That’s my approach when I travel. Because no matter how cool or unique I think things are or how “off the beaten path” I try to go, I’m still a tourist. A visitor. Someone who doesn’t live there, who doesn’t know what the rhythm of life in that place feels like when I have to navigate making time for my hobbies and work and seeing my people and somehow taking care of myself.
It’s okay to be a tourist. As my friend Carmen said in her recent note, “the ‘not like other girls’ mindset is ruining your travels”.
Everyone wants to be Anthony Bourdain, and I get it. Everyone wants to have deep insights to share, insider knowledge that suggests you’re somehow part of a secret sophisticated club. But you’re not. We’re not. And many popular sites are “touristy” for a reason.
Also, there was a whole team of people contributing to those moments we idolize from Parts Unknown, so why are we trying to replicate that on a trip with you and your bff where you each have maybe 3 hours to research and plan?
So please let’s free ourselves from spending a ton of time, money, and energy trying not to be like everyone else.
Instead, here’s an alternate framework for travel…
From someone who loves being a tourist and has been embracing knowing nothing in new places since she was a child.
1. Just be a tourist but try not to be an asshole.
Tip well.
In big cities where things are fast moving and folks gotta get to work on public transit, step to the side or out of the way when you need to look at a map.
Don’t take photos of children, period, even just for your own files.
Brown people, and poor people especially, are not animals at the zoo to be gawked at or photographed without permission.
Learn a few words in the local language. Even hello and thank you go a long way.
Try new things. Try the local foods without making a huge fuss about how weird they are.
Just try.