In Defense of Touristy Places
Why being a 'traveler not a tourist' is overrated
Hi there,
And happy new year! I ended 2019 in Ukraine and rang in 2020 in Spain. Both were incredible trips and I’m putting together a list of recommendations soon. For now, let’s dig into the tourist vs. traveler debate.
Be a Tourist AND a Traveler
After restricting your Middle East travel, I’m going to give you permission to indulge in something that’s over the years gained a reputation as a traveler’s sin. BE A TOURIST! Go see touristy things! Wait in lines with all the other tourists and buy the audio guide and take too many photos and embrace it. (Then go far away from whatever tourist site you’re visiting to eat). For the most part, touristy things are touristy for a reason.
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is the most visited tourist attraction in the world, according to Travel + Leisure. Do Turkish people shop there? Who cares! It’s beautiful and overwhelming in a good way and definitely worth a visit.
Is the Colosseum in Rome packed with crowds and people trying to sell you things? It is. It’s also one of the most impressive structures ever built, is somehow still standing, and has a history that makes any sort of party or gruesome act we carry out today seem tame.
Famous museums are famous because they hold works of art that have made people stare in awe for years. Sites like the Great Wall, Angkor Wat, Petra, Machu Picchu, and all of the other wonders of the world are not part of some conspiracy that attracts people for no reason. They’re genuinely amazing. Even Times Square is mind blowing the first time you see it.
Sometimes I hear people (the “I’m not a tourist, I’m a traveler” type of people) say things like “I don’t do tourist sites.” My first thought is always ‘well, you’re really missing the point.’
There are exceptions–theme parks, recent attractions made just for tourists (much of Navy Pier, much of Dubai), or buildings that can be appreciated from afar without needing to go inside (Willis Tower, Eiffel Tower, etc.). Still, most very touristy sites are historical or cultural in some way. To skip them is skipping part of what gives a place identity. What would Rome be without its hundreds of ancient ruins? The Colosseum and Roman Forum are the crux of that. New York City would not be New York City without Times Square and Rockefeller Center and the Empire State Building–they’re part of the allure, and to understand the city you have to understand this part of it, along with the many less famous places and neighborhoods and ways of life.
The worst part is I think a lot of people really do want to do the touristy things, but they’re embarrassed about it or don’t want to look like a tourist. Don’t be embarrassed! You are a tourist. And honestly, no one thought you were a local anyway.
When I’m traveling somewhere new to me, I like to do one or two sites or museums a day, then spend the afternoon wandering a neighborhood and doing more ‘local’ things. The best part? If you go back (repeat travel is another thing we resist that can be really nice), you’ve done the touristy things and can spend all your time visiting lesser-known spots.
Tourist: a person who is traveling or visiting a place for pleasure.
There’s so much ego around travel, and so much disdain for tourists, which is strange because by definition if you are traveling somewhere you are a tourist. I love Chicago and want everyone visiting to see the reasons I think it’s so great–the distinct neighborhoods, the lake, the local shops and restaurants. But I would be horrified if I found out they didn’t take an architecture boat tour, visit the Art Institute, try deep dish pizza, eat a Chicago dog, visit Wrigleyville, walk along Lakeshore Drive, ogle sharks at Shedd Aquarium, and so on. (They don’t have to do them all, but at least a couple!)
So please, this year, be a tourist! It’s a resolution that’s actually fun to stick to. Enjoy, and send me your photos.
*Touristy restaurants are a whole different story. More on that next week.*
Links I Loved
We can all dream of packing like this guy.
Australia fires: how to help. And tips on visiting.
I’ve really liked how Sebastian Modak has carried out his role as the 52 Places traveler for the NYT, and this recap of his year was sweet.
Some self promotion - I wrote about the volunteer soup kitchens feeding thousands of protestors in Beirut for The National.
It’s a bad time for wine and wine lovers.
Food & breakups, a classic pairing.
Sure it’s satire, but how I wish this prediction would come true!
This video promoting tourism to Lebanon. (Yes, I see the irony in light of the start of this letter). A few people I know in Beirut put this together. Here’s what one of them had to say: “By the minute, we are sinking deeper into a severe financial crisis and this revolution is our last hope. So is our tourism industry! We need the world to know what’s really going on in Lebanon, so we created this little video to tell our story. “It’s short and I hope you’ll give it a watch. Even if you’re not comfortable visiting soon, it will help get you excited for a trip once things calm down.
Footnotes
What I’m drinking: Spanish Vermouth over ice. Jumping on that low abv train and wishing I was still in San Sebastián.
What I'm eating: Masala banana chips. (Kamlesh brand). If I can’t find these when I move back to the states I’m going to have a conniption.
Travel recommendation: San Sebastián! I’d heard so many good things, but it still surpassed expectations. The food is SO. GOOD. At every level. Cheap wine, a vibe I wish we would all bring into our lives, beautiful buildings. Full list of food recommendations coming soon.