3 ms·

> Travel writing is for when you want to read and be assisted in understanding what the world is like somewhere. Not when you want to see what it merely looks l

> Travel writing is for when you want to read and be assisted in understanding what the world is like somewhere. Not when you want to see what it merely looks like. Travelling to a place also informs you of what that place is like.

coldtea 10y ago
The way the modern average person affords to do such travels (for a 2-3 weeks at best, and with shallow contact with the local realities), informs you much less so than what a good travel writer could convey. And that's mostly for the "affords" part. The superficial way most people actually travel because they don't know any better, is even more constrained than what they could theoretically afford to see while traveling. I wont even get into how even a local person might be totally out of touch with reality in their own country (e.g. a rich person that's out of touch with what is to be a working class person or minority, etc).
- svachalek 10y ago
  The interesting thing about affordability, is that I've found that really seeing a place is much cheaper than following the tourist trail. 4-star hotels and restaurants look pretty much the same the world over, while a $5 meal or $20 room is distinctly local. I don't mean going overboard and "slumming" it, just look for nice places that lack international crowds and international branding. It takes a little more research, probably a guide, but it's a lot more interesting.
- M_Grey 10y ago
  Most people don't really travel to get in touch with local working class. Most people aren't interested in the working class back home either.
  - tedmiston 10y ago
    The critical distinction of tourist vs traveler. Rolf Potts has a more eloquent way of describing that but it's slipping my mind right now. In general, you are right because most people travel as tourists. Nothing to do with the working class necessarily as much as experiencing authentic culture, which happens to often come via interacting with the local working class.
    - M_Grey 10y ago
      I understand what you're saying... Bill Bryson rather than the Griswold's.

coldtea 10y ago

The way the modern average person affords to do such travels (for a 2-3 weeks at best, and with shallow contact with the local realities), informs you much less so than what a good travel writer could convey. And that's mostly for the "affords" part. The superficial way most people actually travel because they don't know any better, is even more constrained than what they could theoretically afford to see while traveling. I wont even get into how even a local person might be totally out of touch with reality in their own country (e.g. a rich person that's out of touch with what is to be a working class person or minority, etc).

svachalek 10y ago
The interesting thing about affordability, is that I've found that really seeing a place is much cheaper than following the tourist trail. 4-star hotels and restaurants look pretty much the same the world over, while a $5 meal or $20 room is distinctly local. I don't mean going overboard and "slumming" it, just look for nice places that lack international crowds and international branding. It takes a little more research, probably a guide, but it's a lot more interesting.
M_Grey 10y ago
Most people don't really travel to get in touch with local working class. Most people aren't interested in the working class back home either.
- tedmiston 10y ago
  The critical distinction of tourist vs traveler. Rolf Potts has a more eloquent way of describing that but it's slipping my mind right now. In general, you are right because most people travel as tourists. Nothing to do with the working class necessarily as much as experiencing authentic culture, which happens to often come via interacting with the local working class.
  - M_Grey 10y ago
    I understand what you're saying... Bill Bryson rather than the Griswold's.