Ruben Chorlton-Owen, 25, recently visited a popular holiday destination but claimed locals told him to “go home”. He said he encountered some different experiences while he was there
A man recently visited a popular holiday destination but claims he was told to “go home” while he was there. Ruben Chorlton-Owen, 25, from North Wales, previously opened up about his recent travel experience which left him rather taken aback.
Earlier this month Ruben visited Catania in Italy but admitted he was “shocked” by some things during his visit. According to Ruben, some areas were quite dirty, with rubbish, dog mess, graffiti and heavily neglected streets all being problematic – in fact, he was taken by surprise so much that he felt the need to share his story with others.
It’s not the first time he’s opened up about his travel experiences either. Previously, he also admitted he was shocked by the price of a meal he ordered in Tenerife.
When he was visiting Italy, Ruben explained: “What really caught my attention was the amount of anti-tourist graffiti, including messages telling visitors to ‘GO HOME’, and other much stronger messages aimed at tourists.
“I’ve actually met some really lovely locals while I’ve been here, and there are some genuinely great and welcoming people from Catania. At the same time, I’ve also been shouted at in Italian while walking around, so there definitely has been an unwelcome vibe in certain places.
“I wouldn’t say Catania as a whole is like that at all. Most of the city has been absolutely fine and there are some really beautiful areas and lovely people. It’s more the contrast that has surprised me.”
However, he was also left taken aback by the amount of rubbish that he alleged was left around. He claimed this was a “big shock”. He even made a video on TikTok to show people what he’d witnessed while exploring.
“I’ve been to almost 30 European countries and honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen this much rubbish concentrated in one place,” he added. “It’s particularly noticeable in the central areas.
“I don’t want to make it sound like the whole of Catania is covered in rubbish because it definitely isn’t, but the central areas I’ve explored have been some of the worst I’ve personally seen.
“I’ve actually really enjoyed parts of it, met some lovely people and found some beautiful places, but I’ve also been genuinely shocked by some of what I’ve seen.”
Even so, Ruben said he had a “great” time, and he met some friendly people during his time there too. He also noted that Mount Etna was “very cool” to visit.
He just confessed that a few things took him by surprise, with the rubbish and graffiti being particularly startling. It didn’t impact his overall experience though.
Tourist information boards in Italy have been contacted for further comment and information.
Where is Catania?
If you’ve never visited before, Catania is an ancient port city on Sicily’s east coast. It sits at the foot of Mount Etna, which is an active volcano with trails leading up to the summit.
It is a popular and increasingly visited destination in Sicily. The area is usually celebrated for its unique black lava-stone Baroque architecture and vibrant street life.
