Agreed, but I am still not going. 30 years ago, I would have gone,
but things were different then. I don't speak like a native.
In Italy, (or anywhere else) we always try to blend in and look and
act like the locals. That includes eating what the locals eat. In
Italy, we rode all over on the train, including places that appeared
no American had been to since the end of WWII. The instep of Italy's
boot is considered the armpit of Italy, and there was no problem
whatsoever there. A resort there was mostly for Neapolitans, and was
a fenced compound like mexican resorts. Most of Italy considers
Napoli to be despicable but here, the locals were despicable to the
Neapolitans. But I have no interest in going into Rome.
Sitting outside the Bahnhof Aachen eating rolls and butter purchased
inside the station has been one of the most enjoyable moments in our
travels. (and watching a Ponton Diesel go ripping by in addition to
the multitude of other MB,VW and BMW products.) Hanging out in
Munchen Hbf is interesting too. Lots of food and shops
In three years of living on Oahu and working in Honolulu, we never
went to pearl harbor, the Arizona Memorial, or the submarine, not
because there were not interesting, but because every tourist goes
there. While living on the big Island, we did on occasion go to Kona
and play tourist. That is kinda a busman's holiday because a lot of
the folks who go there are Hawaiians. If we stay at a hotel, it is
never Mauna Kea Beach Resort, it is Keauhou Beach Hotel which caters
to Kamaainas (locals)
At 01:05 PM 5/7/2009, you wrote:
I look white/european, but I know how to not stand out when
traveling. White skin does not make you stand out at all in Mexico,
since a sizable percentage of "native" mexican people have fairly
light skin, and some even blond hair and blue eyes.
What makes you stand out is dressing and acting like a rich tourist,
and driving a fancy car. Bring a beat up looking car that's well
maintained, and buy clothes locally that look like what everyone
else is wearing and you'll blend in. I generally will wear a
guyaberra (southern mexican style dress shirt) or a white T-shirt,
and drive my somewhat beat up and dirty Volvo 740. I eat and go
where the locals go, and avoid the tourist places. My car has
american plates, which also blends in- because a lot of the cars
down there were imported from the US and never had the plates changed.
How you act has a lot more to do with your safety when traveling
than where you are or what your race and nationality are. Taking the
time to learn a few phrases in the local language doesn't hurt either.
Tyler
Tom Hargrave wrote:
Tyler,
A friend if mine travels to Mexico a lot. He's Hispanic descent and he also
feels safe & probably is. But I'm white and I stick out like a sore thumb in
Mexico. Locals automatically know that I'm not local and I draw attention
which makes me a target.
Do you look like you are from the area or do you look "European - American"?
If you look like you are from the area then you blend in & will not be a
target.
I would not be a target in any Northern European country.
Thanks,
Tom Hargrave
www.kegkits.com
http://www.kegkits.com/JABF/
256-656-1924
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Loren Faeth
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