“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.”
Today I’m back behind closed windows and doors. I went without the air conditioner for about an hour. The house went up 4˚ so on went the air. Last night it rained. I was in bed in that not quite asleep not quite awake stage when I thought I heard raindrops. I lifted my head from the pillow to listen and heard drops against the window. That was the sound which lulled me to sleep.
Th Mousetrap is the last play of the season at the Cape Playhouse. I saw it a couple of times in London so I’m not all that excited to see it again, but the play got a wonderful review in the Cape Cod Times so I’m back and forth about going tonight. Right now I’m in my cozy clothes and comfortable and cool. I’m even contemplating a nap. I figure laziness will factor into my decision as will a pizza delivery for dinner.
It is getting darker and cloudier. The sun has disappeared. The breeze is greater but is still hot. There is only a possibility of rain, but I’m hoping. I read an article this morning about how easy it is in Europe to recognize American tourists. Hoodies, running shoes, fanny packs, t-shirts with graphics, big tips, North Face, good teeth and water with meals were some of the identifiers. When I was young, I had a backpack which, back then, was probably screaming American. I wore sneakers and jeans. I couldn’t afford a big tip. When I was older, I used suitcases and dressed better.
I read an article this morning about how easy it is in Europe to recognize American tourists. Hoodies, running shoes, fanny packs, t-shirts with graphics, big tips, North Face, good teeth and water with meals were some of the identifiers. When I was young, I had a backpack which, back then, was probably screaming American. I wore sneakers and jeans. I couldn’t afford a big tip. When I was older, I used suitcases and dressed better. A red Marimeko bag I had bought in Finland was slung across my shoulders and carried what was important like money, my passport in a case I had made in Ghana and my camera. I still didn’t tip well.
My last three trips have been to Africa: one to Morocco and two to Ghana. It doesn’t matter what I wear or what I carry as my skin color is enough of an identifier though in Ghana they think I’m a European.
Now I bring one suitcase and a carry-on which has adapters, medications, my iPad, a change of clothes, a notebook and my camera. I still carry the Marimeko bag I bought in 1972 and it still carries what is important including the passport case made in the Bolga market in Ghana in 1970. They are the only continuity when I travel.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: air-conditioning, American abroad, backpack, Cape Playhouse, cloudy, continuity, cozy clothes, fanny pack, Ghana, lazy, Marimeko, Morocco, passport case, pizza delivery, rain, raindrops, skin color, sneakers, The Mousetrap, travel
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August 26, 2016 at 1:56 pm
Hot here but it has started to cool down and the wind too so it is quite nice outdoors now. The clouds did cover the sky for an hour or so but most of them are gone now and we never got any thunder here. I do hope for a cool morning with fog but I doubt it will be cool enough.
I’m not sure I would recognize an American tourist since we have so few tourists as it is and almost all are Swedish 🙂
I’ve always had my leather back pack when I’ve been travelling but one of my previous cats once used it as a litter box so if I ever will travel again I’m not sure what to use 🙂 I think I need to buy a new one if that would happen 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
August 26, 2016 at 2:12 pm
Christer,
Still dark and breezy here. It is looking more and more like rain. We really need it.
I think American tourists look like the rest of Europe nowadays as everyone is wearing running shoes and jeans.
My bag is canvas, and I do love it. I hope nothing ever happens to it after all this time. I had to have some of it sewn when I was last in Africa but it was along a seam.
Have a wonderful Friday evening!!
August 26, 2016 at 2:52 pm
Not sure that I agree with description of the American tourist in Europe. That might have been true ten years ago but now I think that we are much more anonymous group with very little branding.
The pigskin is in the air and the Prince is preparing to follow his famous Uncle. We have a practice tonight and then we kickoff tomorrow afternoon against those devils from St Pius. The Prince is of size and I expecting him to work the line on both sides of the ball – perhaps a chance to carry the ball in short yardage situations ? we shall see.
I guess the season now brings the success (or otherwise) of my Detroit Lions, the MSU Spartys and the St Lawrence Mustangs.
I wonder if there is Catholic League fantasy football ?
The Mousetrap ? God Almighty that might be as bad as an evening of Shakespeare
August 26, 2016 at 3:00 pm
My Dear Hedley,
I also think the description is dated except for old couples, the sort where the guys wear Bermuda shorts, cameras across their shoulders and high socks with their sneakers.
Your Prince sounds like my nephew’s son who turned 10 in late July. He also works both lines. This is his second year playing football. My sister and brother-in-law never miss a game of his.
If there is, don’t forget BC and Notre Dame. My school, Merrimack, added football long after I graduated.
I have already offered my ticket to someone else.
August 26, 2016 at 3:11 pm
Kat, I agreed to take Mrs MDH to Stratford Ontario next weekend on condition that there was no Shakespeare involved. I can confirm that I saw Mousetrap in London sometime in the 70s and it was stale even then.
The Prince has the size to hit, we will see if he likes the warrior aspect of the game. This is also his second season of full contact.
August 26, 2016 at 5:33 pm
MDH,
Ryder loves football. His father, Ryan, had a full scholarship to play soccer at Oregon State. Ryder tried soccer but it didn’t have the appeal of football. When Ryder tried out last year, they were told that all the Class A teams were filled. That night Ryan got a call, and an A team got Ryder. He has his father’s talent.
I like some Shakespearean plays.
August 26, 2016 at 4:32 pm
Backpacks for everything, different sizes for different occasions. For traveling I usually have a small backpack for day trips inside my big one with all the clothes and stuff.
Not many tourists here but I’m glad that many people from different countries live here, since the first days of coal mining it’s an immigration area. Not easy to tell where someone is from except maybe some completely overdressed rich Russian women. Nowadays you can also see more African women with these beautiful colored dresses you wrote about.
Mousetrap or hometrap, have fun!
August 26, 2016 at 5:40 pm
Birgit,
The backpacks we had back then were the huge ones with an aluminum frame. Now I have a black leather one for winter and a cloth one for summer. Both are small.
The Cape has tourists from all over the East Coast. Many young people come from Eastern Europe and have summer work visas. They are about the only foreign visitors.
I’m staying home. I just have no ambition to get dressed and go out.
August 26, 2016 at 6:53 pm
When I was a teenager in NYC we could always pick out the tourists. They always had a camera around their neck, looked lost and we’re always looking up at skyscrapers while carrying maps. The Japanese tourists also were easy to pick out because they were adorned with cameras, the same color jackets and were led by a guide who carried a flag. The last time I was in Europe it was not that easy to pick out the American tourists from all the other tourists. Only the pick pockets can tell for sure. 🙂
Here we run the air conditioning continuously from May through October. The first two weeks of August were very hot and dry and this week has been relatively cool and rainy making this month very strange weather wise. Next week is forecast for more of the same.
If Trump wins in November the smart money will be on the Mexican pole vault team. 🙂
August 26, 2016 at 7:15 pm
Bob,
Boston too has its share of tourists. Europeans are well represented and they too not easily identified. The Japanese tourists fit in really well now. They carry cell phones instead of cameras the same as the rest of the world.
You;re right about American tourists fitting in better,
This is the most I have ever used my air conditioning. It has been such a hot summer.
I love your last sentence!!