Excess Baggage The Dark Tourist - Florida
7 snips
Sep 4, 2010 
In a captivating discussion, Dom Joly, a comedian and travel documentarian, shares his adventures in the world of dark tourism, revealing the unique allure of unconventional destinations like war-torn Lebanon and North Korea. He contrasts the cheerful facade of Florida with its underlying complexities, touching on economic struggles and natural disasters. Joly's humorous anecdotes highlight the duality of places we visit, stressing that travel is not just about leisure, but understanding deeper cultural narratives and histories.
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Understanding Dark Tourism
- Dom Joly describes 'dark tourism' as travel to unusual or challenging places rather than morbid sightseeing.
- He coined this term inspired by a travel book and a curious Guyana tourism idea linked to a cult tragedy.
Assassination Tours as Pilgrimage
- Dom Joly found that visiting assassination sites in the U.S. became a pilgrimage reflecting on historical impact.
- He compares standing quietly at Dealey Plaza to museum visits and senses a connection deeper than explicit activities.
Revisiting Childhood Lebanon
- Dom Joly returned to Lebanon after two decades to revisit his childhood, seeking to reconnect and understand his history.
- He humorously shares going to school with Osama bin Laden and their shared peace-promoting school motto.
