OMG – you didn’t see the Mona Lisa, what were you thinking? Don’t try and see everything when you travel. You will not ever get a full appreciation of a place if you are running around and ticking everything from a list that you have made from many good sources just to say that you have done everything, or to impress other people
Why Do You Want To See Everything?
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There can be a number of reasons why people seem to want to see absolutely everything. Might your friends say, ‘What did you think of the Mona Lisa in the Louvre?’ and you hang your head and say that you actually didn’t see it or more than likely, you scramble for an excuse like ‘the Louvre was closed that day/week’. There is no need to please anyone other than you, or in our case us. Don’t compromise for the sake of others opinions.
Have a Game Plan
The reality is there is so much to see and to do in so many places that you need to have a game plan.
– I must see this or I will need therapy forever
– I would like to see this if we get a chance
– Look, let’s be honest military exhibitions had never done it for me, so really I am not in the slightest interested.
A point to make here though, that as part of a travel couple there needs to be both compromise AND the ability to part ways and to pursue an interest and then to later share the experiences.
I am of the opinion that I would rather get a feel of a place with seeing some must see things and actually I really enjoy just walking around and randomly meeting people and seeing things not listed in the guide books.
Allow serendipity to kick in and be flexible.
Things are iconic for a reason.
Yes, we/I have my must sees.
I had to see Rembrandt’s Night Watch in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, and I did. It was a miserable wet day so of course everyone was getting out of the rain and wanting to see my painting. By the time I had seen a few other paintings that I like, the room where Night Watch is, was crowded. I could not get a glimpse until I wriggled between all of the people and was standing square in front. The painting overwhelmed me, so this was a thrill.
Some Things are Not High on the List
Did I go the Van Gogh Museum? No. Howl me down, but I am not a fan and had other priorities. I know, I know .. my niece is barely speaking to me over this atrocity. Yet, I saw so many other interesting things in Amsterdam… some things my mother would still not approve of, but then I am used to that ..and so is she.
Making Choices
In Rome, we wanted to see the Colisseum, to toss coins into the Trevi Fountain, and to explore the Pantheon, which was open that day. In fact there was a lot of walking that just kept revealing more and more of this beautiful city. Catacombs along back streets, piazzas filled with flowers, people coming and going with dogs in baskets. We went to the Forum, to the Spanish Steps and to Trastevere, where there may or may not have been a fair bit of limoncello involved with some local cafe owners. We did line up for ever to see the Sistine Chapel, so we did see a lot.
In Florence we again made a very conscious decision of what we could feasibly see and do. David with his enormous feet, and the Uffizi were firmly on the agenda, as was the Duomo but then we omitted others for the sake of having the freedom to just wander around pretty much aimlessly discovering the delights of the city.
Actually during a jetlagged early morning walk in Munich we saw more art, daily life and things than could ever have been planned, like a fans memorial to Michael Jackson and also where Kurt Eisner was murdered. That people, is serendipity.
In Tokyo on our first visit, Gordon wanted to go to Akihabara for the electronics so he went and I wanted to see the Harajuka district in Shibuya and see all the cos play fashions so I went, and we both wanted to see the Imperial Palace and the fish markets, so we both went. Ditto the Sumo wrestling. We discovered by accident the awesome district of Ueno, so this was a bonus.
We Haven’t Seen or Done Everything
We cannot ever say that we have seen everything that is on traditional lists, but in many respects by virtue of not trying to, we have seen a lot more. We do like iconic things, city tour buses but we don’t try and see everything.
Do people put us on the spot by saying did we see this or that?
Yes, they do and of course we ‘could’ say, but did you see the old lady city on the windowsill in Antalya, Turkey, but we don’t do one upmanship.
OMG – you didn’t see the Mona Lisa, what were you thinking?
We feel secure enough in our travels to know that we cannot ever see everything. FYI, I haven’t been to Paris yet but we will be there in September. Is Mona high on my list? No actually, and I will incur the ridicule of not seeing something that I should have. But who knows, maybe when I am feeling very Parisienne I may change my mind. That is where exercise my own choice.
Post Script – OMG, I did see the Mona Lisa
Since I wrote this article, we have been to Paris and yes, I ran straight to the Mona Lisa. The bitch photo bombed me…and astounded me, there is a reason why people queue to see her. So OMG, I did see the Mona Lisa, and did what every other tourist did and got a selfie. Tacky but you know what, it was fun.
I read somewhere that one of the top places to get pickpocketed in Paris is in front of the Mona Lisa–a whole crowd of tourists all staring at the Mona Lisa. It’s not a painting that ever really thrilled me, even less so in person as it was so small and dark behind glass, but the Louvre is worth visiting IMHO for the Winged Nike of Samothrace.
Van Gogh, I wonder if you would like his paintings more in person. All art is better seen in person, scale and texture just don’t come across in reproduction.
I’m with you on the prioritizing! You can’t see everything in one visit and anybody who opts for Tate Modern over Tate Britain when in London is really missing out.
Enjoyed this post! (can you tell?)
I tend to agree that I should have seen some Van Gogh paintings in person because they are so different in real life. I wasn’t expecting to like the Mona Lisa, but I did, so I really will give Vincent a chance next time. Thank you for enjoying the post.
Point well taken. I tend to do copious amounts of research trying to narrow down what I want to see, and always overschedule myself. I’m getting better, and walking a lot is a good solution, as there are usually many undiscovered spots around every corner. Love that last photo-made me laugh out loud!
Thanks Alison, we love walking for the same reason; you find so many things that you could never have planned for. The last photos was a bit of a laugh.
I hear ya! We never seem to have enough time anywhere we go, so it’s always a matter of making choices. We know what we like and set priorities in that direction. I also keep it in my mind that I’ll return someday to pick up where we left off. Glad you made it back to Paris and the Mona Lisa.
I am glad too, because it was better than what I expected. It is so hard to see everything so I hunk it is also important to be realistic, and not wear yourself out for the sake of just saying. I am a great believer in returning to places that I love. Might have to drop in and say hello to Mona again, I am thinking.
Yes, the Mona Lisa is a must-see. As I recall it is close to the entrance and so no need to skip it. But when I saw it, there were so many people around it I could never have taken a selfie with it. And the first time I saw it no plexiglass was around it, so I was disappointed by that the second time. My favorite part of seeing her though, is probably the typical ugly American tourist in t-shirt with cameras around his neck exclaiming to no one in particular, “That’s IT?”!
LOL, I was surprised because Mona Lisa was a lot better than I expected. I am little and this works to my advantage as I can wriggle through to the front, and people always let me in. And I work it all of the time 🙂
You summed up our approach to travel with the one word – serendipity! Like you, we want to see the things and treasures that draw people to a certain place but it’s the wandering around, people watching and sense of discovery that make travel so amazing. It’s not about checking places off a list – it’s about learning new things, changing our perspectives and having fun!
I could travel with you, as you have summed up our philosophy to travel perfectly. But, I have a thing about travelling with others 🙂 Have a read of this for a bit of fun, though you are both on the same page as us, Travelling with other people – the don’ts and don’ts https://contentedtraveller.com/traveling-people-donts-donts-2/
Sights become iconic for a reason! There are so many that I just wouldn’t want to miss—:-)
I agree, places and sights are iconic for a reason, and so is the atmosphere of a place; it is a balancing act for sure 🙂
Too right! We enjoy traveling most when we have lots of free time for just wandering and being in a place. But it can be hard to resist packing too many sights or even countries into your trip. Especially in Europe where countries are relatively close together, it’s hard to restrain myself from trying to see too many of them in the time we have. But Portugal is just a short drive away…
I adore Europe and there are just so many things to see and to do. We are now totally used to the long haul flight from Australia, but I often think that living in Europe for half of the year would make our lives a lot easier. Thanks Shelley
Took us till our fourth or fifth time in Paris, but we did finally see the Mona Lisa.
It was a quiet afternoon, so we thought we would run in 🙂
Ha! Love your Mona Lisa pic! I like to spend time just wandering around a city to explore. I write up a list similar to yours, have to see, would like to see, etc but I keep my planned events and touring around to a minimum – one or two things a day and take time to relax in the cafes and just wander around to soak up the culture.
We are exactly the same Susan. We prefer people watching and we see such different things, that you would;t know we were in the same place actually.
Haha excellent ending, loved the story
Thanks Noel – I love the show that I can by hypocritical when needed 🙂
I’m with you! We can’t see everything when we travel, and there’s no sense feeling guilty about that, or worrying that other people will think less of you! 🙂 Now, me, Mona would have been high on my list. I wore a Mona Lisa ring for years. I have no idea where I picked it up, but the band finally wore out, or I’d probably still be wearing it! I was in Paris back in the 70’s on an Easter weekend. I remember we had fun, but practically everything was closed, including the Louvre. Mona is still on my must see list 🙂
Now you must get a replacement ring for sure. Actually, I was more impressed with Mona than I thought I would be, so it was totally worth it.
The best sights are the ones you just stumble across – but hey if you’re in Egypt and you miss the Pyramids you’re going to regret it when you get home and you can always stumble across all the other great stuff while you’re headed in the general direction of Giza – lol.
I was an Ancient History teacher specialising in Egyptian history for a long long time. I am unsure whether I want my romantic illusions destroyed, quite seriously.
Great travel philosophy. I am constantly surprised at the number of places I have visited thinking I’ll never see them again – and then I find myself there again.
Love the photos with Mona…
Thanks Yasha, we tend to also be return visitors. I couldn’t help but put the photo in 🙂
Good points. I sometimes rush around to see a lot of attractions, but it is my list not someone else’s. I also like to spend time just walking around. It is a great way to get a feel for a city and stumble upon some unexpected delights. Totally agree one has to find their own way of travelling. It is not about one upmanship.
Thanks Donna, I agree that everyone has their own travel style and as long as you are true to yourself then that is all that matters.
You write in a very entertaining way. Loved the fan’s memorial to Michael Jackson and other back road stuff you found. But I do tick off the must-sees. I feel I have let myself down if I don’t. And my husband and I have never gone on separate ways to tour. What can I say…very traditional tourist here.
Thanks Carol, I think that we all have our different travel styles. We like to watch the world go by but also definitely see some things that are iconic, because that is why they are iconic. It is only when Gordon feels secure with me that he lets me wander off.
I do like to see a lot when I travel because chances are I won’t get there again (too many other places to see). I do a lot of research and then make a list of what’s doable for me (high energy/low threshold of boredom) and what interests me. I agree with you about military sights — not for me. I love to spend time just walking around the “old town” streets.
Patti that is me to a tee, high energy/low threshold of boredom but we do love to walk, stop, walk, stop and yes, the old towns are my weakness too.
Hahaha, I see nary a Japanese tourist in front of her! You’re so right on this subject. We are big on leaving time for just walking around a new place and, like you, make a different sort of memory, managing to stumble into places we’d never had on the radar. More personal, to be sure. And if you feel you haven’t done everything, there’s always the option to extend your stay or return.
Thanks Betsy; I photoshopped the other tourists out 🙂 We love just wandering and seeing things that we knew nothing about.
Good point well made! Totally agree with you – I used to be one for planning meticulously everything we needed to see, but now we have an idea of our key things and then let the rest of the trip weave along as it so pleases! Trips are about R&R and down time as much as seeing everything somewhere has to offer!
Thanks Anna, it is too difficult to try and see everything when it should be about about absorbing the atmosphere.
Great advice, Paula… I think you’ll have a lot agreeing with this one! Where I live (English Lake District is quite a touristy place, but we get people who “do” the Lake District by taking a coach tour of Britain, hare-tailing it up to Scotland, and passing through this area on the way. Sometimes they don’t even get off the coach but they feel they must return home having ticked this one off their list. The truth of the matter is, you could easily spend a week, month or even a year here nd not see it all. Hell, I’ve been here more than 25 years and am still dicovering places I didn’t know! I definitely agree with taking it easy and doing the things you want to do, not what others think you should do.
Agree totally Paul. There are so many people we have met who have been everywhere and seen or felt nothing. That is a reason why we have our Outside my Front Door Series, where people can do just that – share their own place. We would love for you to share something about your area, Lake District 🙂 You can see lots of examples of some amazing ones here, https://contentedtraveller.com/category/travel-stories-3/outside-my-front-door/
I completely agree! I’m glad you’ve written this. And actually it was a recent conversation I had about not seeing the Mona Lisa that drew me to this post! I also prefer to wander a new city, I usually have two or three things I intend to tick off in a destination but other than that you get a more authentic experience when you wander. Constant site-seeing for the sake of it can just feel monotonous, and you lose the art of exploring, of feeling a place. There’s no point seeing a bunch of things you’re not that interested in! Now when people ask me why I didn’t see the Mona Lisa I might show them this post 😉
Thank you. At the moment we are in Europe and have seen ‘some’ iconic’ things but we have also clocked up at least 10kms a day just wandering around and taking back alleys and are finding some amazing things. I have no issue now, when people say “did you see ..” I say, no but I saw this and talked to these awesome local people.
I know, there is so much to see and to do, we will also have to be realistic.
Great travel advice! When I was new to traveling, I was that person who was packing in as many museums and monuments as I possibly could, to try to see it all and maximize my time. (I would even know which attractions opened first and closest latest so each day would be optimized.) But as I’ve gotten more experience, I’ve learned to narrow down sites to my interests, and strike balance between going to attractions, just walking around cities, and enjoying their food/drink scenes as well, which is just as cultural an experience. So I agree about the Louvre – don’t feel bad about not going in (but at least walk past the museum because it is gorgeous from the outside), and make sure to walk around a lot in Paris and sit in a cafe or two!
Thank you, I think that many people are now feeling more at ease with NOT doing absolutely everything. As difficult as it is for us coming from Australia, we would rather go back than be totally overwhelmed and less appreciate of seeing everything.
Great post! I agree that you can’t possibly see everything and it’s best to just pick a few things you’re most interested in. That said, I’m currently in Paris (1st time) and I have no plans to see Mona Lisa or even go inside the Louvre. Atrocity? Maybe. But art museums bore me to death so I’m not gonna go just because everyone else says it’s a must-see. 🙂
Thank you, now I feel validated. I totally agree and will look forward to everything you say about Paris as we will soon be there.