Because we are planning our travels, all sorts of travel related posts come up on my
social media feeds. One that appeared recently was asking about pickpockets, I think
in Italy and if it had got worse since their last visit three years previously.
A couple of things struck me in the responses. Firstly, how lackadaisical people are
about their personal belongings in their home town. There are opportunist thieves
everywhere so you should be careful wherever you are. Although it is easier to replace
your lost items in your own country especially where there is no language issue.
Secondly, although most of the responses were helpful there were a few that said
“don't look like a tourist”. And that misses out on the whole point of visiting other
places. You want to look up, around, stop and take in all you see. Look at a map,
nowadays on your phone, but many people still carry the paper maps issued by
tourist information. In other words by not looking like a tourist you miss out on
the whole point of being somewhere else. There was one response that said they
totally look like a tourist, they take photos ask others to take photos. It was a
change for a realistic response.
While I was composing this post, I received a message from a friend about what
shoes to wear in Rome because she didn't want to look totally like an American
tourist. An interesting question because she's going to be touristing and as soon
as she speaks it will be obvious she is not local. I refrained from advising her to
not be an obnoxious American and not to expect everything to be the same as home.
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