Signs of a Small Town Traveler
I grew up in a small town in Kentucky. I was fortunate enough to have parents who took or sent me on trips all over the US and abroad. My parents were leisure travelers and ended up in such exotic places as Morocco and Ethiopia. In addition to curiosity about the world and open mindedness, my parents also burned the rules of the 'small town traveler' into my soul.
1. Leave the good jewelry at home
In a third world country rule number one is common sense. If you are staying at The Four Seasons near Columbus Circle there is really no need to replace your diamonds with zircons to prevent them from being ripped out of your ears by starving thieves.
2. Dress down
In some places it is considered an insult to show up in denim and track shoes. In other places it is just an unforgivable crime against fashion and a blight on the landscape. Regardless of the place, looking nice does not automatically make you a target for wandering criminals.
3. Always tie a colorful identifier around the handle of your black suitcase, so it will be easier to find on the luggage carousel
You can always spot the suitcase of the small town traveler by the gaudy ribbon or tape around the handle of the nondescript black suitcase. Here's an idea...Buy a suitcase that is not black and spare us the sight of your Care Bear ribbon.
posted by Anomie-Atlanta at Thursday, November 02, 2006
6 Comments:
One of these days I would like to be able to travel again. Last big trip was to Chicago three years ago.
I really would like to go to Ireland.
But once I get there, I may not want to come back.
Is there work for a broken down hack in Ireland? I sure hope so.
And you forgot: If you feel that having to follow rules might dissuade you from taking the risk of exploring new places, then screw the rules.
This is a lousy method of concreting your indefinite hiatus. :)
Having never left the states (someday...) I'm enlightened by your post. And I little surprised about the whole earrings "being ripped out of your ears" bit.
wow.
I love #3. I had mentioned something from the show Avenue Q on someone else's blog. If you haven't been to NYC ye, you might enjoy it as it's a musical but it's actually funny. There are a couple of Care Bear type characters called the Bad Idea Bears that are pretty funny.
Great tips, I have to say that a little common sense goes a long way anywhere.
My favorite part of traveling is the people in the airport who've not had any chance to get used to the idea that other people might be traveling as well, and have that weird pacing, huffing and squirming thing going on while in any line, as if shocked that they're not the only person there.
And all this time, I thought the ribbon on my luggage was a brilliant idea.
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