Crazy Customs
(The CC's)
   


 

 Ongoing Observations

I am always fascinated by seeing how different cultures evolve into the acceptance of various conditions that would seem absolutely outrageous and unacceptable to another culture. I ponder how they arrived at such state, considering such a condition to be acceptable when it would almost certainly be considered ridiculous and unacceptable if the condition appeared overnight.  It is amazing what we can get use to.
 
I decided that some of these are so good they deserve their own section in the journal of the WWT. Therefore I have added this section, which undoubtedly will grow as new ones are discovered.  Therefore this section will constantly be under construction.
 
I am happy to add your observations to it also, if you will send them to me


 
 

                               

Fifteen Ways You Can Tell that You Are with a Tour Group in Turkey

     1.   Your group spent 30 minutes touring Ephesus and three hours in the Carpet Factory.

2.    People in your group bought a 2x4 foot carpet  for $6000, a ceramic plate for $500, a gold necklace for $1000, and a leather coat for $1800.

3.    You just got off a bus at the Blue Mosque and the first question you hear is “Where is the WC?”

4.    Any view worth photographing is already being photographed by 300 Japanese tourists.

5.    One of your group is upset because he was shortchanged after handing the WC attendant a hundred dollar bill.

6.    You can walk on 2000 year old mosaic floors at Sargis, but you have to take off your shoes to walk on plastic mats at the mosque.

7.    Prices on the goods in stores around your hotel are given in Euros instead of Turkish Lyra.  Some of the stores don’t accept Turkish lyra.

8.    The gourmet restaurant in your five star hotel is a buffet, where you eat three times as much as you normally do three times a day.

9.    Your five star hotel is two miles outside of the nearest town.

10.   The parking lot in your five star hotel has more bus spaces than car spaces.

11.    The location of the one authentic, honest crafter of carpets, ceramics, leather, or jewelry is a secret known only to your tour guide. All others get their stuff from China.

12.    You do most of your shopping in a factory outside of town, which is highly recommended by your tour guide.

13.   The subject of most of the conversations around you is about experiences on tours somewhere other than where you are now.

14.   The bathroom scales will only say “ERROR” when you attempt to check your weight.

15.    The only Turkish people you have seen so far, except for your tour guide and souvenir salesmen are through the bus window.