Talking to Locals Makes Great Travel Memories
ByOne of my favorite parts of travel is interacting with locals and other tourists. I journal religiously when I travel to a new place and always try to note interesting conversations.
Below, in no particular order, are a few of my favorite quips and tidbits from our journeys.
“I cheat you less” – from a street vendor in Tijuana, Mexico.
“Sausagefest” – an Australian man describing the nude beach near Dubrovnik, Croatia.
“Looka, looka shop” – from a Beijing street vendor.
“It’s a small world” – from Freda, a Bruges, Belgium, B&B owner describing a foggy day.
“Oklahoma! Where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain” – sung by a shop owner in an unknown little Austrian town after she asked us where we live.
I’m “not comfortable” here – from a Catholic cab driver in Belfast, Northern Ireland, while driving through the Protestant Shankill Road neighborhood
We are experiencing “turbulence due to typhoon” – from a flight announcement during a Japan Airlines flight from Shanghai to Tokyo.
“I’ll show you the way” – from a scam artist near Beijing, China’s, Forbidden City.
“Oklahoma is one of only three US states with a panhandle” – from a guard at Munich, Germany’s, Nyphenburg Palace.
“One is enough” – from a lady leaving the De Garre bar in Bruges, Belgium.
You are “brave” for traveling independently – from a group Americans on a tour in Budapest, Hungary.
“I am Han and this is my partner Solo” – from a Vienna, Austria, street performer.
“We’re going to get to the castles early, you know, around 10:30 am” – from two American guys in Fussen, Germany.
“It doesn’t matter, you’re in Belgium” – said to me by a Belgian lady after I accidentally went into the women’s bathroom in Bruges, Belgium.
“It’s good to laugh in the morning” – from Bacharach, Germany, B&B owner Fatima after scolding us for coming down to breakfast late.
“When are we going to land off?” – from little kid while our airplane was on approach to London, England’s, Gatwick Airport.
“In the time of the Yugoslavia” – part of a history lesson from our Croatian driver Petar.
“You’ve got your 10 Kuna now jump” – from a young English boy to a Mostar, Bosnia, bridge diver.
“Jordan” – the Estonian translation of the American name Charlie from a hostess at Vanaema Juures restaurant in Tallinn, Estonia.
“Oh say can you see” – from group of Americans singing the Star Spangled Banner in a Stockholm ice bar.
“Play the boot” – a request from a fiddle player to the crowd in a Dublin, Ireland, pub.
“Are ya Irish” from an Irish guy at a seaside patio in Nerja, Spain.
Charlie,
I am a teacher friend of Kathy. She told me about your website. I have enjoyed reading several of your comments. I really enjoyed your article about talking to the locals. We have done extensive traveling in Mexico and it is very important to listen to the comments of the locals. Anyway, just wanted to let you know your website is being enjoyed.
Thanks,
Diane
Thanks for the kind words. The sites may be what draw us to a particular place, but it’s the people we meet that seem to leave the most lasting impressions.
Charlie: Great website! Also, great post about “talking with the locals”.
A travel writer once wrote that there is a story in everyone you meet-especially the locals. Another friend describes them as “wow” moments. In other words when you REALLY talk with the local people you get to have experiences that the ordinary traveler misses.
I have been fortunate to have many “wow” moments because I like to take the time to “step off the sidewalk” now and then and engage the locals. They like it too.
One of my most rewarding “wow” moments was in a small village in the countryside outside of Granada, Nicaragua.
My Spanish teacher had taken my friend and I there to meet her Aunt. The streets were dirt, and they had no electricity. It was beastly hot. Her aunt had two young sons that had never met an American.
We sat under the shade of a poorly constructed cover and helped her aunt’s young sons learn to “count to 10″ in English. You should have seen their smiles. They rewarded us by showing us their pet duck which was their sole source of entertainment during the day.
When we finally had to leave, I don’t know who was sadder, us, the boys, or the duck!! Yep, it was definately a “wow” moment by getting to know the locals. Keep preaching it!!
Steve Barrymore