I was about 55 years old the first time I went to Disneyworld. I'd been to Florida and Orlando several times before, but never any of the theme parks. I'd been to Disneyland with my boys while I was in my late 30s. The comparison between California and Florida is stark. Not that Disneyland is bad, if you're into theme parks and Disney in particular. Orlando just offers so much more.
I'm not writing about Disney, though. What I found really intriguing was, when I visited Disneyworld, I was surprised to see how well it has adapted through the years (Disneyland still has work to do to catch up). I realized, upon visiting Epcot, what Disney's original goal was. At a time when long distance travel was rare, and still a luxury, he sought to bring foreign lands and foreign experiences to the United States. As authentic an experience as possible, whether from abroad or from entertainment. Disney hired locals from the regions represented in Epcot, and they continue to do so. In fact, when I was in Britain I met a former pub owner who was one of the first Disney had brought over to run the "authentic" English pub in Epcot. My Italian dinner in Epcot was served by a native of Tuscany.
OK, so Bulldog, you're still talking about Disney... Yes, well, knowing what Disney is/was about helps address part of the question of authenticity. There's nothing truly authentic about Epcot. You can't fault them for trying, and it's an admirable effort. It's not my style, though. The crowds and the imagery are like near beer, when you're looking for a craft beer IPA.
Recently, Bird Dog had shared with me how his visit to Venice was like visiting Disney, and I can definitely see where that view comes from. I was there 7 years ago, and only spent 2 days in Venice. I'd say I got a relatively good feel for it and enjoyed my time. I don't entirely agree with his comparison. But something did click when he mentioned it. The final morning, as I was standing on a dock waiting for a vaporetto to take us to the airport, we saw our concierge. He was smoking a cigarette and shaking his head as a massive cruise ship was arriving. He looked at me and said "they are ruining this place." He chatted about how the cruisers come ashore, create crowds and won't be spending money. I understood. I'm not much of a cruise person (at least not the huge cruise ships). I tend to avoid them. After 2 days in Venice, I was familiar with the cruise crowd. It was that experience which allowed me to align with Bird Dog's view. The concierge realized Venice is selling out for the crowds.
I brought up Disney because I'm not sure there's much "authenticity" anywhere we travel. Over time, even the original destinations tend to take on the look, feel and mannerisms which are widely believed to exist. Case in point - the "Druid" celebrations at Stonehenge. Stonehenge isn't Druid. It predates the Druids by centuries. Near Stonehenge was a pub where I met a former Disney manager. This was his pub, and now its 'theme' had shifted slightly. While still an 'authentic' pub from King John's era, with many interesting items to view, it had a satellite dish, TV and it catered to busloads of tourists. It was in a village, Lacock, which had strict rules about modern adaptations. Portions of the Harry Potter movies were filmed in Lacock because of its 'authenticity'. Despite this, anyone who has visited Lacock would be quick to note the level of 'authenticity' is dependent on what you're looking for.
This isn't to say travel is worthless, so Disney and Epcot suffice. Original locations are almost always superior for learning and experiencing what life is or was about. However, it is worth mentioning that Jean Baudrillard wasn't far off in Simulacra and Simulation. We see the impact of influence, from a variety of sources, all over when we visit other nations. London remains my home away from home, yet it's nothing like the London I remember from 1979 or 1983, when I lived there. Every time I visit it's like returning to the home I grew up and and not recognizing it. Modern realities and sensibilities squeeze in. You have to cater to crowds if you want the coin.
Disney catered to a particular audience, those who lack the time, money, or interest to actually see the world, but wanted a packaged version of it. It's nice to have that available. The rest of the world still has to package and brand itself, too. Which means, over time, portions of what people want to see gets mixed in with different versions of what reality has to offer. If Epcot's "Italy" is what they're willing to pay to see, Italy itself will find itself affected in some way.
I imagine it's always been this way. Mass communication and the rapidity with which information travels have sped the process a bit. It's hard to have a true cowboy experience because that was a difficult and strenuous lifestyle. But a dude ranch can give you the next best thing to being there, I suppose.
I enjoy reading history, particularly before I travel. My search for the 'authentic' is to bring myself closer to the history. I'll never forget wandering Rome and stumbling on the Largo di Torre Argentina, where Caesar was killed. We took pictures, wandered into an atrium nearby with some very interesting ancient sculptures on display, and what caught my eye was the plaque across the street stating this was the spot where the car containing Aldo Moro's body was found. I took a picture and stared at the location for a moment, while the rest of my family asked "Who was Aldo Moro?"
Similarly, during a walking tour of the homes of literary giants in the Hampstead Heath area, we visited a church where Bram Stoker wrote portions of Dracula. I was more interested in the cemetery, where John Harrison (who solved the issue of longitude) and John Constable just happened to be buried. Sheer luck allowed me to find these, which were welcome side notes to the larger tour. Almost as engaging as seeing where Ian Fleming lived, and how he came up with the name for Goldfinger.
I suppose authenticity lies in what we're searching for. Hampstead Heath is not remotely authentic to what I remember from Constable's paintings. Some degree of the 'authentic' remains. We all seek some level of it as we travel. Sometimes we'll be pleasantly surprised. Much like the old saying regarding luck - you have to be prepared for it when it crosses your path. However, each visitor sends a little bit more of it to the dustbin, so a new 'authenticity' evolves.
