Travel

It always gets my goat whenever I hear of people going on a tour to this exotic place and being so busy snapping pictures with their cameras that they fail to enjoy the experience of just “taking in the scene".

It's like this proverbial story of this couple who were asked what they felt about their trip to Paris. They said, "Oh, we were so busy taking pictures to show friends back home that we didn't have time to look around ”.

Pathetic. I think that when people are on a tour, they should never bring any kind of capture device except their naked eye. One must immerse oneself to the experience of the moment: to breathe in the air, to feel the mood, to sense the place with all its history and its promises.

Flash bulbs flashing, people crowding in for a shot, artificial smiles born on a lip that says "cheese" spoils the spirit of a spot. How would you like a silent appreciation of a sunset interrupted by a commentary from some noisy guys?

WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

1. Gets my goat - Annoy or anger someone
2. Proverbial - widely known and spoken of
3. Pathetic - Causing or deserving pity or sorrow; pitiful; sad
4. Immerse - Throw yourself into.

PERSONAL APPLICATION

1. Do you like to travel? Why or why not?

2. Which places have you visited? What place impressed you the most? Why?

3. Which places in the world and which tourist spots do you want to see?

4. What do you want to do the most when you travel?

5. How does the writer feel about taking pictures during the trip?

6. Do you agree with the writer’s opinion?

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