tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post2258565119388967518..comments2023-12-18T15:03:52.326+00:00Comments on Jim's Loire: Reflections on a weekend in BarcelonaCRMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12356808627188214016noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-82013638972953632032012-03-06T12:15:54.558+00:002012-03-06T12:15:54.558+00:00Thanks, Ian. Couldn't agree more. CRMThanks, Ian. Couldn't agree more. CRMCRMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12356808627188214016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-77904792628407144622012-03-05T22:45:16.006+00:002012-03-05T22:45:16.006+00:00Ah! the tourist trail (and associated tat). A pers...Ah! the tourist trail (and associated tat). A personal dislike.<br /><br />In general I'm an intentional avoider of the tourist trail. The fame brings easy money from undiscerning hordes. It's not just the obvious chains, but more insidiously the seemingly authentic, which are so often a pale shadow of local cuisine, albeit written in 4 languages. Locals would shun the places, but the tourists just want something within sight of the sight. <br /><br />Places such as Pisa's Field of Miracles are blighted by whilstlestop tourism, which ranks Pisa typically as 'half a day' max. Indeed that throws up the odd scenario, that the main part of the town is surprisingly normal and even decent value / interesting for food!<br /><br />In general we'll happily avoid the tourist trail, but the piece of advice that tends to work well in the tourist locations is 'Get lost!' ... i.e. wander off away from the famous sites, and sniff out quieter streets & alleys. They'll often hide little gems (such as you describe).<br /><br />regards<br />IanIan Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-36509759491140123282012-03-05T17:27:33.466+00:002012-03-05T17:27:33.466+00:00Hi Ryan. Thought about you both but ... entertain...Hi Ryan. Thought about you both but ... entertaining a teenager proved to be a full-time occupation! Next time :-)CRMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12356808627188214016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-77836415655146781882012-03-05T16:42:18.961+00:002012-03-05T16:42:18.961+00:00Hi Ryan. Carole was there with her teenage niece a...Hi Ryan. Carole was there with her teenage niece about ten days. If we had been together we would have been in touch. Saluti. JimJim's Loirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06696024920441263899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-58808458429255564502012-03-05T16:20:42.372+00:002012-03-05T16:20:42.372+00:00Were you here this weekend? And no call? :(Were you here this weekend? And no call? :(ryanhttp://ryanopaz.comnoreply@blogger.com