OK, I'm going to put this thread in "daily life" as it seems to me to be a daily occurrence these days but.. we'll see where it might wind up....( off topic? )

simple as this.. what are your favourite stupid tourist questions?

I was standing the other day, while not in sight of the lake, fully in sight of the jet d'eau and someone came up to me and asked directions to the lake *turn around*point*

or.. last year...walking along in front of the UN which was very obviously in full lock down... police in riot gear.. the full show... and a couple walked up to me and asked if they could tour the complex... *yes, yes.. just go ask that man with the Darth Vadar helmet..he'll tell you where to go*

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Champagne don't make me crazy...

"Do you speak English?" to which I always reply (with a glint in my eye) "yes, a little".
On one occasion in Lausanne, after directing an elderly American couple to Ouchy, I was warmy complimented on my 'Good English'

You live here and you do not know where it is.....

I've had a varient of that at times.. sometimes while in "boyscout" mode I'll offer help to obviously bewildered tourists.. and you know what they look like.. map crumpled up... frommers guide book in one pocket.... John Clancy novel in another pocket... and I'll walk up and ask if I may help

"ohh.. how did you know we spoke english? "

just a wild guess !

eh? .............

That kind of happened to me as well, although I was complimented on my "Good American"

I was looked at a bit funny once when whilst standing outside Starbucks I asked somebody where I could get a good cup of coffee. I didn't think it was a strange question at all.

That's fantastic lol. I'll have to do that, it sounds fun

That's actually a very justifiable question.... because its certainly not at Starbucks

That would likely have been the response when asked about an obscure attraction by a tourist and having not known the location.

For some reason people always seem to think the locals should know everything about the area... yet it's only really tourists that go to tourist attractions.

My favourite still sits fresh in the memory: it was a warm, sunny day in Edinburgh, and I was walking along Princes Street. Being such a cheery person in those days, I offered to help two lost-looking tourists (I won't embarrass anyone by stating their nationality), who were fighting with a map and clearly the map was winning.

"Gee yeah, that would be swell! Can you tell us where Edinboro Castle is?"

"Errrr, you mean that large building up on the big rock there?"



"Oh gosh, you must think we're so silly."

" "

Standing on the platform at the Zürich HB:

"Excuse me, but does this train go to Stockholm?"

Yes that is what I meant. I guess I could elaborate a bit more

there is no stupid tourist question.
tourists are away from their hometown and tend to be obsessive about tiny trivia.

sorry for being serious....

excuse me, I noticed your flag thingy... do you speak Swiss?

Actually in northern Spain, at the reception of a hotel in the castle built into the ancient city walls of Avila. The receptionist was explaining to an elderly American visitor that he had to park his car in the car park just outside the city walls.

He was not happy and turning to me commented

"you'd think a castle would have a goddam car park!"

I agree absolutely! And they spend their money here - be nice

Bah, some are tourists with stupid questions before they've even left home.

I quote, from my own years of working in tourism:
"Where's Canada" (by a resident of Michigan, where Canada is literally across the lake)
"why can't I drive to Europe" (from Canada)


then of course it's always fun watching people get off planes at Vancouver airport, in August, in a parka, in 30 degree weather.


The ones that care about the "tiny trivia" are actually the good ones.

I never said I'm not nice to tourists.. and as noted above I have even tried to help at times without being asked... however just like here at EF that doesn't mean we can't make fun of them behind their backs.

and yes I have been a bewildered and stupid tourist myself at times.

That's OK - I meant it in a light-hearted way