Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
andwhatyoutraveledsofartosee.Europeisaculturalcarnival,andtimeaftertime,you'll
find that its best acts are free and the best seats are the cheap ones.
A tight budget forces you to travel close to the ground, meeting and communicating
withthepeople.Neversacrifice sleep,nutrition, safety,orcleanliness tosavemoney.Sim-
ply enjoy the local-style alternatives to expensive hotels and restaurants.
Connecting with people carbonates your experience. Extroverts have more fun. If
your trip is low on magic moments, kick yourself and make things happen. If you don't
enjoy a place, maybe you don't know enough about it. Seek the truth. Recognize tourist
traps. Give a culture the benefit of your open mind. See things as different, but not better
or worse. Any culture has plenty to share.
Ofcourse,travel,liketheworld,isaseriesofhillsandvalleys.Befanaticallypositive
and militantly optimistic. If something's not to your liking, change your liking.
TravelcanmakeyouahappierAmerican,aswellasacitizenoftheworld.OurEarth
ishometosevenbillionequallypreciouspeople.It'shumblingtotravelandfindthatother
people don't have the “American Dream”—they have their own dreams. Europeans like
us, but with all due respect, they wouldn't trade passports.
Thoughtful travel engages us with the world. In tough economic times, it reminds us
what is truly important. By broadening perspectives, travel teaches new ways to measure
quality of life.
Globetrotting destroys ethnocentricity, helping us understand and appreciate other
cultures.Ratherthanfearthediversityonthisplanet,celebrateit.Amongyourmostprized
souvenirs will be the strands of different cultures you choose to knit into your own char-
acter. The world is a cultural yarn shop, and Back Door travelers are weaving the ultimate
tapestry. Join in!
