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The locals don't know

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Re: The locals don't know

#141

Post by 9rx »

gobdovan wrote: post #49

Better advice isn't 'do what the locals do' or 'avoid what the locals do'. It's to actually talk to people, both locals and other travelers, instead of treating either group as a script to copy from a distance. Have a beer, ask questions, hang out, and see what people are really into.

> It's to actually talk to people

Historically, that's what the locals did. This is 'do what the locals do' always referred to. Other comments call out entities like Bourdain who pushed 'do what the locals do' into popularization, but even he spent his time talking to the locals. That was his whole schtick.

It may be fair to say that in the modern age locals no longer talk to each other. Perhaps that is the source of disconnect we're now seeing?

Re: The locals don't know

#142

Post by outime »

exmadscientist wrote: post #60

My best travel advice (for urban areas) is simple: get lost. If you don't know exactly where you are or what's around the corner, you've got to take it as it comes, and that makes it all the more interesting. No FOMO or opportunity cost struggles, just what's in front of you right now. This is both easier and harder with smartphones and GPS. Harder because, well, you know exactly where you are and have to actively ig…

As someone who's traveled quite a bit, I love doing this but I should also warn everyone to make sure they're in a place where it's safe to do so. While most tourist destinations are mostly fine, you don't want to end up in a random shady neighborhood in certain cities - even touristy ones (Barcelona, Paris, etc). It doesn't matter that 20 years ago you did it and it was fine, things have changed.

Re: The locals don't know

#143

Post by Tade0 »

techblueberry wrote: post #127

> They might grab some mediocre Mexican food on the outskirts of Helsinki because they already eat Finnish food at home and want something different. They might hang out with some friends at the Kaivopuisto park. Maybe they would go on a hike? What I’m getting at here is that, even in the best case, the locals are usually not having very exciting (or very ‘authentic’) days. Unironically this is the experience I’m oft…

I used to live in Bologna, Italy and the variety of "foreign" restaurants there is amazing.

Quotation marks because there's always a (not exactly obvious) Italian twist to these places.

The quirkiest example of this would be a small chain of restaurants named "America Graffiti" (yeah). Overall theme is a 60s diner. It's not present anymore in Bologna, but there are several in neighbouring towns.

Re: The locals don't know

#144

Post by bombcar »

justonceokay wrote: post #85

I have been a tourist in Seattle for 15 years. I kayak the lakes, go to the popular restaurants, run the scenic routes, drive through winding roads to avoid traffic, do the basic hikes near town, spend evenings at the locks, joined the sailing club, take the rideshare scooters, karaoke at the passé locations, get groceries at pike place, see the tulips, get coffee at monorail espresso. I wonder when I’ll ever “become…

You’re a local when you start complaining about the tourists ;)

Re: The locals don't know

#145

Post by jackjeff »

peacebeard wrote: post #64
codingdave wrote: post #24

I live in a tourist town. 3000 residents, 4 million visitors each year. And I'm just fine with the tourists not going to the places I go - we tend to like the quieter, more affordable places vs. the big fancy price-gouging places. But assuming that us "locals" just sit at home and do nothing is such an unfair and inaccurate assessment. Why would I want to live in a town as crazy as this if I did nothing here? I enjoy…

No fair! I live in a place with lots of tourism and the roads are terrible.

Same here. Potholes in England are part of the tourist package.

Re: The locals don't know

#146

Post by aleph_minus_one »

wavemode wrote: post #10
ixxie wrote: post #8

Do what you would do at home on a week off.

But I could just do that at home. Why travel?

> Why travel?

Not everybody is into traveling. So, these people would indeed answer the question "Why travel?" with "YAGNI." [1].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_aren%27t_gonna_need_it

Re: The locals don't know

#147

Post by master-lincoln »

eltados wrote: post #61
zarzavat wrote: post #7

The corollary of this is that if you are a local you should do some more touristy things. I don't mean to go to a tourist trap and get scammed, but just enjoy your city a little more and do some things that usually only tourists do. For example, despite living most of my life in London, I've never been to the Tower of London. Why would I? It's for tourists. Except it's probably quite fascinating, especially for a loc…

This comment resonnate with me and in the last few months that is why I have been working on a side project to "be a tourist" in your own town. https://www.izeria.com/en Where you can discover places near you and connect to their history, I have also added some check-in mechanics and quiz to gaming the experience and for to actually go see the place in person. Think Pokemon go but for Wikipedia places.

it looks like you wrote the texts but they seem to be copied without attribution. Shame on you (and lawsuits)

Re: The locals don't know

#148

Post by gib444 »

roryirvine wrote: post #129
gib444 wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not the parent but it's lowbrow to do touristy things in London. And if you aren't going on holiday or an expensive weekend away or to an expensive restaurant, you're poor and your career is failing. I only half jest

It's mostly paid-for touristy things that are sneered at, in my experience. No-one's going to look askance if you spend a day in the BM, V&A, or National Gallery even though they're listed in every guide book and are always rammed with tourists. Madame Tussauds, The London Dungeon, The Clink, The Sherlock Holmes Museum, though? Ugh. The ToL isn't entirely contrived like those, but is paid-for so you can see why peopl…

Yeah that's accurate. Some of those touristy things are very expensive and could buy a few pints instead

> No-one's going to look askance if you spend a day in the BM, V&A, or National Gallery

Askance! Love that word! I digress. People rarely do that though (except real youngens, students etc). They all lie to themselves they're in London for the culture and art etc but they're so exhausted from climbing the ladder and networking, they don't have time.

People turn extremely capitalistic in London. If you're not displaying your wealth or working to improve it, it's a waste of time.

Those in zones 4-6 especially spend all their time there, and just hang around for after work in central drinks. If they venture in, it's undoubtedly for food/coffee/drinks and not much else

Re: The locals don't know

#149

Post by aleph_minus_one »

LastTrain wrote: post #22

A less grumpy corollary: do the things in your town that you only do when you have visitors.

> do the things in your town that you only do when you have visitors.

This has strong implicit assumptions on the kind of visitors that you have: for example, some people don't particularly like

* watching sports

* playing video games

* ...

but are fine to do this when visitors come and would love to do that.

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