As I contemplated writing this I acknowledged that some, many, will take issue with my thoughts, I am fine with that since they are just mine.
We are in Prague, I am sitting at a cafe in Old Town Square getting ready to sketch the building that holds the famous Astronomical Clock, it draws a crowd every hour to watch as the Saints pass through as the clock strikes the hour.
We have been here since Saturday, and the crowds over the weekend were oppressive. As they were today at Prague Castle.
Tricia just joined me, and we just moved to a different table to get a way from a group of loud guys that started with four, but has now grown to Sixteen.
Plenty of folks have reported on the crowds and over-tourism, I will leave that to others. The point I am making today is that the crowds bother me more than they used to. I must be getting old. I find my patience is thinner and I get irritable. Not that I am proud of it, but it happens.
We have always sought out the “road less traveled” and even more so as I age, thankfully Tricia enjoys a bit less chaos as well. Unfortunately, the reason there are crowds is that there are places so amazing that people want to see them, I get that.
I still don’t get the selfie, instagram posing. A quick shot is fine, but we have seen so many “glamour” shots, even in churches. As I said maybe I am just old, but it seems disrespectful.
Like I said the views and opinions expressed here are all mine and do not reflect Tricia’s or are they intended to sway others.
Thanks for tolerating the grumbling of an old traveler.
theTravelsketcher 
Okay. You are not getting old. You are wise. It is not ‘old’ to be annoyed by loud and thoughtless people, whatever your age and whatever their age. I find there seems to be less respect for the space and enjoyment of others; people have become more and more self-indulgent as evidenced by loud and obnoxious behavior and/or an over obsession with capturing ones ‘selfie’ with lips pursed. (And people indulging in self photos don’t seem to mind anyone noticing). If that makes us old, I’m all for being Methuselah. Most people are wonderful, but we need more and more thoughtful people who can enjoy themselves with a consideration of the enjoyment of others. So there!
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God but i love Shirley!!
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You are preaching to the choir here Terry. I am also a grumpy old man that does not understand the Insta or Influencer crowd and I guess my low blog numbers reflect that. I am happier at the locations nobody goes. Happy Tuesday from one Grumpy Old Man to another. Allan
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Love it, and is sure dont want my face in every travel photo i take, sketching prevents IG photos, hmm maybe there is blog there.
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You’re certainly not alone, Terry. Years ago it was a place to visit. Then stag parties took over. Now it’s back in favour but I think you have to be lucky with when you go. Christmas markets and snow v. Spring flowers and potential crowds. It’s why we haven’t been yet xx
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Threr was a second group just a few tables away, thanks for explaining it. I never did get the whole stag party thing.
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I’m with Jo – the crowds put me off visiting Prague. It seems though that more and more places are becoming like this – my home town of Edinburgh, Copenhagen (this is new in the past two years), no doubt other places too. And yet they all stick to the same wee bit, where there is so much more to places like Edinburgh than the castle.
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Yes, you are so right. We saw it in Edinburgh a few years back, it had multiplied from visits years before. And I don’t have a lot of desire to visit Copenhagen either. And the disrespect in churches etc. We saw people taking photos in glamour poses inside, dressed entirely inappropriately, and today two people sitting on some stairs in front of the alter, blocking traffic, wanting people to squeeze by so they could take the photo, a few of us made a ruckus and they left, I am getting my grumpy old man practice in.
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I agree 100%. Although I like a vibrant place, that’s not usually the correct description in a tourist hot spot. Maggie
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As usual you have a way with words, vibrant good, overwhelming not so good.
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Prague particularly suffers from hen and stag parties. Haven’t visited since 2004 and unlikely to go anytime soon.
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We didn’t know that, we just wanted to see the history. Then whole party thing was/is news to us. I think that is a big Brit thing, happens in US but i don’t hear about it as much.
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I’m with you on this one. Sadly, these things have crept into the church too despite repeated warnings about photography in church during a service.
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Hard to believe. Christianity of course has had it troubles, yet I am so humbled and impressed by the magnificent churches that are a testament to the message in-spite of it all. They should be respected by all.
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You’re not alone Terry. I thought it was because we’ve spent a lot of time in the bush enjoying the lesser known places, that I now can’t tolerate city crowds. Thankfully it isn’t heaving here as much as the Northern hemisphere. But, you are right there is a lot of disrespect and lack of manners. Public statues and artworks are not to be climbed on, nor desecrated with graffiti, and places of worship should be respected regardless of your own beliefs. Where are your manners people? Yep, I am grumpy too Terry.
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We visited the Jewish Ghetto here in Prague, for some of the facilities, synagogues, they even gave men the skull caps, or said my cap was sufficient covering. Yet we saw so many ignore the sign of respect, I see the same thing in cathedrals in Europe as men do not remove their hats, it is common respect. And I think of the disrespect for so many of the indigenous peoples from down under. I dont have to agree with them all, but I can and should respect them.
Thank you as always for your thoughts.
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May I add my proverbial tuppence in that you don’t present old nor are you alone. I have been sorry for decades that I did not make it to Prague . . . reading such lines from you and others . . . methinks its charms would no longer be visible !
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Only a tuppence, its expensive here, how about a farthing? Sadly I feel the same about Venice, amazing on screen yet I feel I would be disappointed.
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I’m an introvert who has been avoiding crowds all her life – I know how to tolerate them, that’s all – but ageing is accentuating that element of my personality, too.
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I spent my life traveling and being on stage, yet there is a big part of me that just wants to hide away, so I get it.
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Yes, lots of travelling in my life too and instructing as well – so I also did time on stage. I’ve never wanted to hide; I just find lots of people loud and yup, annoying too. I hope you’re able to enjoy Prague despite the crowds. Cheers.
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I love Prague, but I agree with you that it’s incredibly touristy, to the point that it’s not very enjoyable…I think if tourists behaved and were considerate of the space and culture, then the crowds wouldn’t be so bad; alas, that’s not the case! All the same, I hope you’re enjoying the most of it in Prague, people and all!
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We have enjoyed it and so glad we came, one of the best places we have visited for sure.
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Makes sense to me! Prague is beautiful, but I was lucky enough to visit there in January when it is not so busy with tourists. Try exploring the area up above the castle like Petrin hill (I wish I’d taken the funicular up it just for fun, but it was nice to walk around).
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Good advice, except we are now in Kotor, but if we ever get back we will do that for sure.
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How cool! I’ve never been to the Balkans. Can’t wait to see your & Tricia’s photos and sketches.
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Thank you so much. We heard about this part of the world for years, when we spent 3 weeks in Croatia a couple of years ago we found we really liked it and started talking about Montenegro, so glad it has worked out.
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