Famous sites are overrated
THE dangers and temptations of online reviews were nicely illustrated by the collection sent to me by Bill Dennis of Meltham, collated from Trip Advisor, which is one of those websites where the armchair critic can say what he or she likes safe in the echo chamber of their own ego.
The Eiffel Tower was declared “overrated” with the addendum: “They tried to copy the one in Las Vegas and I can only describe it in one word… underwhelming.”
Another said “Doesn’t do anything. Just sits there.”
Ben Nevis was “very steep and too high”, Big Ben “just a big clock” while Pompeii was dismissed as “nothing of significance”.
Stonehenge was “smaller than expected” and one visitor said: “I was disgusted to find this was just a few rocks to look at and nothing to do.
They should knock it down and build an arcade or funfair.”
So much for heritage.
The Grand Canyon was “an overblown sandy ditch” and its lack of wi-fi “unacceptable in this day and age”. One said: “I had lots of good photos but was unable to Snapchat them.” Shame.
Bill adds: “I wonder what those people would have made of local wonders like West Nab or Huddersfield Railway Station?”
West Nab, above Meltham, has ancient rock formations and a splendid view, although the lack of a chair lift might deter some world travellers, while the railway station frontage is above the derision of any outsider having been declared by John Betjeman as “the most splendid in England”.
Then again, I don’t know what the wi-fi reception is like.