9 Famous Sights and the Surprising Reality Hiding Just Outside the Frame

The Trevi Fountain, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Charles Bridge — these are all hugely popular tourist destinations that many of us dream of visiting and seeing with our own eyes. But, as it happens sometimes, expectation can differ slightly from reality.

1. Leaning Tower of Pisa

“Went to Pisa, Italy... The tower seems fine.”

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is world-renowned for its nearly 4-degree lean. It began to tilt during construction due to the soft ground that couldn’t support the structure’s weight. Starting in 1993, many lead counterweights were added, which straightened it slightly. Later, it was stabilized to the point that, for the first time in its history, the tower stopped moving. It is still slightly tilted but looks perfectly straight from certain angles.

Some people who visited it claim that it is a tourist trap and that Pisa doesn’t offer as much as other cities and towns, and that the tower isn’t as interesting as the nearby baptistery or cathedral.

2. Trevi Fountain

“Quiet day at Trevi Fountain”

The Trevi Fountain is the largest fountain in Rome and also one of the most popular tourist attractions. Thanks to the influence of cinema, a tradition has emerged of throwing coins into it for good luck. Due to its incredible fame, the fountain is almost constantly surrounded by people, making it very difficult to photograph it without them, and even getting close to it can be challenging. Tourists themselves say that Rome is beautiful, but this place is disappointing.

• I never realized how crowded it would be when visiting here. It was so shocking! I guess I should have known better.
  Also, it was covered in scaffolding, which did not make for memorable pics. The one consolation was the gelato place which was situated right in front of the fountain. © Tapas_na / Reddit

3. Colosseum

Just like the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum is a highly frequented spot. Simply strolling around it can be quite a challenge: you’ll encounter souvenir and water vendors everywhere, and most notably, rather persistent tour sellers attempting to get you inside the structure.

• I arrived in Rome at the end of February, which was considered the low season. But when I got near the Colosseum and just wanted to wander around it, it turned out to be quite a challenge! There was a crowd of noisy tourists and various vendors all around.
  Those selling tours of the Colosseum itself were very pushy, constantly pestering with their offers. I got so tired of telling everyone that I didn’t need a tour at the moment, so exhausted from the hustle and shouting, that I quickly left. I returned in the evening, hoping to wander there in solitude, but no, it was still quite crowded.

4. Cat Island

Many pet lovers heard about this island in Japan. It is said that there are a lot of cats, and it is beautiful there. At one time, fishermen brought cats to the island to combat rodents, and they settled there and then multiplied in large numbers. The cats are fed through donations from all over Japan. They also hunt small animals on the island and receive some food from visitors.

The town itself is very small, and there is a temple dedicated to cats. Upon visiting, you might find that there aren’t actually that many of the furry creatures left. Nowadays, most of the cats living there are from cat cafés, and many of them are not well cared for.

5. Sagano Bamboo Forest

“The truth about the bamboo forest in Kyoto”

The famous Sagano Bamboo Forest has mixed reviews. Some find it disappointing because in reality it’s not as bright green, or that there are too many tourists.

There are indeed many of them, but it turns out it’s not such a big problem. It’s said that if you go further along or take a route off the main path, you will hardly encounter anyone. Some even managed to take wedding photos there without too many people in them.

• This is nothing. I went during golden week, and it was so jam packed. Honestly, I thought the bamboo forest is more like a bamboo alley.
  It was underwhelming. Kyoto is still very beautiful, though. © adobostyles / Reddit

6. Antarctica

If you ever plan to visit this place, know this: it’s a very expensive pleasure, and the journey through the Drake Passage is a real challenge not everyone can take. The Drake Passage is one of the most turbulent sea areas on Earth. Wind speeds here can exceed 60 mi/h, and wave heights sometimes reach 50 feet. In the 17th—19th centuries, around 800 ships sank there.

• One of the landings was unique: 30 people from our group spent the night on the ice. The ship dropped us off on the shore where there were no penguins and sailed away. We tramped down spots for sleeping, laid out mats and sleeping bags, and settled in.
  I slept, probably for 2 hours. Firstly, how can you even sleep in Antarctica? Secondly, the polar day was just beginning, so there was no real night. Thirdly, it started snowing, and breathing inside the sleeping bag became increasingly difficult.
  I could talk about this endlessly, but the journey was simply incredible. Antarctica is something amazing and surreal.

7. Vinicunca mountain

Vinicunca is a mountain in Peru, located in the Andes near the city of Cusco. It is known for its vibrant, colorful stripes, formed by various minerals in the layers of rock.

The mountain is a popular tourist attraction, but it requires acclimatization to the high altitude. Some people advise bringing quality outdoor clothing: warm and waterproof. Ascending above 16,000 feet above sea level is quite challenging for many.

8. Mongolia

Very few people have a clear picture of what awaits them in Mongolia, besides herds of horses and endless plains. One imagines something like the top photo: bright national costumes and oriental dwellings. Mongolia is definitely not a place to visit unprepared, especially if you plan to venture deep into the country, rather than just traveling on the few paved roads.

• Only about 20% of the roads in the country are paved! There are few cities here, and most of the population consists of nomads and residents of small villages. Furthermore, outside of populated areas, cell service is virtually non-existent.
  In villages, you will find a pharmacy and a couple of mini-markets, but you shouldn’t count on restaurants or guesthouses. However, these small grocery stores are surprisingly well-stocked.

9. Charles Bridge

There is something special about Prague that sets it apart from other major cities of Europe. Whether it is the Gothic cathedrals and Baroque palaces or the more than 200 gardens scattered throughout the city — Prague offers a genuine escape from the modern world. For lovers of architecture and history, there is no better place. From the heart of the Old Town Square to the Prague Castle on the hill, you can spend days wandering the city, admiring its beauty.

• Before my trip to Prague, I often came across mesmerizing photos of the Charles Bridge. It looked mysterious: shrouded in mist, with glowing lanterns and not a soul around. Clearly, these shots were taken by photographers late at night. Because even at midnight, when we walked across the bridge, it was crowded with tourists.
  Everyone wanted to photograph the illuminated castle in the distance, visible from the Charles Bridge. It completely ruined the atmosphere, and almost all the statues on the bridge appeared as black as soot. Only a few of them have started to be cleaned.

And here you can check out the most dangerous tourist destinations in the world.