Living in Berlin, I see people taking selfies beside monuments/ruins/cultural sites nearly every day. Enjoyed reading your thoughts on this, especially Sontag's point about photography 'from I was there to I am there'. All the world's a stage, I guess :)
“…I often found myself wondering if these selfie tourists had admirably tapped into a deep and sustaining well of self-confidence, or if they were just stone cold psychopaths”. This, this, this.
Bologna the Fat (from the cuisine). Bologna the Red (from its politics). First place that I ever slept on linen sheets. Accidentally drove a hire car straight across the pedestrian-only Piazza Maggiore under the watchful eyes of a parked police car -- fortunately with Swiss plates. Has a few medieval towers still standing from the 12th century. Home of the tortellini and mortadella. Great city for SlowFood restaurants (SlowFood print guides so no need to go online). Great mix of people at the Osteria del Sole -- historic (founded 1465) watering hole that just serves drinks, so bring your own food from the local covered food mercato just a couple of streets away (*extremely* unmarked outside so get directions from the local tourist office). Oldest university in the world, still a major part of city life, so very youth/ student-oriented.
Good thing I've already been, or I'd have to block you! ;)
One of the little rules I've set out for myself is no recommendations except from people who actually live in the place I'm visiting. But as fate would have it, I was led to Osteria del Sole anyway!
Living in Berlin, I see people taking selfies beside monuments/ruins/cultural sites nearly every day. Enjoyed reading your thoughts on this, especially Sontag's point about photography 'from I was there to I am there'. All the world's a stage, I guess :)
I guess Shakespeare beat Sontag to the punch. ;) Thanks for reading!
A lot to unpack here! What a breath of fresh air to read the words and be reminded of Susan Sontag‘s great work and contribution.
Thank you, Emily! I'm so glad it resonated.
“…I often found myself wondering if these selfie tourists had admirably tapped into a deep and sustaining well of self-confidence, or if they were just stone cold psychopaths”. This, this, this.
Sad but true!
Bologna the Fat (from the cuisine). Bologna the Red (from its politics). First place that I ever slept on linen sheets. Accidentally drove a hire car straight across the pedestrian-only Piazza Maggiore under the watchful eyes of a parked police car -- fortunately with Swiss plates. Has a few medieval towers still standing from the 12th century. Home of the tortellini and mortadella. Great city for SlowFood restaurants (SlowFood print guides so no need to go online). Great mix of people at the Osteria del Sole -- historic (founded 1465) watering hole that just serves drinks, so bring your own food from the local covered food mercato just a couple of streets away (*extremely* unmarked outside so get directions from the local tourist office). Oldest university in the world, still a major part of city life, so very youth/ student-oriented.
Great city.
Good thing I've already been, or I'd have to block you! ;)
One of the little rules I've set out for myself is no recommendations except from people who actually live in the place I'm visiting. But as fate would have it, I was led to Osteria del Sole anyway!
Ok .. noted for the future! I will be on my best behaviour.
I discovered the Osteria del Sole when a local took me there, so it's still a personal recommendation, .. but at one remove.