shylustig

Balancing Act – Europe’s Struggle with Over tourism and Housing

As a follow up to my post of February 1 of this year, it is now quite well known that Venice has indeed brought in a tourist fee for a day trip to the beloved city.

But, what the press has been quite low key about, is a variety of other regions and cities are essentially doing the same thing.

These are presently ranging from Spain to Hawaii, and various places in between.

As always, there is a decision taken (this case Venice) and then, there are the followers.

It’s happening all over Spain at present. I mention Spain, because of the sheer numbers who do go there from the UK. In fact, I’ll be going to Mallorca in June, in order to watch the Mallorca Open grass court tennis tournament.

I hope they let me in!

The Canaries are also trying to reign in the constant numbers of tourists – Spain’s Canary Islands plan tighter short term rental rules with police backup (msn.com)

Seville as well:

‘We cannot enjoy the city’: Outcry among Spanish locals as petition launched for stricter tourism regulation (msn.com)

The locals here in Seville have the usual two concerns:

– Tourists are “toxic”.
– Airbnb is out of control, which leads to less flats for citizens in these places.

The below links, to a variety of places, emphasize that this is now a wide concern, and appears to be an issue that will NOT subside.

https://www.nationalworld.com/lifestyle/travel/la-salut-barcelona-popular-town-in-spain-for-tourists-visiting-park-guell-removed-off-google-maps-to-tackle-overtourism-4593898?itm_source=Internal&itm_channel=section_banner&itm_campaign=breaking-news-ticker&itm_content=1

Amsterdam doesn’t want any more tourists – so here are 10 alternatives (msn.com)

Portugal’s war on holidaymakers continues as popular city considers doubling tourist tax (msn.com)

British tourists issued Spain holiday warning over new ‘ban’ this summer (msn.com)

Tourists avoid Scotland because of SNP crackdown on short-term lets (msn.com)

Solutions – Are there any?

As someone who travels quite a lot, with my next trip to Porto or Northern Ireland to see a brother(s) of mine, next week, I can well understand both the concerns of the tourist, as well as the people who live in these tourist areas.

At present I’ve a holiday home in a picturesque area of Scotland, that as of last week, has started to become inundated with tourists. Though many in the local community, as the town is small, rely on them for certain portions of the year for their income (or at least a part of it).

I put up with them, and they are really not that bad! OTOH, at times the traffic is outrageous. This makes me furious, as I’ve always wondered why people who want to “get away from it all“, are at the same time driving through the village as if it’s a friggin motorway!

In addition, as this is not our main residence, as of this year we’ve now been hit with a double council tax from the local Council.

Is this really a solution? I’m still not sure, as we will not only pay it, but at the same time will have no intention of all of a sudden, selling it to a “local”. I say local, as we’re there for about 7 – 10 days a month, and consider ourselves to be “locals”. And besides, just what does the local Council do with this new found money? I seriously doubt that they’ve set up a special trust fund with it, in order to assist locals in find accommodation!

Alternatively, I can certainly understand when certain local people can not find a flat either for sell, or to rent for the long term.

An obvious solution comes from countries who have already experienced something like this. Germany is one that comes to mind, and one where I have first-hand experience of.

There, it has always been the case for many of the states to have a cap / limit, on the number of Ferienwohnungen (holiday houses) that a specific area is allowed to have.

This seems like common sense, and it also does not punish someone like myself, who has bought a second property, and then later, is expected to be taxed double for it.

Asian Trip – Part 3 – Ko Lanta – The beach part

Koh Lanta is an interesting island. At one stage, it feels completely tribal and third world, but on the other stage, it is incredibly friendly, with a myriad of restaurants catering to a variety of tourists.

In my previous post, I mentioned that we got there via an ultra fast, speed boat. Next time, I will opt for the slower boat, allowing me to relax, have a beer, and enjoy lunch without having to deal with anyone who might feel nauseous and puke all over the ship! This boat was meant to be 1.5 hours, but both journeys averaged at about 2+ hours; not good enough.

Upon arriving at the port, we were informed that we had to contribute 1 or 2 pounds in the local currency as a tourist tax. While this didn’t bother me much, it would have been nice to have known this in advance.

This highlights another issue I have with such places – the lack of communication between private and public entities. You would’ve thought that when we boarded the boat in Phuket, someone (the tour operator, the port?) would have said something? They didn’t.

After disembarking, we hired a very cheap tuk-tuk taxi to take us to our hotel. The ride was only 10 minutes long, and the operator took pride in providing a safe journey and helping us with our baggage.

Once we reached our room, we headed straight to the beach. It was interesting to find that there was literally no one there, which we later realized was due to the intense heat and humidity; it was about 35 with stifling humidity.

Regarding restaurants, there was a huge variety within a 10 to 20-minute walk along the wide beach. We explored different types of cuisine, including Thai and British food. One night, we even enjoyed a fire breather show, which was complimentary with our meal, though we made sure to tip him for his performance.

Thailand – Part 2 – Phuket to Ko Lanta

It’s interesting being in Ko Lanta. I’ve never been here before, but after an easy taxi ride of about 45 minutes from Phuket, which I think was only a tenner, we arrived at the port fully equipped to board the high-speed boat to Ko Lanta.

I’m not really one for high-speed boats; never have been, never will be. Although I don’t mind cruising on slower boats. In this case, the trip was advertised to take an hour and a half to two hours, but the combined time for both trips there and back was pushing five hours—it was very slow and naturally, very rough.

The journey there, of course, involved one or two people being sick like crazy, and naturally the crew didn’t have the common courtesy to clean it up. It was actually two Scottish girls on the boat who decided to this; what troopers!

Rassada Pier

The port, Rassada Pier, was actually like going to an airport (above). There was an orderly queueing system and a it was similar to boarding a plane. In addition, there was a variety of mini-cafes / food bars where again, the food was delicious.

Khlong Dao Beach

After the aforementioned trip, we arrived at (after also stopping at the Phi Phi islands) Ko Lanta, and immediately had to fork over about 5 pounds as a local tax? Don’t know what it was for or why, though it wasn’t that much money and we gladly paid for both this and a similar priced tuk tuk to arrive at our destination at Khlong Dao beach.

Exploring Asia: From Singapore to Thailand

Yes, folks, I’m currently smack dab in the middle of a whirlwind 3 1/2-week adventure across Asia, with stops in Singapore, Thailand, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, and even some islands off the coast whose names I can’t quite remember—oh, the joys of travel! First the Singapore airport:

With tea shops, coffee shops and designer good shops everywhere. You then realize just how modern / rich that this place actually is. And they were even selling Aberfeldy single malt.

It’s been quite the journey so far, and while I’ve got a ton of experience to share, let me bring you up to speed with the highlights of my trip thus far. First things first, let’s talk about Thailand.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about traveling to Thailand, it’s that the mainland and the islands offer two entirely different experiences. Our first stop was in Phuket, affectionately dubbed “Fuckit” by some (I’ll let you guess why). Surprisingly, despite its reputation, I found myself falling in love with the place. We managed to steer clear of the rowdy, party-centric areas and stumbled upon a more tranquil, family-oriented side of Phuket.

Our accommodation, priced at a reasonable £90.00 per night, was a stone’s throw away from a serene pool and just a short walk from the pristine beaches; and also offered gigantic breakfasts. Dining options were aplenty, with restaurants offering delectable dishes at a fraction of the cost back home. I mean, who knew chicken could taste so divine when paired with cashew nuts and black beans? Equally, the fish, presumably from the night before, was highly fresh and was easily inspected in ice, in front of each restaurant.

What struck me the most about Phuket was the laid-back vibe and the warmth of the locals. It’s no wonder that so many travellers find themselves drawn back to this idyllic paradise. From the moment we touched down in Singapore, after a slight delay, to the swift taxi ride to our hotel, which set us back a mere tenner, the ease of travel in this region has truly impressed me.

Stay tuned for more updates from my Asian escapade as I delve deeper into the vibrant cultures and breath-taking landscapes of this captivating continent. Until then, stay adventurous!

PS – This review, which I think is cheesy, was actually prompted by me, via ChatGPT Not again!

Dunkeld in Scotland and my favourite retail shop – Jeffreys Dunkeld

Have I blogged about this before? I’m not entirely sure. But Dunkeld is a charming little village nestled between Perth and Aviemore. And as you can tell, driving there, the fog had still not lifted yet.

It’s also known as the home of Beatrix Potter. In the 19th century, I’m uncertain whether she lived there permanently or just during the summers, or if she did any writing there. I’ll delve into that in another post. However, they do have a new museum dedicated to her, along with a café.

As we wandered into Dunkeld; we passed by a statue of a violin player named Neil Gow, who was apparently the foremost player in all of Scotland during the 17th century, if not the world. It’s a wonderful statue in the park just before you reach the bridge.

Once you cross the bridge into Dunkeld proper, you’re greeted by a multitude of boutique shops, numbering around fifteen to thirty. The air practically oozes affluence here, yet it retains a refined, classical, and quintessentially Scottish middle-class vibe.

We decided to visit one of the many cafes, The Scottish Deli. Local kids were working there, no doubt earning minimum wage or more. The atmosphere was friendly and inviting, and the coffee was, indeed, perfect.

But that was just the beginning. We then stumbled (again) upon my favourite home furnishings shop in the entire world, Jeffreys Dunkeld.

What a name!

It’s like a treasure trove, always stocked with everything under the sun and more. Housed in an old church, or “kirk” as we say in Scotland, it caters to the upmarket home furnishing market. It’s tastefully decorated, resembling someone’s luxurious home rather than a store.

I can’t recall if we purchased anything significant, perhaps just some candles. The prices were reasonable, although some items bordered on the expensive. If you ever find yourself in this neck of the woods, do yourself a favour and pay a visit here.

Modern European Holidays – Time for a Change?

Isn’t it amusing these days (btw I’m in Germany)? It seems like everyone’s perpetually jet-setting off on holidays. But does anyone truly enjoy it anymore? Or is it just too crowded, too pricey, too overrated to actually like them these days? I’ve heard so many people recently tell me, that they’re glad the holiday is over, as they can now finally relax!

Everywhere you go, tourist spots are packed, and even the less-travelled paths are swarming with people. What could the future of vacations possibly look like?

Consider the above photo, for instance. They’re both completely happy in posing for this photo, a pose they’d never dream of indulging in back home or in front of their friends! Yet, here they are, unabashedly racing down this Rodelbahn on holiday. It makes you wonder just how insane people become when they’re on vacation. Haven’t we all done something on a trip that, upon reflection through holiday photos or Facebook posts, makes you cringe and question, “What possessed me to do that?” – I have.

I vaguely recall an article that was written pre-COVID, about the summer vacation scene in Europe; it was in either by the Wall Street Journal or The Economist, and spoke about the sheer numbers of people that would descend upon Europe each summer; and the number of businesses banking on this.

Equally, the attached photo that was at the start of this particular article exemplified this: it featured two young ladies, probably between 20 and 25, in inflatable balloons you could walk in. And that is exactly what they were doing. In this case (if I remember correctly), casually in front of the largest church in Venice, St Marks Basilica.

The audacity! The churches must be rolling in their architectural graves.

Now, talking about the future of vacationing or, rather the need for modification, cities are finally waking up to the chaos and are implementing new rules & taxes to regulate the overwhelming influx of tourists. And Venice itself has decided to do this, undoubtedly intended to either finance tourist-friendly improvements or maybe just to spite them! Perhaps the city believes it provides either too much or too little for tourists, but nothing for its own citizens . . . an intriguing idea indeed. In this case, everyone over 14 will have to shell out 5 euros a day, just to enter the beloved city.

I blogged about a similar scenario last year when I travelled to Brussels, back in January, thinking I’d have the city to myself. How wrong I was! The old city during those three days was like a mass evacuation drill. Thousands of tourists running amok, yelling, screaming, and bumping into each other while simultaneously trying to take selfies. It was absolute chaos. The same story also unfolded to me about five years ago in Amsterdam during March, expecting a respite from the summer crowd. Wrong again. It was bursting at the seams.

Then, we embarked on a biking tour, heading to Leiden, famous for Rembrandt. But guess what? It was just as mobbed. After a few days of this insanity, we tried Harlem, and it was also packed. Even securing a dinner reservation on a Saturday or Sunday night proved challenging. Clearly, something needs to change in the future.

Ideas? –

One, impose more tourist taxes, channelling these funds into better infrastructure for visitors. With this extra cash, a city might not even need that many tourists for certain areas to survive.

And two, why not consider a drastic idea? Given how airports are currently akin to cattle markets, maybe a one-time cut in flights, say 10%, with a corresponding rise in airfares, could be the answer.

I’d happily pay a little extra for some legroom, a more leisurely airport experience, or the luxury of booking half-empty rooms near the tourist hotspots, even if it did cost more.

It’s been cold in Scotland recently – A cold winters walk in Pitlochry, Perthshire

Yes, what a cold winter it has been in Glasgow and all over Scotland over the last few weeks. We decided to go for a walk in Pitlochry again, specifically in the more northern part of the village, an “Upper Pitlochry”, if you can call it that.

The first thing we noticed was the abundance of beautiful Victorian buildings in the village; something that I hadn’t really appreciated too much before (the sheer quantity of them). Who knows, maybe I’ll find some more specific examples and discuss the actual history of them.

Checking the Wikipedia article on the village, it describes the area as a “largely Victorian town”, making our walk up to the north part, I presume the older part, quite interesting.

Eventually, we made our way to the Golf Club. Along the journey, we were surprised to find a small lake, frozen solid with ducks standing on it. It looked completely out of place. Was it really that cold?!

Upon reaching the Golf Club, it was eerie to see that some golf had actually taken place that day! Maybe the fog, along with an orange ball, added a mystical touch to the surroundings. At least you’d have an excuse then, as to just how shite your golf was!

We decided to visit the restaurant, which was not that bad, and then meandered back down to the village / town.

A New Year’s Day walk and Street Festival in Perthshire Highland

We started our journey from central Pitlochry once again, passing by the beautiful bowling green in the centre.

And then made our way to the quaint village of Moulin, just about a kilometre or so north of the town (I’ve blogged about this before).

This time we decided to explore the cemetery. It proved to be quite fascinating, with its different graves and rich history. There was also a lingering fog which added an eerie atmosphere.

Continuing on a familiar route, we passed an old castle, although not much of it remains today.

We traversed up and down several times until we reached the Black Spout.

I recently read about a tragic incident where someone fell 70 feet to their death in North Scotland a couple of weeks ago. Trust me; it’s easier to do than people realize, especially when distracted by taking photos in the middle of nowhere with their mobile phones.

Fortunately, we navigated the area safely and proceeded towards Athol Palace hotel, capturing shots of the small 9-hole golf course that surrounds the hotel.

Perhaps one day, I’ll write an article about the numerous 9-hole courses I’ve encountered in Scotland. It seems like every old hotel in the Highlands of Scotland has one. It would be interesting to discover who plays on them and who designs them.

Afterwards, we continued to central Pitlochry, as there was a street fest on New Year’s Day.

It was quite enjoyable and bustling. While the event had the obligatory hot chocolate and a mulled wine place, I think they could have offered more food choices and beverage options. Nonetheless, it was a pleasant experience. My partner and I decided to partake in a Gay Gordon or Canadian Barn dance, which turned out to be quite enjoyable. Despite the cold weather, the absence of rain added to the overall atmospheric charm.

The Cateran Trail – Part 4 – Bridge of Cally to Blairgowrie – 2 years after the last post!

It’s been some time for us to post here about this walk, and we STILL have a couple of stages to do.

This was a very much shorter version of the trail and we did NOT travel from Kirkmichael, but from Bridge of Cally. So as as of now, there are only two parts remaining; Bridge of Cally to Kirkton of Glenisla & then onwards to Lair.

The first part, to be honest, was a mess of detours, gravel and confusing signposting; but we got onto the moor in the end. Just follow the fence for a few miles!

In total, it was just under seven (easy) miles on foot, with brilliant weather and all in a southerly direction. The terrain was also quite easy but with outstanding views.

It was actually a very easy walk, and the weather was outstanding.

Once on the “high” plateau, it was more or less downhill, with not much in between.

As I remember, there was only one, very small settlement on the way, that offered eggs for sale!

And there were still enough signs to encourage you that you were on the right track.

From here, it was more or less downhill to Blairgowrie (forgive the simply awful website!)

It was interesting, that Blairgowrie calls itself the Raspberry Capital of Scotland, and coming down from above, no doubt it being in a valley, contributes to its “warmer” Scottish temperature. You can see the raspberry plantings / farms below.

Before we arrived, we noticed an abundance of garlic under many trees, but believe that it is not edible? We didn’t try it!

The town itself was very clean and looked exactly as I thought it should. We decided to catch a reliable bus service, back to Bridge of Cally (it was very easy to do this), and have our tea there, at the Bridge of Cally hotel where we were staying.

I believe there are only a few stages left; which I hope to finish in 2024.

Craigower Hill – Another small walk in Perthshire Highlands

What a shot! And a “castle” in the background, but it’s not a castle, it’s Athol Palace Hotel.

And yes, that IS a golf course there, Pitlochry Golf Club. Excellent cafe by the way.

We tried a very minor walk, from Pitlochry, that darling Victorian town in Perthshire Highlands, to a small National Trust owned hill, Craigower.

What an easy, interesting and surprisingly steep walk / hike. It started in the town, or at least close by to the aforementioned golf club, and then after passing by it, you walk straight up (below).

At one point, it’s necessary to cross directly in front of the club house and 18th hole if you wish, we did a slight detour around the course via an easier road, and could look back at the course and Pitlochry.

After this, it was straight up the hill track.

I imagine it’s impressive on the “summit”, but we found another person, no doubt a little crazy, who was in the midst of a wild blueberry / blaeberry patch, collecting these for later use.

We decided to do the same, and to take in the views from the top. From here, it’s possible to hike down to the next settlement, a metropolis called Killercrankie, which has an excellent cafe / National Trust property.