Cathedral Tours - Language Translation "Hack"

[ShoshTrvls]

Because I had heard such marvelous things about it (all warranted), I booked the rooftop Cathedral Tour on Monday, despite knowing that it would be all in Spanish. (My Spanish is good enough to order food and ask for directions, but not good enough to glean relevant information during a tour.) But ... for the first time I used Google Translate's audio capabilities and it worked perfectly! I asked the tour guide if she minded if I stood next to her with my phone while she talked* and she was ok with it, so I had Google Translate transcribe everything she said so I could read it as she spoke. The translation was remarkably good with virtually no lag time or mistranslations (at least none that I couldn't figure out on my own). It was really a game changer, and something I'm going to start using more and more. The only caveat is to make sure that you have a fully topped-off phone battery, because it will use a ton of battery power from your phone.

*Because of the way headphones produce sound, you can't use the audio translate feature with the headsets, you need to be next to the person speaking.

 

[Vacajoe]

I did the same for crossing the bay to Mont Saint Michel! French-only guide for a 2.5 hour hike and there was concern that I wouldn’t understand the safety protocols. Google translate saved the day and even became a “thing” because we would laugh a few seconds after everyone else, much to the delight of the tour group. Occasionally the translation would be a bit off, but always understandable (even if it had an odd propensity to insert inappropriate language at points when the guide was being serious ).

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Totally unimportant but I previously described my one (humerous) experience with a Google Translate live interpolation here:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/language-barrier.77644/#post-1082603

 

[JerryStroebele]

The Cathedral roof top tour is worth every euro even if you can't understand a work in Spanish. But, gracias, I will use the Google translate audio feature on October 29 -- if it isn't pouring down rain. Buen Camino

 

[Hans-Georg Goebel]

Because I had heard such marvelous things about it (all warranted), I booked the rooftop Cathedral Tour on Monday, despite knowing that it would be all in Spanish. (My Spanish is good enough to order food and ask for directions, but not good enough to glean relevant information during a tour.) But ... for the first time I used Google Translate's audio capabilities and it worked perfectly! I asked the tour guide if she minded if I stood next to her with my phone while she talked* and she was ok with it, so I had Google Translate transcribe everything she said so I could read it as she spoke. The translation was remarkably good with virtually no lag time or mistranslations (at least none that I couldn't figure out on my own). It was really a game changer, and something I'm going to start using more and more. The only caveat is to make sure that you have a fully topped-off phone battery, because it will use a ton of battery power from your phone.

*Because of the way headphones produce sound, you can't use the audio translate feature with the headsets, you need to be next to the person speaking.

How did you book where? Online in advance or on site just in time?
Thanks in advance

 

[ShoshTrvls]

How did you book where? Online in advance or on site just in time?
Thanks in advance

Book online on the Cathedral website. It sells out so definitely do it early.

 

[abien]

Is it the CUBIERTAS Y TORRE DE LA CARRACA ticket? or is it worth also doing the PÓRTICO DE LA GLORIA? (not to yell, but I just copied and pasted from their website)

 

[ShoshTrvls]

Yes, that’s the right ticket. I haven’t done the Portico of Glory tour so I’ll let others comment on that.

 

[abien]

Yes, that’s the right ticket. I haven’t done the Portico of Glory tour so I’ll let others comment on that.

Thx!