Come hell or high water, Middle East tensions or dozens and dozens of '‘terrible' TripAdvisor reviews, I was intent on seeing the Giza Pyramids.
I did see the pyramids, last year. ‘Terrible’ does fit the bill, although it doesn't cover my entire experience.
The pyramids also lived up to the 1,674 'excellent' reviews extolling the wonders of this enormous archaeological ancient wonder.
Having lived to tell the story of that amazing, terribly frightening, and somewhat amusing experience after the fact, I have no regrets.
Well, that’s not entirely true.
I did see the pyramids, last year. ‘Terrible’ does fit the bill, although it doesn't cover my entire experience.
The pyramids also lived up to the 1,674 'excellent' reviews extolling the wonders of this enormous archaeological ancient wonder.
Having lived to tell the story of that amazing, terribly frightening, and somewhat amusing experience after the fact, I have no regrets.
Well, that’s not entirely true.
I regret I didn’t see those TripAdvisor reviews (over 2,500 all told) before visiting Giza in the spring of 2014. If there’s anything I’ve learned from the last four years of travel (okay, I’m a slow learner), it’s to check out what those who have been there have to say about their experiences. Jimmy and I otherwise might have arrived in Giza better prepared to deal with the panhandlers and politics that go along with the pyramids.
I have also learned to take all the TripAdvisor reviews (the good, the bad, and the ugly) with a grain of salt. Most of the ‘terrible’ reviews seemed to deal with the frustrations that come with the crowds and the lack of infra-structure in dealing with those crowds. Sift through the ‘terrible’ reviews and you can glean a wealth of valuable information before you go.
Alenorse poured on the salt via his July 13, 2012 ‘Shameful' review.
I have also learned to take all the TripAdvisor reviews (the good, the bad, and the ugly) with a grain of salt. Most of the ‘terrible’ reviews seemed to deal with the frustrations that come with the crowds and the lack of infra-structure in dealing with those crowds. Sift through the ‘terrible’ reviews and you can glean a wealth of valuable information before you go.
Alenorse poured on the salt via his July 13, 2012 ‘Shameful' review.
All true, in spite of the misspellings.
Then again, so is this “Immense and intense” review on June 20, 2015 by Imliooper, from Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
Then again, so is this “Immense and intense” review on June 20, 2015 by Imliooper, from Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
Hold the salt!
Either way, I’m always hungry.
One of these days I hope to see Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, Ankor Wat, . . . well, you get the picture; so little time, so many amazing and often challenging places.
Preparing for those trips is part of the adventure, and often as entertaining as it is informative via TripAdvisor reviews. Benoit45’s terrible rating and subsequent review of Machu Picchu earlier this year, entitled “Tourist trap alert” certainly added a fresh perspective to the 6,880 ‘excellent’ reviews that ran the gamut from “words can’t describe,” to “everything you think it is – and more.”
Either way, I’m always hungry.
One of these days I hope to see Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, Ankor Wat, . . . well, you get the picture; so little time, so many amazing and often challenging places.
Preparing for those trips is part of the adventure, and often as entertaining as it is informative via TripAdvisor reviews. Benoit45’s terrible rating and subsequent review of Machu Picchu earlier this year, entitled “Tourist trap alert” certainly added a fresh perspective to the 6,880 ‘excellent’ reviews that ran the gamut from “words can’t describe,” to “everything you think it is – and more.”
Benoit45 goes on to admit the ruins are "beautiful and all, but those moronic tourist guides convince you to race your way up there to enjoy the 'sunrise'. There's usually fog and even when there isn't, the sun doesn't come out of the mountains surrounding the place before 10 am so really don't bother. Then the place is overcrowded and it's simply impossible to take a picture without a tourist in the way except if you manage to be one of the first 3 people entering the place and only for 5 minutes.”
After all that griping he concludes, “This place is still amazing.”
Yes, indeed, travel is not for the faint of heart; or for those unwilling to put their money where their mouth is when comfort and convenience climb to the top of your travel itinerary.
There were similar gripes/terrible reviews for the Taj Mahal (Of course you will visit, of course it is stunning - but geeeeesus India, organise it better so we don't feel so ripped off and sort out this racist pricing system!), the Eiffel Tower (“the efficiency of a dead sloth; poorly managed, but great views”), the Great Wall of China (“a horror!”) and Ankor Wat (“welcome to Scambodia!”).
Obviously, even overlooking the hassles that come with travel, no one size fits all.
Reviewer David H. found the Grand Canyon “Just an overblown sandy ditch. Really don’t get the fascination.”
And of Chicago's beloved 'Bean' and other public sculptures in Millennium Park, Lauren B. of Washington, D.C. wrote, “Maybe I've just been on an anti-modern ugly ‘art’ rant for my whole life, but I hate this ‘park’ with every fiber of my being and honestly have no justification other than I just don't like it here and would love to see it burnt to the ground. I call it the ‘Crap is art park’ and the only thing that could possibly make it okay is the fact that you have the nerdy tourist scooting through on their ‘Fun on Wheels’ tours.”
After all that griping he concludes, “This place is still amazing.”
Yes, indeed, travel is not for the faint of heart; or for those unwilling to put their money where their mouth is when comfort and convenience climb to the top of your travel itinerary.
There were similar gripes/terrible reviews for the Taj Mahal (Of course you will visit, of course it is stunning - but geeeeesus India, organise it better so we don't feel so ripped off and sort out this racist pricing system!), the Eiffel Tower (“the efficiency of a dead sloth; poorly managed, but great views”), the Great Wall of China (“a horror!”) and Ankor Wat (“welcome to Scambodia!”).
Obviously, even overlooking the hassles that come with travel, no one size fits all.
Reviewer David H. found the Grand Canyon “Just an overblown sandy ditch. Really don’t get the fascination.”
And of Chicago's beloved 'Bean' and other public sculptures in Millennium Park, Lauren B. of Washington, D.C. wrote, “Maybe I've just been on an anti-modern ugly ‘art’ rant for my whole life, but I hate this ‘park’ with every fiber of my being and honestly have no justification other than I just don't like it here and would love to see it burnt to the ground. I call it the ‘Crap is art park’ and the only thing that could possibly make it okay is the fact that you have the nerdy tourist scooting through on their ‘Fun on Wheels’ tours.”
Don’t hold back Lauren B.
SchweizerAussie didn’t hold back either. He wrote of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, “It isn’t even gold. It’s red and windy and cold and I think they should rename it the big rusty cold bridge in the city that has many homeless people that all asked me for quarters.”
SchweizerAussie didn’t hold back either. He wrote of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, “It isn’t even gold. It’s red and windy and cold and I think they should rename it the big rusty cold bridge in the city that has many homeless people that all asked me for quarters.”
Somehow I think David H. and Lauren B. and SchweizerAussie should take a pass when it comes to seeing Giza’s pyramids.
Would you agree?
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