What is to be " Well traveled?"
Aug 27th, 2013, 05:17 PM
#21
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agree FD
or staying outside the center of the city to be " where the real people live".
Really?" Real" people- not all rich either- live in the central Berlin, Paris, Barcelona etc...
I have seen them, talked to them, and stayed in their homes.
or staying outside the center of the city to be " where the real people live".
Really?" Real" people- not all rich either- live in the central Berlin, Paris, Barcelona etc...
I have seen them, talked to them, and stayed in their homes.
Aug 27th, 2013, 05:39 PM
#22
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<"Living like the locals . . . "
It's just another cliche from the trendy travel folks, who always wandering and getting lost savoring the this-and-that and staying in cheap hotels and thinking their experience is more authentic. Utter nonsense.>
I am guilty of using this phrase to describe some of our long term stays. I do not think of myself as a trendy traveler, quite the opposite: more budget minded than anything else, but I do enjoy staying in apts and shopping in the local markets when I am in an area for 4 or more days. I do not think it is more authentic necessarily, but a slower way of visiting an area.
Sometimes we have the time to do it and sometimes we do not. Granted we are most definitely not 'locals' and really the only 'local' thing we do is shop and cook our meals. I most definitely do not think it is a better, more authentic way to travel but it is one we thoroughly enjoy.
I guess the term "Living like the locals..." has probably been over used to describe this way of traveling...a better description would probably be 'slower traveling'.
It's just another cliche from the trendy travel folks, who always wandering and getting lost savoring the this-and-that and staying in cheap hotels and thinking their experience is more authentic. Utter nonsense.>
I am guilty of using this phrase to describe some of our long term stays. I do not think of myself as a trendy traveler, quite the opposite: more budget minded than anything else, but I do enjoy staying in apts and shopping in the local markets when I am in an area for 4 or more days. I do not think it is more authentic necessarily, but a slower way of visiting an area.
Sometimes we have the time to do it and sometimes we do not. Granted we are most definitely not 'locals' and really the only 'local' thing we do is shop and cook our meals. I most definitely do not think it is a better, more authentic way to travel but it is one we thoroughly enjoy.
I guess the term "Living like the locals..." has probably been over used to describe this way of traveling...a better description would probably be 'slower traveling'.
Aug 27th, 2013, 06:06 PM
#23
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We often stay in apartments when longer in one place.
Although we purchase a few things at the local markets, we don't cook " at home".
Having more space than in a hotel room makes the stay more relaxing (slower?)
If in Spain, I'll read the local newspaper.....that is the extent of our " belonging".
You do have a point about overused " living like the locals" term.
Although we purchase a few things at the local markets, we don't cook " at home".
Having more space than in a hotel room makes the stay more relaxing (slower?)
If in Spain, I'll read the local newspaper.....that is the extent of our " belonging".
You do have a point about overused " living like the locals" term.
Aug 27th, 2013, 07:32 PM
#24
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"Living like the locals" always gives me a big chuckle. You'll never, ever do it until you ARE a local, but I do understand why it's a goal of people who go rent an apartment or gîte somewhere instead of staying in a hotel, buy food from local markets, and maybe attend a local event or two. And I'm sure they love those experiences and benefit from them. I did for quite a long time. Just don't kid yourself; see it for what it is. It's an idealized concept. Not a bad one at all, just a bit misguided.
You're not living like a local until you're dealing with SOGEDO water service and EDF-GDf, contracting with masons and painters and electricians and plumbers, haunting the Phonehouse for a Clé-3G that will work with your computer, trying to find a local who will chain-saw down the acacia trees and bamboo that are encroaching on your property, going to the local cabinet médicale for a broken finger, or visiting the local mairie for paperwork and poison to get rid of the moles in your garden or fuines in your attic. You probably wouldn't even want to "live like a local," as it's as pedestrian as it is wherever you live, and more so in France, where bureaucracy reigns. And you need to do it in a foreign language, which, if you can't speak it, makes it even sillier.
If you rent an apartment or gîte and settle in to a city or other area, yes, you'll have a different experience from the guy who stays in a hotel. Is it better? Maybe; depends on what you're looking for. There are so many types of travelers. Some would never go to a market and go back to an apartment and cook. Some go to fancy restaurants every night. Some backpack and stay in hostels. Some do only cities; some roam all over the countryside. Some are culturally aware with regard to the places they are visiting; some are decidedly not. Some are sensitive; some are boors. They've all got their place in this big world.
But "living like a local" is a pretty far-fetched goal and simply a poorly phrased concept meaning "I want to be somewhere where I can mingle with folks who ARE locals from time to time and pretend that we are getting to be known by them." This of course leaves aside the obvious fact (and I'm talking about France here) that shop owners and market stall vendors and café owners and patisserie clerks and such will make a very big deal if they see you more than once in a short time, and you will likely take it as a sign that you're "becoming a local," when in fact it is simply their business head that is kicking in and they KNOW if they show they recognize you, you'll be charmed.
The bottom line is that "living like a local" is only charming for the duration of a vacation. It's great to come home from a trip to Europe with thoughts of having lived like a local and been charmed by so many local people, but it's mostly a fantasy. Maybe that's a good thing.
Oh, and after 20+ years of having had a place in the Dordogne, I'm still charmed by many things, but "living like a local" isn't one of them. I AM a local, and it's just as tedious as it is anywhere else (though way, way more lovely to look at).
You're not living like a local until you're dealing with SOGEDO water service and EDF-GDf, contracting with masons and painters and electricians and plumbers, haunting the Phonehouse for a Clé-3G that will work with your computer, trying to find a local who will chain-saw down the acacia trees and bamboo that are encroaching on your property, going to the local cabinet médicale for a broken finger, or visiting the local mairie for paperwork and poison to get rid of the moles in your garden or fuines in your attic. You probably wouldn't even want to "live like a local," as it's as pedestrian as it is wherever you live, and more so in France, where bureaucracy reigns. And you need to do it in a foreign language, which, if you can't speak it, makes it even sillier.
If you rent an apartment or gîte and settle in to a city or other area, yes, you'll have a different experience from the guy who stays in a hotel. Is it better? Maybe; depends on what you're looking for. There are so many types of travelers. Some would never go to a market and go back to an apartment and cook. Some go to fancy restaurants every night. Some backpack and stay in hostels. Some do only cities; some roam all over the countryside. Some are culturally aware with regard to the places they are visiting; some are decidedly not. Some are sensitive; some are boors. They've all got their place in this big world.
But "living like a local" is a pretty far-fetched goal and simply a poorly phrased concept meaning "I want to be somewhere where I can mingle with folks who ARE locals from time to time and pretend that we are getting to be known by them." This of course leaves aside the obvious fact (and I'm talking about France here) that shop owners and market stall vendors and café owners and patisserie clerks and such will make a very big deal if they see you more than once in a short time, and you will likely take it as a sign that you're "becoming a local," when in fact it is simply their business head that is kicking in and they KNOW if they show they recognize you, you'll be charmed.
The bottom line is that "living like a local" is only charming for the duration of a vacation. It's great to come home from a trip to Europe with thoughts of having lived like a local and been charmed by so many local people, but it's mostly a fantasy. Maybe that's a good thing.
Oh, and after 20+ years of having had a place in the Dordogne, I'm still charmed by many things, but "living like a local" isn't one of them. I AM a local, and it's just as tedious as it is anywhere else (though way, way more lovely to look at).
Aug 27th, 2013, 08:09 PM
#25
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Very well put St. Cirq....I will not use that phrase anymore.
I 'live like a local' at home, doing all the mundane, tedious, necessary things you mentioned. I certainly don't want to do them on vacation.
I 'live like a local' at home, doing all the mundane, tedious, necessary things you mentioned. I certainly don't want to do them on vacation.
Aug 28th, 2013, 06:41 AM
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Being insecure, I will always think of someone being "well traveled" as having a few more trips under their belt than I do.
As for the phrase "living like a local," I think it is pretty harmless. When you choose to rent an apartment away from the center and shop in local markets, you are indulging in a fantasy of what it might be like to live in that country. I am sure people realize it is just that - a fantasy.
If I thought Italy was all la-di-da, I would be moving there immediately. But I realize there are the headaches of daily life there, too. And in smaller towns in particular I think it would be hard to move from outsider to local, even after living there.
As for the phrase "living like a local," I think it is pretty harmless. When you choose to rent an apartment away from the center and shop in local markets, you are indulging in a fantasy of what it might be like to live in that country. I am sure people realize it is just that - a fantasy.
If I thought Italy was all la-di-da, I would be moving there immediately. But I realize there are the headaches of daily life there, too. And in smaller towns in particular I think it would be hard to move from outsider to local, even after living there.
