I do think there's a distinct difference between being a "traveller", adventure or not, and a "tourist". I spent six days travelling on the bike in Morocco and had a fantastic time. My wife flew in to Marrakech and we spent a long weekend as tourists there and couldn't wait to leave. The minute she left to fly home and I was back on the bike, the wonderful Morocco appeared once more.
Now I confess this might simply be the dynamic in Marrakech but as a traveller I felt safe and enjoyed the vast majority of my interactions with local people both in the countryside and cities like Fez. Perceived as a tourist in Marrakech, I felt unsafe and despised most attempts at interaction.
__________________
Paul "Every county of England, every country of Europe and every (part of every inhabited) continent of the Earth" 94% done! What's left? Central America, East, Central and West Africa, Australia & New Zealand
|