I have gone traveling with my tourist sister twice now. And loved it.
It sounds, and is probably going to sound as if I consider "tourist"ing to be a bad thing. Let me make it clear that I do NOT. It's one way of doing the traveling thing. It's also an effective way to get an overview of a community or an area, and it gives one a common ground with the people one encounters, whether as a fellow traveller or as a sympathiser with those who Must Endure. If the visitor is a repeaat guest, the familiarity helps both sides of the bargain.
However, once the initial visit has been made, my personal choice would be to go a little slower, wander more and tourist less, see the sights without sight seeing, and just -- travel. Travel through or travel around, whichever seems most appropriate for the place and time.
Yes, I am a meanderer.
My sister is a get 'er done type. She wants to see and do it all, and to the best of her ability she will make repeated trips to do exactly that.
Everything.
And there's always some new attraction being added or created in tourist towns.
And after she has done enough, whatever that is to her, she SHARES it. With everyone she can.
With me.
Having been there with her, and done all that, I now want to go back.
Go back at my own pace.
We went to Niagara Falls, straight up the interstate. zoom, zoom -- at times chug-chug, depending on traffic -- and there we were. Went home the same way. Drove by Cleveland; only had glimpses of Lake Erie. I was disappointed at that, but not heartbroken. I agree whole-heartedly with avoiding cities while driving.
Now, I would like to do that trip again.
But, forget the expressway. I'll meander up 62, drive through rural Pennsylvania. Especially this time of year, with the fall colors coming on, and the rain keeping the air freshened.
I would stop and eat at the small town diners.
I would shop at the small town craft stores.
I would look,look, look, and I would listen.
As for the Smoky Mountains, I definitely want to explore more than Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge.
I want to go to Greenbriar.
I want to walk the trails and for me a two hour hike in would probably take about five hours. And then I'd take six to get back out!
One of the hikes I'd like to take is in the Gatlinburg area, I want to go to the grotto. I want to get out at multiple places along the roaring fork trail. Get out and wander and absorb the special air and nature combo that makes the smoke of the smoky mountains. If you haven't been there -- haven't let the great outdoors caress your skin and kiss your cheeks -- then you don't know -- can't know -- the feeling it gives.
At the same time I wouldn't mind going other places with her, letting her lead the way. Make the introduction, perhaps.
I sometimes think of presenting her with a list of places I'd like to go but that seems awfully demanding and presumptuous. Good thing my budget isn't allowing me to behave like that. I wouldn't like it.
Traveling is something we can share.
We may have different styles when it gets down to basics, but we have interests in the same places, many of the same things (sights and sounds).
After all these years, it's good to share.
And be shared with.
It sounds, and is probably going to sound as if I consider "tourist"ing to be a bad thing. Let me make it clear that I do NOT. It's one way of doing the traveling thing. It's also an effective way to get an overview of a community or an area, and it gives one a common ground with the people one encounters, whether as a fellow traveller or as a sympathiser with those who Must Endure. If the visitor is a repeaat guest, the familiarity helps both sides of the bargain.
However, once the initial visit has been made, my personal choice would be to go a little slower, wander more and tourist less, see the sights without sight seeing, and just -- travel. Travel through or travel around, whichever seems most appropriate for the place and time.
Yes, I am a meanderer.
My sister is a get 'er done type. She wants to see and do it all, and to the best of her ability she will make repeated trips to do exactly that.
Everything.
And there's always some new attraction being added or created in tourist towns.
And after she has done enough, whatever that is to her, she SHARES it. With everyone she can.
With me.
Having been there with her, and done all that, I now want to go back.
Go back at my own pace.
We went to Niagara Falls, straight up the interstate. zoom, zoom -- at times chug-chug, depending on traffic -- and there we were. Went home the same way. Drove by Cleveland; only had glimpses of Lake Erie. I was disappointed at that, but not heartbroken. I agree whole-heartedly with avoiding cities while driving.
Now, I would like to do that trip again.But, forget the expressway. I'll meander up 62, drive through rural Pennsylvania. Especially this time of year, with the fall colors coming on, and the rain keeping the air freshened.
I would stop and eat at the small town diners.
I would shop at the small town craft stores.
I would look,look, look, and I would listen.
As for the Smoky Mountains, I definitely want to explore more than Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge.
I want to go to Greenbriar.I want to walk the trails and for me a two hour hike in would probably take about five hours. And then I'd take six to get back out!
One of the hikes I'd like to take is in the Gatlinburg area, I want to go to the grotto. I want to get out at multiple places along the roaring fork trail. Get out and wander and absorb the special air and nature combo that makes the smoke of the smoky mountains. If you haven't been there -- haven't let the great outdoors caress your skin and kiss your cheeks -- then you don't know -- can't know -- the feeling it gives.
At the same time I wouldn't mind going other places with her, letting her lead the way. Make the introduction, perhaps.
I sometimes think of presenting her with a list of places I'd like to go but that seems awfully demanding and presumptuous. Good thing my budget isn't allowing me to behave like that. I wouldn't like it.
Traveling is something we can share.
We may have different styles when it gets down to basics, but we have interests in the same places, many of the same things (sights and sounds).
After all these years, it's good to share.
And be shared with.
No comments:
Post a Comment