When we travel to less common destinations, we are often isolated from our environment. The tendency is to concentrate on a small number of casinos and stick close to the object of the trip. I haven’t talked about this before, but I try to avoid that trap. Wherever I go, I try to get a feel for the place. That doesn’t mean a tour bus. That means footing it. As examples, there have been discussions of Paradise Island (Atlantis) and St. Marteen here over the last week. I’ve walked most of the habitable areas of Paradise Island at one time or another, including the residential areas. I’ve walked over the old bridge to Nassau a couple of times (don’t if you have vertigo and if you don’t use a treadmill or live in San Francisco.) Walk under the bridge to visit the local conch stands. In St. Martin, I’ve been in nearly every corner, from driving a jeep over the tricky road to Anse Marcel (scary), Orient Bay, panting on the way up to the old fort, the mosquito filled marina, as well as buying groceries a dozen times in off-the-beaten path, local village stores (and picking out the roaches). I'm actually a lousy tourist, and have never even been to the tourist spots in my own city (Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, etc.). I just think knowing the local culture is helpful.
I try to do this in any city. Does it matter? I don’t know. But why look like yet another ugly American?
I try to do this in any city. Does it matter? I don’t know. But why look like yet another ugly American?
