The world's most popular and largest online travel community, TripAdvisor, has announced the top five germiest world attractions.
According to a recent poll on the tripadvisor.com site of more than 4 600 travellers, 34 percent of holidaymakers reported being more "germaphobic" by washing and disinfecting their hands more frequently when travelling since the swine-flu outbreak.
Additionally, its forums indicate travellers have germs on the brain, with use of the words "germs", "sanitiser" and "disease" up 97 percent, 182 percent, and 112 percent, respectively, between March and May of 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. - PRNewswire
1. Kiss Me, I'm Filthy
Blarney Stone, Blarney, Ireland
Legend says those who kiss the Blarney Stone - a block of stone built into Ireland's Blarney Castle - are rewarded with eloquent speech. But given that up to 400 000 mouths from all over the world touch the stone each year, putting your own to the grimy attraction (no easy task in itself) may be too high a price for the promised "gift of the gab".
2. Sticky Situation
Wall of Gum, Seattle, Washington
A bizarre tradition at Seattle's Market Theatre in Post Alley has turned into a fascinating yet very germy attraction - a giant wall of gum. In the 1990s, visitors began sticking their gum to the wall while waiting in line, resulting in a colourful and somewhat stomach-turning sight after more than a decade of gum gathering. Some intrepid visitors have even moulded shapes and faces out of their masticated gum.
3. Lip Reading
Oscar Wilde's Tomb, Paris, France
It is a testament to the love and respect felt by book-lovers and admirers the world over - Oscar Wilde's tomb in Paris's Père-Lachaise cemetery is famously covered in lipstick prints. But with a rainbow of hundreds of visible kiss marks adorning the grave, and countless more planted every year, one can't help but wonder... isn't there a cleaner way to show your literary appreciation? One holidaymaker said: "The tombstone of Oscar Wilde is... well, wild - excuse the pun."
4. Foul Fowl
St Mark's Square, Venice, Italy
A place of immeasurable beauty, Venice's famed St Mark's Square has a dirty side - thousands of hungry pigeons. While vendors no longer sell food to tourists to give to the birds, they still flock in countless numbers, with many visitors choosing to touch and even hold the pigeons. Be careful - these dirty fowl have been known to leave foul unexpected gifts on tourists. One visitor recalls: "I know it does seem a little bit disgusting, but it's so totally hilarious to see your friend/partner being attacked by birds."
5. Grubby Mitts
Forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theatre (Handprints and Footprints), Hollywood, California
The forecourt of this historical Hollywood landmark features the hand and footprints of some of the biggest stars in history. But this intimate look at Hollywood's hands can get a bit grimy, given millions of fans place their fingers in the moulds of their favourites. You may think about bringing some gloves or hand sanitiser before comparing your own paws with those of the greats. One visiting fan said: "You couldn't help comparing your feet and hands, too (with those of the stars)."