Reflections on Tourists

Over the last week we have experienced some of the biggest tourists spots in America - Niagara Falls, Boston, New York, and now Williamsburg. I bet over 100 millions people visit these locations very year (50 million in NYC alone). We have learned a lot of about being a tourist and few things about tourism. 

1.  Niagara falls is a Mecca for Indians (Asia). It was a amazing - bus loads after bus loads of men, women, kids and the elderly. We first noticed all of the Indian restaurants in town and then we saw them. It was really cool. The local ice cream stand owner (also an Indian) speculates that Indian immigrants bring all of their relatives from India to NF whenever they come to visit. In NF we definitely felt a part of the minority. This was refreshing. 

2.  In Boston - everything begins with, "we have been doing this (you name it - eating here, doing this parade, going yo school, living here, etc) since ..."  Usually sometime in the 1600's.  This was fascinating until we heard it tons of times.  We have also realized that Va and Ma have been fighting over the who has been doing this longer for a long time. I think because Boston became the larger city and Williamsburg died Ma won this fight. 

3.  In New York - you are definitely in a melting pot. There is one of everything there - I saw a woman in a burka for the first time, a couple needing a room but not finding one, Hasidic Jewish families shopping for toys. This was really powerful and wonderful. 

4.  Williamsburg - we were back in the majority - Almost an all white tourist population. This place helps us really understand the history of our country in such a really real way. I loved it. My favorite part. After a neat street drama - it ended with the Declaration of Independence being read dramatically from the balcony of the state house. After it was read, a black woman actor began talking to those of use close to her on the street. While all of the white male actors were celebrating, She began talking about how this really wasn't freedom for blacks and poor whites. How I would be conscripted to fight for these rich guys who were fighting for revolution. I knew this but to have this woman in period costume to speak to me as a person was really meaningful. 

I don't know what to do with all this but ill be thinking about it. 

Here are a few pictures of the last couple of days:

Sydney posing in Central Park:

Sydney posing in front of degas' dancer. 

At the stocks in Williamsburg. Is this lawful for teenagers?

Eric on trial at the courthouse. I was in trial for failing to come to church once a month. I had become a baptist (went off script). 

My judge who left me off with no fine. 

Fife and drum corps: