Hi:
What are the semantics around being a traveller or a tourist?
Yesterday I mentioned round-the-world trips. Part of retirement travel is and having the time to experience a country and people in a more meaningful way.
Everything in context, I believe. You could zip 'round the world tasting the highlights of each country. Another goal checked off your list.
But hold it - that may be how we had to operate when we couldn't carve out more than a few weeks of time. Now we can contemplate depth, rather than just breadth.
A tourist does see the highlights of each country. That's very important and if you have a few days, well there it is.
I have known people who have gone on trips and never actually interacted with one individual from that country in a meaningful way. They have stayed in large western hotels and been shuttled from place to place. Interactions have been primarily with people in their group.
They have seen the places but not talked to the people. They have only had one-half of the experience. A country is made up of the people, the customs, their history and their monuments and buildings.
Difficult, of course, if you are in a country where you don't speak the language. Difficult if you are not travelling close to the ground as it were. How can we do this? If you have ideas, please write.
M.
retirement travel
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