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50 Tourists Share Their Surprising Discoveries From Around The World
Travel,CuriositiesMAY 25, 2023

50 Tourists Share Their Surprising Discoveries From Around The World

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In hindsight, it seems a bit silly to be surprised by the unexpected when traveling. After all, the entire point is to see and experience new things, otherwise, why spend all the time and money? So one should at least expect some amount of surprises and fortunately for all of us, these travelers made sure to document the unusual or unexpected things they encountered while traversing the globe. 
So, wherever you are, get comfortable and prepare to scroll through all the memorable little things tourists and travelers have run into, upvote the experiences that caught you by surprise, and be sure to comment your own stories. And if some of the things listed here are pretty normal where you are from, let us know!

#1 They Have Pet Carts In Grocery Stores In Italy

They Have Pet Carts In Grocery Stores In Italy
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446points

#2 This Museum In Berlin Has "Touchable" Versions Of Their Paintings For Blind People

This Museum In Berlin Has "Touchable" Versions Of Their Paintings For Blind People
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434points

#3 The Algerian Sahara By Night. With No Light Pollution, The Sky Is Truly Incredible

The Algerian Sahara By Night. With No Light Pollution, The Sky Is Truly Incredible
I spent four days camping out in the remote Algerian Sahara - just me and a local guide. I took a million photos but this was one of my favorites. Freezing cold at night, but free of all light pollution the sky was breathtakingly beautiful.
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426points

Despite the dangers and discomfort, humans have been fascinated with travel for thousands of years. There are early Medieval examples from all over the world, while the earliest example is “Periplus of the Erythraean Sea,” which is a first-century text describing travel conditions, currents, and weather patterns throughout the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Less a piece of literature, it was more like a guide for merchants who were looking to travel in these areas, though it seems likely that any merchant with half a brain would still need to hire captains and sailors with experience. Currently, it’s not even known who authored the text or if it even had one author, as there is the possibility that it functioned more like a collection of different people’s experiences. 

#4 An Albino Turtle I Saw On My Vacation In Sri Lanka

An Albino Turtle I Saw On My Vacation In Sri Lanka
424points

#5 After 4 Days Of Trekking Over The Salkantay Pass To Get To Machu Picchu, I Woke Up Around 3:30 Am To Try To Get There Before The Rest Of The Tourists

After 4 Days Of Trekking Over The Salkantay Pass To Get To Machu Picchu, I Woke Up Around 3:30 Am To Try To Get There Before The Rest Of The Tourists
100% worth it for seeing the sunrise alone.
412points

#6 Rainy Day In Ireland

Rainy Day In Ireland
410points

Marco Polo is a more commonly known traveler, but he was not the only one of his contemporaries to write about his experiences. In China, one of Marco Polo’s many destinations, there were even writers who would make “day trip essays,” which would give readers some basic information about different locations that are, as the name suggests, a day’s travel away. However, these essays mainly focused on using the locations to provide some sort of moral lesson, which tells us that even a thousand years ago, people could not help from editorializing. 

#7 In Denmark, Some Of Our Light Signals Are Small Vikings

In Denmark, Some Of Our Light Signals Are Small Vikings
404points

#8 My Hotel Phone In Iceland Has A Special Button That Will Wake You Up If There Are Northern Lights In The Sky

My Hotel Phone In Iceland Has A Special Button That Will Wake You Up If There Are Northern Lights In The Sky
396points

#9 My Hotel In China Has A Card To Give To A Taxi Driver So You Can Find Your Way Back

My Hotel In China Has A Card To Give To A Taxi Driver So You Can Find Your Way Back
388points

Indeed, in the 16th century, traveling to what at the time was Persia (mostly modern Iran) and the Indian subcontinent was so popular, that these accounts were often put together into collections, so interested readers could just buy one book and compare. There were similar collections for Europe, though it was seen as less exotic than Asia, and often focused on a single region, such as the Italian peninsula. 

#10 Train Seats In Japan Facing Outwards So You Can See The Scenery

Train Seats In Japan Facing Outwards So You Can See The Scenery
384points

#11 Spotted The Hogwarts Express On My Trip To Scotland Last Year

Spotted The Hogwarts Express On My Trip To Scotland Last Year
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377points

#12 A Tram On The Stuttgart Rack Railway With A Trailer For Bikes. Stuttgart, Germany

A Tram On The Stuttgart Rack Railway With A Trailer For Bikes. Stuttgart, Germany
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334points

As maritime technology developed, the means of transportation itself became a topic of interest. Similar to the travel vlogs of today, there was a lucrative niche describing the realities of ocean voyages and the various sights and experiences one could have. Of course, the average person on, say, a transatlantic ship had a much worse experience than a literate, generally wealthy traveler. 

#13 In The Ancient Egypt, Cats Were Sacred Animals. It Seems That Nothing Has Changed Since Then

In The Ancient Egypt, Cats Were Sacred Animals. It Seems That Nothing Has Changed Since Then
328points

#14 These Two Different Sets Of Shopping Baskets At A Department Store In Bangkok - For Those That Need Help Or Want To Be Left Alone

These Two Different Sets Of Shopping Baskets At A Department Store In Bangkok - For Those That Need Help Or Want To Be Left Alone
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315points

#15 Wuppertal's Suspension Railway (Monorail), Germany

Wuppertal's Suspension Railway (Monorail), Germany
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310points

This all goes to show that these travelers, documenting and photographing the things they saw are part of an ancient tradition. While we might think of Marco Polo’s writings as more highbrow, he probably would have used a camera, if he had the option, as a picture can really show you what a thousand words can’t. Hopefully, this list has put some wanderlust into you and there will be more interesting experiences from around the world for all of us to enjoy online. 

#16 This Tree In Morocco Is Filled With Real Goats Standing On It

This Tree In Morocco Is Filled With Real Goats Standing On It
310points

#17 The Way These Trees Grew On A Street In Amsterdam

The Way These Trees Grew On A Street In Amsterdam
299points

#18 Subways In Japan Have Women-Only Cars

Subways In Japan Have Women-Only Cars
293points

#19 In Finland, There Are Buttons To Thank The Bus Driver

In Finland, There Are Buttons To Thank The Bus Driver
289points

#20 Found A Door Entering A Field In Denmark

Found A Door Entering A Field In Denmark
283points
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