New York

Taking a tour of the United Nations is a fine metaphor for dealing with American bureaucracy. In my case, you go through security only to find out that the UN tour desk can't take debit cards today, and since the UN's ATM doesn't work, you go outside to withdraw cash, then go through security again twice, having to pour out your water that magically made it through the first time. But surely the $16 tour (which can only be taken during business hours on weekdays) is worth it, right? If you've never heard of the UN and don't read the news, then you should probably pay these tour guides to explain its basic functions. Otherwise, the most informative part of the tour occurs inside the General Assembly, where the "action" happens, an ideal place to grill your guide on minutiae and statistics. My tour guide was quite knowledgeable, but all guides are severely limited by time (tours are 45 minutes) and the complexity of the organization and its 192 member states. Since there is only one official UN headquarters, I suggest taking a tour once in your life, but I doubt there's much to be gained from an encore performance.

Photo:  Sarah Enelow