Is there anything that you're more likely to do or try when abroad (or even in another part of your own country?) that you wouldn't dream of doing at home? Does travel lessen your inhibitions in some way? Do you feel freer when you know that the chances of bumping into someone who was there at the time is less likely than winning the lotter?

I guess examples might be going topless? Or haggling in stores? Or climbing over a fence into a restricted area to get a better look at something? Could be silly, could be big...

picking lavender from someone's field.

I used to go topless, but the police asked me to stop as it was scaring the young children!

Living in a small town in rural Georgia, I find that I am more likely to eat gelato in Italy than at home.

In Europe, I feel completely free to walk the streets in nothing but my micro-sized, leopard spotted speedo. Why, this one time in Spain, everyone just smiled at me as I went by. Guess they thought I was a local.

BTW, what's the pharse "Dios Mio?" mean in Spanish?

actually, i find the reverse is true: i'm much more reserved in europe. it's a question of boundaries. i know what i can get away with at home in the US whereas i'm not quite that confident over there.

or maybe they were smiling just to be polite.

Dios mio=my god
depending on who uttered that phrase..
-with raised eyes and smile it would be very good...like WOW on steroids...
-it could otherwise be an expression of shock or disapproval depending on who said it and the context.

Does travelling reduce your inhibitions? maybe just being on vacation away from home does that...perhaps there is a wider variety of things to do, eat etc...hopefully lowering ones inhibitions will be coupled with a sense of responsibility and sensitivity for what locals (particularly local police) might find unacceptable.

Ryan - It means: he's got a small one

LOL degas!!

Actually I am more reserved when I am traveling than at home. I would not get drunk in public, for instance, in a place that was new to me.

Degas,
He's got a small one? They were refering to the bathing suit right? Did I mention it was unseasonably cold in Spain that time of year.

LOL!! Stop it you guys!

Once on a Windjammer cruise in the Bahamas, we all went ashore on the deserted island for the evening bonfire and dinner. Most people got naked as soon as the launches hit the beach. I waited until dark, then swam with a fella I'd met in the ocean where we were covered with phosphorescent algae. Very exciting for a young woman, romantic, and it was the 70's after all.

Wait - I didn't meet the fella in the ocean: I swam in the ocean; had met the fella on the ship.

No, I am pretty much the same abroad as I am at home. But then again, I like the way I behave at home--it's not in need of improvement that could only be found elsewhere!

However, there are LOTS of things I do away from home that I'd never dream of doing in my own city, and it has nothing to do with loosening my inhibitions. It has all to do with following local customs. In Sorrento I very happily swam topless, but that's only because I saw the natives do it first! I'm a great believer in "do as the Romans do..." I figure that if locals do certain things that would never fly in my city, why shouldn't I seize the opportunity to do the same when it presents itself?

My dears, I do exactly as I please whether home or abroad.

I danced on a bar in Buenos Aires and even sang (badly) with the band! and they didn't even have to ask! I just jumped on stage and off I went... \/

well, the stage was a big platform, on the way to the ladies room, and on the way back I couldn't contain myself. I got quite a standing ovation. =D>

I CAIN'T GET NO, NUH NUH NUH, SATIS-FAC-TION!

yes, malbec was involved.

Ryan, of course I was talking about the tiny suit. Or at least I hope that's what it refers to as the locals screamed the same thing about my tight bikers pants! Darn, now you got me to wondering what those snotty little ......

What an interesting question, Tallulah! I think that travel, by its very nature, opens you up to different experiences which you wouldn't be so open to at home. I think this is the case whenever you are put in a situation where you you won't see others you know (and, more to the point, probably won't see any of the people you are encountering again, either.)I know I did some wild things when I was in my early 20's when I lived in Europe that I would have NEVER done back home in California. I think that you also have a false sense of security traveling around. Sure, you're worried about pickpockets in some locations, but really, you don't REALLY think anything is going to happen to you. For instance, I live in a very, very quiet and safe area, but when I lived in the UK, I'd often walk miles home alone in the middle of the night, enjoying my walk, but being stubbornly unafraid. That wasn't that long ago (ahem!) but I can say that even then, I would never have done that at home.

There's no question that I'll do something when I travel I wouldn't think of at home. My best example was driving into Queenstown, New Zealand and seeing all the cars parked by a bridge. We stopped and discovered it was bungey jumping from the bridge where the craze all started. It gave me the shivers to think about it, but two days later before leaving Queenstown, I said "I'm here. I've got to do it." So I did.

And I learned to Scuba and got certified only because we were going to Australia and I decided if we were going to the Great Barrier Reef, then I'd have to Scuba!

Good one about the gelato, ira.

At home I am dyed-in-the-wool autistic and have never even met my neighbours of 15 years.

But when abroad I talk to anyone and everyone on the very slightest provocation, and actually laugh and smile at whatever they say back, which n-e-v-e-r happens at home (hence my nickname of "Smiley" down at the autism centre where I hang out).

harzer

LOL all you guys..too funny. I seem to have gotten somewhat more conservative with the passing years....tend to keep my clothes on more and those around me are very grateful I am sure. However, from my younger days there are quite a few towns I can't ever "do lunch in again" but ah...the memories. "Don't know these people, will never see these people again" has a certain charm.