While visiting Rome this weekend, a friend of mine said I was a traveller, not a tourist. I asked what the difference was and we made this list:1. A traveller mixes with the locales, goes into the culture; a tourist is abroad but he doesn't mix with the people, remains apart.
2. A traveller is asked directions by tourists (has happened to me 3 times in Cortona! I love it when they ask, "do you speak English?" in their own accented English.)
3. A traveller can enter a city and within 24 hours know how to navigate the public transportation system.
4. Tourists follow the guidebook to a T; a Traveller has a guidebook for emergency situations but prefers to allow the kindness of strangers be her guide.
5. A tourist flashes the credit card at the merchant, who takes it begrudgingly; a travell
er gives cash in hopes of making friends with the merchant because she knows 1. customers are not always right in foreign countries, 2. merchants prefer cash so they don't pay the percentage fee to VISA, and 3. if you want the ripe peach, you must make friends with the merchant.6. Please add your own in the Comments, I am positive there are many more travellers reading this than tourists.
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