adolescents. Still wish you were here?



Babooshka http://dailyphotoisleofman.blogspot.com/ ramsey daily photo

28 comments:

Unknown said...

Your best blog entry yet. The humour reminds me of Michael Palin and his comments when he went around the world and up the Himalayas.

Perhaps I'll come when I'm retired, which is getting closer by the day.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Gailsman - You do me a great honour with the Palin comparison.

Lowell said...

Tourists are necessary, although in Florida by the end of April, I think of them as seagulls who need to be driven back to where they came from... Nah. Heck Florida would die without tourists!

Anonymous said...

I go past here every day, somehow looks different in B&W. Loved the commentary. Have you ever thought of jumping on one of the coaches and grabbing the microphone. I'm sure you'd have the holiday-makers laughing in the aisles. Cheers for a great blog.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Mannanan- I like this idea... I like this idea a lot. Guided tours by your host Babooshka who may or may not be quite mad, but entertaining. Sign me up.

Anonymous said...

Do you really want tourists dropping litter though? Really witty post and I agree you do this post best and you can guide me or insult me anytime.

Cloudia said...

We too live with "visitors" (we call them) coming and going all the time. Bless them!
"From across" I like that. Aloha from another isle-

Anonymous said...

Do you have any photographs of the old pool? I laughed at the toilets gag out too much.

George Townboy said...

You are a Comedienne, one of the best, you always crack me up!! Great shot too.

Anonymous said...

A great blog post, Babooshka. You have inspired me to try and be a little more entertaining, or at least descriptive, in my own posts. Thank you!

George said...

Your posts get better with each passing day. I can hardly wait for the next one.

Pietro Brosio said...

Great post, very well written, Babooshka.

Rob said...

I sure do wish I were there, I'd like to see that swinging bridge in person.

Ah those lumbering tour buses invading the local landscape. The guides with the colorful umbrella shepherding their flocks en mass from one itinerary destination to another.

Olivier said...

d'accord pour la visite guidée avec toi comme guide ;o). Belle photo b&w.
agreed for guided tour with you as guides. Nice photograph b&w.

magiceye said...

loved the post!
tourists a necessary evil?!

Catherine said...

Very funny post Babooshka.
Tourist behave like tourists and do tourists things. But stopping a few minutes, and watching them can be hilarious.

Gerald (SK14) said...

the loo would be my first stop too!

Pat said...

Tourists are always worth watching. I've helped out some here, and they've complimented me on my English...:<)

Carolina said...

Great post! Very informative. Always convenient to know where the loo is, other people look for the emergency exits when they visit a new place (or do you think that has something to do with me looking for the loo?).
Anyway, enjoyed this very much! Big smile ;-)

Reader Wil said...

Thanks for the, again , great guided tour! Informative and attractive! And yes I do like to see the Isle of Man.

The Lone Beader® said...

Brilliant blog!! Also, thanks for stopping by mine! Cheers from Boston, USA! :D

Anonymous said...

A shopkeeper from 'across' told us when we were at the TT that she was a 'come-over' - actually like we are called 'blow-ins' here. Is the come-over term still used?

Nancy said...

The Palin comparison scared me for a minute....oh MICHAEL Palin!

Mojo said...

Mmm... not this time of year I don't think. It's quite chilly enough for me right where I am.

But when the weather heats up here, I'm sure I'd be more than ready for an excursion somewhere cooler!

Jane Hards Photography said...

Aileni-oh yes it's still used and that's what we're refered to as. If you make it after 20 years you're stopovers.

Dave-none of the old pool but I will have to make that a project.

Cheers all again. Makes it all worthwhile doing to get the feedback.

Maria Verivaki said...

we always refer to the mainland and 'pano' (meaning 'up'). when we have to go 'up' there, we say 'i'm climbing up tomorrow'.

i love being different (thanks you very much)

chrome3d said...

I once encountered a seagull that snatched my fries and it wasn´t that fun. I could try a rematch at your island:-)

laxeylass said...

So true!

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