I took my daughter overseas to New York as a reward for her high school success. I suggested a closer destination like Hawaii, but she was set on New York, and we hadn't taken a long trip in years.
Booking a tour of Washington through Expedia turned out to be a mistake. Instead of a comfortable bus tour, it was a cramped van with a driver/ guide who provided no clear itinerary. All I knew was that we were headed to Washington, assuming we'd see major landmarks like the White House. I never anticipated being led on an icy trek through a park.
Despite heavy snowfall, we were marched through what I later learned was the Mall, to see war memorials that held little interest for me. There were icicles on the MLK monument. Nobody else was around. The cold was unbearable, and the ice made walking treacherous.
I slipped near the Korean War Memorial on black ice, fracturing my wrist and turning what was supposed to be a memorable trip into a nightmare of pain and expenses. I needed surgery and had to take time off work.
If I were showing someone around my local area, I'd warn them about dangers like sharks in the water or snakes in the bush. Yet, nobody cared about my safety on this tour. They should've assessed the risks, especially considering the diverse backgrounds of their tourists who might not be familiar with local conditions. The guide expressed regret, but that doesn't change the fact that I was injured on what was supposed to be a safe excursion, not an adventure tour.