Tourist Season
It's tourist season y'all, and this year there's no bag limit! Just don't shoot'em with anything kinetic. We just got back from a grand adventure out on the old Route 66, and although there was plenty to see and shoot I couldn't help but keep turning the camera on the folks around me.
Think it's some sort of natural human impulse, you get somewhere new and you get a sort of tunnel vision trying to experience it. If you can shake loose of that it can be fun, the people around you can be just as interesting as the things you'd come for.
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is really good for this. With the right kind of eyes and weather you can see for thirty miles or more from the top, and with only ten minutes to take it all in everyone is glued to the windows. Hell, with a wide angle lens you can even combine landscape and street photography.
Hunting tourists is a lot like hunting ducks, works best if they're blind to you. Realtree doesn't work as well with tourists though...
Since we were in Santa Fe we had to pay a visit to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. The museum itself was quite interesting but the crowd was equally fascinating. It was my introduction to that sort of scene and I felt as if I'd stumbled into some sort of peculiar subculture. Pretty sure it deserves a photo project unto itself but that's for another day.
Was wandering around the basilica in Santa Fa and somehow wound up getting a tour of the Stations of the Cross. Hadn't realized what a morbid lot the Catholics were. Where I grew up it was more handling snakes and speaking in tongues. Six of one, half dozen of the other I suppose. Anyways, to revive one's spirits after all that there was a guy busking in the park with harp. Just seemed like tourist bait but I don't think I've ever seen anyone busking with that particular instrument before. Anybody else ever come upon someone pickin' & grinnin' in the park with a harp?
'Cadillac Ranch, the gateway drug to juvenile delinquency!' Remember kids, you can spray paint these cars, but no others! What kid is going to believe that?
Now if you'll excuse me, I think I see the game warden.
Has anyone picked the harp one yet? Why was dude wearing a mask in the arch? I've been there, masks weren't a thing and did you expect this many questions?
You were the first one to pick the harp, although if my fuzzy grasp of Spanish is correct alberto imitated you. Asking about the mask just didn't seem to fit with "Be very very quiet, we're hunting tourists." There wasn't any sort of requirement for'em so I reckon he just likes the look of it. After this I've come to expect all sorts of questions.
Did you ever do you traveliving thing in New Mexico?
Funny clip.
Negative, traveliving is international. Things like unfamiliar currency, language, culture et cetera are required.
Been through a couple times though. First time I didn't know how I ended up in Vegas. About 20 years ago now. First time from the west, downtown Albuquerque looks like MGM.
And cold. Freezing. Only place I've been colder than NM, thus far, is WY.
It's a circus.
Gotcha. Ha, "didn't know how I ended up in Vegas" those are always fun stories. My first time in NM was purely to avoid driving through Kansas again on my way back east. Been back a couple times since and although it'd get cool at night it was never cold. Not like Wyoming cold, this southerner was not prepared for frost in August. Still not as bad as Michigan I don't think.
Kansas is the shittiest state. Even planes fly around it.
Made the mistake of trying to pass through it once, got introduced to the Kansas Two-Step and swore that once I crossed that state line I'd never be back.
Plus that much flattery is just obscene.
la mejor foto según mis gustos fue la de el señor tocando el arma el instrumento musical bello..
Ese fue un hermoso instrumento, no podía dejarlo pasar sin tomar una foto. ¡Gracias por venir!
Woot, thanks!
The gateway arch actually looks good
You have taken wonderful pictures
Nice one!
It's even more impressive from the outside.
Thank you!
I'm really interested in seeing picture number 3. That's pretty cool to me.
Glad you liked it, it's an interesting place.
To give you some perspective, number 3 was taken at the top of the arch in the photo above.
The beauty of the photos is enhanced when they are converted to black and white and the fact that it is neither too cold nor too hot makes it a perfect time to travel.
Black and white is the best :) Just wish there was more of that 'neither too cold nor too hot' weather.
Yeah you are right.
Congratulations. Today's #monomad second place is yours.
Thank You very much for participating and for being part of the Black And White Community!
Woot! Thanks so much!
I feel like street harping could probably something that happens in Portland sometimes, somewhere, but I have not seen it, ever.
Cool shots!
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STOPpeople can be just as interesting as the places you visit, and I'm glad that you took the time to notice and appreciate the people around you. Your description of the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum crowd was particularly funny and insightful.
I've never seen anyone busking with a harp before, but it sounds like a beautiful and unique experience. I'm glad you got to enjoy it.
And finally, I think your closing line is absolutely hilarious and spot-on. I can just imagine a kid being told that they can spray paint the cars at Cadillac Ranch, but no others. They're definitely going to spray paint other cars!