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| Sunset in Hamburg's Hafencity. |
Here's the thing: sometimes I like to to stop being a tourist. Hell, sometimes it feels good to stop feeling like a traveler, period. At the moment, I'd rather feel like someone who lives here, or at least someone who is not just passing through. This past week in Hamburg, Dan and I have been doing just that: instead of walking around with tour groups, cameras dangling from our necks (which we would never do anyway), we've been enjoying long, leisurely coffee breaks at cafés, moseying through the city center without any special sightseeing destinations in mind, and relaxing over evening drinks at the local watering-hole with our hosts.
We're lucky to have the time to spend here in Germany's second largest city (a total of twelve days). This allows us to actually get to know the city a bit, rather than rushing through as day-trippers often do. I'm not knocking day trips altogether, but I do think that it is nearly impossible to understand a culture this way. So far on this trip, Dan and I have spent nine weeks in Germany - and that's not counting our upcoming journeys to Kiel, Hannover, Stuttgart, and even Munich for Oktoberfest!
It's been incredible to understand Germany (and Europe, in general) from the perspective of locals. When I studied abroad in
Aix-en-Provence in 2005, I mostly hung out with my (awesome) roommates who were already close friends from home, and some equally terrific people we met through our program (who are also still great friends that I keep in touch with). We didn't mingle so much with locals, though we had an absurd amount of fun. But this time around? Well, that's all we do!
Maybe I evangelize a bit too much about the "local travel" experience. I certainly wouldn't turn down the chance to stay in a luxury hotel if it was offered to me! But there is truly something to be gained from interacting with the people native to any given place, and it's something I will continue to do throughout my travels abroad, and even at home.
Because interaction begets understanding which in turn breeds compassion. And I think we need a little bit more of that in the world, don't you?
What I also like is the reverse - feeling like a tourist in my own town. This weekend I walked around in the city where I live, with a camera in hand, taking pictures of all the typical stuff (and other things as well), and really enjoyed myself. I even sat down on a terrace and ordered the local beer and a typical cookie made only in the region(Lierse Vlaaikes - really good!). There were other tour groups around, and I really felt like part of the tourist-experience.
ReplyDeleteAn, I think that is such a great idea! It is a real pleasure to be able to view your hometown with fresh eyes. I think I'll definitely take some time to do that when I return to New York.
ReplyDeleteLierse Vlaaikes are Belgian, right? I think Dan and I had those when we were staying in Lier - so yummy!
Yep - Lierse Vlaaikes are Belgian - a speciality from the city of Lier. Secret recipe I am told, and not all the bakers get it right... you also have to get them as fresh as possible.
ReplyDeleteWe were lucky to have some freshly baked ones for a Sunday morning brunch! So delicious. I remember some shops even having signs in their windows that they were specially authorized bakers of these treats.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog...makes me want to get out there and travel more. Maybe when Caroline is in college. Of course by then I'll be using a cane, but still: movin' slowly is better than not movin' at all.
ReplyDeleteI love feeling like a local, maybe this is why I always try to stay in every destination longer than a normal holiday.
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