I've done my share of tour guiding and everything I ever said was true and the product of great research, but somehow (maybe I was just too glib) everyone was sure I was making it up.

But the story that sticks in my mind happened on a trip where my wife and I were tourists on a bus in Ghent in Belgium. The guide was very learned in several languages and really impressive, but there was one woman who was determined to get her money's-worth. Whenever he'd finished describing some ancient building or cultural site and invited questions, she'd be sure to have one or to question his accuracy. After a lengthy accounting of the many Guild Houses across the canal from where the bus had stopped, he paused and inevitably 'she' piped up (as the rest of us groaned), "But what about that clock tower over there?" After a pregnant pause, the guide said, "That, Madame, is to the tell what time it is in Ghent!" The bus resounded with applause,cheers and laughter, and there were no more questions from that quarter for the rest of the tour.