Thursday 14 July 2011

Tourists!





When we are out and about on the roads up here in July and August and those roads are clogged with drivers going slowly to look at the scenery (whilst we are in a hurry to get somewhere) we tend to curse the tourists.

But being realistic, these folk who come up here to see our lovely churches, our beautiful scenery, our old mills and pretty villages are really the life-blood of the area. They bring money to our little towns and markets and to our shops. They need to eat somewhere, so they bring money to our cafes and restaurants and tearooms. I doubt there would be our fantastic ice cream parlour with its splendid herd of Guernsey cows were it not for the influx of tourists.

And I have to say they do provide interesting conversations. The majority of the people who come are walkers - to walk on our footpaths and in our hills - and many of them have a dog - or two. Every time I go into our little market town at this time of the year I see all kinds of interesting dogs. A really good opener to a conversation is, "Can I stroke him/her?" I have yet to meet anyone who refused and through that opening I have had some lovely conversations.

Last week there were two Labradoodles; these dogs seem to be up and coming pets these days. A cross between a Labrador and a Poodle means the friendliness of a Labrador and the non-moult of the Poodle - can't be bad. I love Pugs and used to own one and I see that now they have crossed a Pug with a Beagle and made a Puggle. Now I am looking forward to seeing one of those amongst the tourists this year.

21 comments:

Titus said...

Two labradoodles out and about yesterday - I rather like them. Biggish dog though.
My great aunt had a pug, and all my feelings for the breed are somewhat tied up in my feelings for Auntie Doris. She was, er, rather strict.

John Going Gently said...

That tree in the second photo is a cracker!

Helsie said...

As one of those tourists I am glad you allow us to have a small taste of your lovely countryside. It is my favourite part of England and while visiting the Dales we found the people very friendly. It so enhances a holiday if you can speak to friendly locals though I can understand your impatience with the traffic.
cheers
Helen

Dartford Warbler said...

We have a countryside full of tourists too, but I don`t begrudge them some time in this beautiful area.

Labradoodles - I have met a few and been impressed by their gentle natures. I suppose they would have been called mongrels in the past!

Crafty Green Poet said...

We get a lot of tourists in Edinburgh too.

I meet a lot of dogs on my weekly walks along the Water of Leith and have made good friends with quite a lot of them, they are a good conversation point too

Reena said...

Yep, I'd be one of those tourists and I am ever so grateful to get to experience your beautiful countryside!

Pondside said...

The Island is full of tourists right now - rolling along in giant motor homes, as it seems to be every European's dream, to cross the country in a motor home. I love to meet them in town, to ask where they're from and hear the various accents.

steven said...

i love the church 'round the corner photograph weaver. steven

Heather said...

My husband used to call our dog a labradoodle years ago before the breed was 'invented'. Our dog was pure labrador and my husband used the nickname in a derogatory sense. He'll have to be careful in future. It takes twice as long to get from A to B with him if there are dogs about - he's like a small boy and has to stop and chat to each one!
I have often remarked to locals when we've been on holiday, that they must love it when we all go home, but they have all said how welcome we are and that their economy depends on us. That makes me feel a bit better about cluttering up their roads, shops, cafes, etc.

Gerry Snape said...

sounds a bit like something out of Harry Potter...a puggle or is that a muggle? not really up in that area too much!

Mac n' Janet said...

We live near Savannah, Georgia and it's full of tourists all the time. Unfortunately the only dogs they bring are the "chi-chi" ones your can carry in your purse or arms.

Elizabeth said...

Yes, I get into lots of conversations through the dog.
As in:
What kind of dog is that?
Me: Well, I imagine a cross between a spaniel and a hyena....

There are puggles galore round here....but they do tend towards stoutness if not kept on a strict diet.

Tom Stephenson said...

What do you get if you cross a Shitzu with Poodle?

H said...

You've got to be joking about the Puggle??? How can any self respecting dog call himself a Puggle? (Mind you, Labradoodle' isn't much better!).

(LOL, Your word verification is tedaless)

Rarelesserspotted said...

I think it's how the country survives in truth - through Tourism, directly and indirectly. I'm not surprised either - we have one of the most beautiful underrated countries in Europe.
XX

Hildred said...

Oh yes, tourists, - we are on the highway between Vancouver and Osoyoos, a marvelous place to vacation, and we do benefit from people who stop to eat, or are attracted to some of our shops. My DIL is over the moon with July sales in her Variety Store.

angryparsnip said...

I have been a tourist in your area, I read all the James Herriot books, and I love the time I spent in Yorkshire.
Beautiful !

When I lived in Laguns Beach next to the ocean we seemed to have too many of the terrible tourist but I tried to remember we are all tourist at sometime.

cheers, parsnip

Cloudia said...

yes, visitors do try our patience, but that is a price of living here in 'paradise'


Cheers!


Aloha from Waikiki;

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MorningAJ said...

I know when we lived in Scarborough that we hated having to get past them on the narrow streets in Summer. But like you say, they bring money into the town, and once the fishing fleet was reduced, very little else did.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Seems we are all of a mind where tourists are concerned - and let's face it, we are all tourists ourselves sometimes.

There seem to be mixed feelings about what after all are crossbreed dogs.

Thanks for the comments.

thousandflower said...

I live in a tourist area, too, and often grumble about the crowds this time of year. But when I was in England I was a tourist and suddenly realized that now I was the one creating crowds in other people's towns. So now I try to remember that when walking up the street here.