Moronic tourists and liquid confusion

A slot machine it ‘aint

A natural wonder under attack! Northern Ireland’s iconic Giant’s Causeway is being slowly wrecked by people jamming coins into its ancient basalt columns. Why? For “luck” or to “leave something behind”. Ever heard of a photo - just be careful if taking a selfie! Rusting coins are now wedged in its cracks, turning the rocks a shade of reddish-brown and causing serious damage.

The coins expand as they corrode, popping off corners and cracking the surface. And since most people don’t carry hammers, they’re using stones from the site to bash them in. Aptly named Dr Cliff Henry from the National Trust calls it “very rapid erosion” on a geological scale. A specialist stonemason is removing the coins carefully but it’s slow work. And no, DIY coin removal isn’t helpful. Tour guides are warning people. Signs are going up. But still, people keep at it.

Here’s a thought: if your legacy is ramming a rusty 2p into a World Heritage Site, you need a rethink. This isn’t a souvenir stall - it’s a 60-million-year-old treasure. These people should keep their coins in their pockets, and their stupidity off the rocks.

100ml, 2 litres… who knows

It’s just become normal, hasn’t it? You go to the airport with your little clear plastic bag and inside are the liquids you want to take onboard the aircraft, all in tidy 100ml containers. It’s reminds me of taking your own shopping bags to the supermarket; you don’t think it’ll ever come naturally, but it does.

Of course, news of high-tech scanners and the lifting of 100ml liquid restrictions did excite me because I live for anything that makes life a little less taxing – it would certainly make airport security more bearable. I once saw one women just walk up to staff at security with her arms in the air and say, almost in resignation, “just tell me what to do.” I rolled my eyes of course but in fairness the words ‘passengers’, ‘airports’ and ‘confusion’ are often seen in the same headline. As it was recently when I read a story about how inconsistent rules from airport to airport may result in chaos over the peak summer period. If you’re travelling from Birmingham or Edinburgh you’re now ok to take up to two litres of liquid in your cabin bags (two litres!), but others are lagging behind with the technology upgrade and have missed the latest, extended deadline of June just gone.

On the quiet, the Department for Transport has given airports the scope to start lifting the old restrictions once their new scanners are installed and approved – and crucially will be able to set their own timescale. Basically it’s a dog’s dinner and so ensure you keep on checking the rules and that your groups make no assumptions. 

Masterpieces are not selfie fodder

In my day, when you saw a TV personality or a famous footballer, you simply asked for their autograph. You often couldn’t work out who it was later and probably forgot who made the squiggle. Today, it’s all about the selfie, an obsession that has exploded since smartphones got front-facing cameras. Even better - a selfie with someone famous. But now it’s not just people – it’s things too. A snap in front of a landmark makes sense, but what about a painting?

I discussed how selfies can be deadly in a previous column, but they can also be destructive. An exhibition at Florence’s Uffizi Gallery had to close after an 18th century painting of Ferdinando de’ Medici by Anton Gabbiani was damaged after a moronic visitor fell backwards into it trying to take a selfie he hoped would go viral. The Uffizi’s director admitted they’ll need to “set very precise limits” for visitors more interested in selfies than respecting “cultural heritage.”

The British Museum, the Louvre and New York’s Metropolitan Museum have all faced similar problems. People seem more interested in snapping selfies than looking at the masterpieces in front of them. Expect more signs and rules, just because some people are mindless.

^{The views expressed in this column are not necessarily the views of the publisher.}