what slow travel means to me
hint: it involves embodying a white rapper
Have you heard of “slow travel”? Some people say it came from the “slow food” movement, which emphasized eating local, fresh, seasonal produce instead of surviving off of fast food. I also think it was heavily influenced by the American “God” of travel and food, Anthony Bourdain.
A lot of people worship Anthony Bourdain’s style of travel - sitting around a table and talking to people, getting to know them on a personal level. I agree, that’s the way I’d like to go. More from Bourdain:
“Eat at a local restaurant tonight. Get the cream sauce. Have a cold pint at 4 o’clock in a mostly empty bar. Go somewhere you’ve never been. Listen to someone you think may have nothing in common with you. Order the steak rare. Eat an oyster. Have a negroni. Have two. Be open to a world where you may not understand or agree with the person next to you, but have a drink with them anyways. Eat slowly. Tip your server. Check in on your friends. Check in on yourself. Enjoy the ride”.
However, I confess I was never a cult Bourdain follower. I do however, have a deep energetic attraction to someone - and it’s not who you think it might be! Very surprisingly, it is Vice news’ Action Bronson from “F'*ck That’s Delicious”. I don’t think Action Bronson and me could me more dissimilar. He’s a giant white Albanian-American rapper and amateur UFC fighter from New York, I’m an athletic bodied recovering Catholic from Philadelphia. What I am attracted to about Action is that he has no fear when traveling. He walks right up to someone and starts playing soccer, or shooting the shit with someone, without fear of offending or breaking some cultural faux pas. I approach a social interaction with an unusually high set of worries that run through my head: will they judge me for speaking English? Will we be able to communicate with each other? Do they even want to talk to me? Action Bronson also speaks multiple languages and appreciates food as art. I love this clip where Action is talking about the importance of bodegas as the center of communities:
“I know my guys…first names. My soon-to-be wife has gone skydiving with her local bodega guy. My local bodega man is East Korean, Mr. Lee. He knew me throughout my entire life and called me “Onion” because he couldn’t say my name, Arian. I met hundreds of amazing people in the bodega. I’ve bought countless amounts of ridiculous things I shouldn’t have, sugary items, candies, all types of goods … I’ve hung out in bodegas half my life. Played Mortal Kombat II in them.” (Read more here.)
When I’m traveling - I want to have a local bodega! And in Napoli, I’ve learned that most people really want to talk to me. Usually when I say I’m from California they ask if I can take them with them in my luggage next time I go home. So other than establishing yourself at the local bodega, what are other ways to incorporate “slow travel” into your trips?
Skipping site-seeing and tourist hot-spots for a slice of daily life. This might mean avoiding the “Michelen Star” instagram-able restaurant for a locally hosted cooking class or restaurant that serves good local specialties. For example, taking a local yoga class instead of touring a museum, dropping into a swing dance session in New Orleans or ripping around the desert in a Jeep in California. Slow travel is feeling like you actually live there and are part of the culture instead of checking off “to-do” items in a guidebook.
Limiting your footprint. I try not to show up and make some place worse. The “leave no trace” policy applied to nature excursions can also apply to any place you are visiting. For example, bringing your own water bottle instead of buying them or taking public transit or biking instead of Uber’ing or Taxi’ing. Observe how the locals do it! I will never forget getting up early to take the public water taxis in Venice, and seeing a local man read the paper on his commute to work. I remember being in awe that boating amongst this gorgeous architecture could be part of your daily commute! Some of the metro stations in big European cities allow for beautiful cities views, like taking the tram in Portugal.
Respecting local rules. Staying on the walking path, wearing the appropriate dress, standing in the appropriate queues without complaining. A great way to meet people is to ask them what the rules are :)
Honoring local businesses. Living near the Amalfi Coast has shown me the huge impact seasonal tourism has on a place. When I met Felicia and her family in their gorgeous property near Ravello, she told me a heart-warming story about how she was working as a chef in a hotel for years when her daughter had the idea to host cooking classes at her home. Her “home” just happened to be a 17th century farmhouse full of fruit, vegetables, animals, and “natural” wine production by her father. She cried talking about the impact it has had on her life. When I was solo traveling in Malaga, Spain, I took a mural tour from a local artist and a boat tour from a retired engineer turned sailor. (Note that I booked all of this through Airbnb experiences).
Getting to know people. This one can be the most intimidating, but this is where you have to pretend your Action Bronson. You can always start by offering a gift! Maybe you love beer - so you bring some hops to the local craft bar. Maybe you love soccer, so you meet up with the local fans before the match to learn the local chant. If you are single, going on a date or two is great way to learn about local culture ;)
Possibly the thing that demoralizes me the most about tourists is when they go someplace, compare it to the American way of life, and then say that that place is deemed “unsuitable” or “substandard”. The point of traveling, for me, is to learn what it’s like to live outside of what you know. Traveling normally has an emotional impact on me, where I am thinking about a place for months and even years. What ways of life can you incorporate and what can you leave behind? What is your favorite way to “slow travel”?
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Bonus this week: I am sharing my recent media recommendations on coming of age stories below. I love coming of age stories where women come into their full authenticity. If you have any good ones, please share! I am always looking for podcasts to listen to while traveling :)
Literally anything by Jessica Williams. I am late to the Jessica Williams train, as she got famous a while ago from her podcast “Two Dope Queens” - but I thought she was great in “Love Life” on Netflix. Then I saw this feel good movie / romcom called, “The Incredible Jessica James” with Chris O’Dowd - you’re just rooting for her the whole time. She has a confident and dazzling presence; it’s an energy I want more of! I starting binging everything she does and it’s all magical. She’s awesome in “Shrinking” and she’s awesome in “Booksmart”! I am a huge fan of Jessica Williams!
“Life of Beth” - I thought Amy Shumer was adorable in this movie. It felt very authentic and powerful, probably because it was based on her real life.
“Somebody, Somewhere” - A tv show about a non-traditional coming of age story in the midwest :) I love a story that doesn’t follow traditional timelines and involves good friendship :)
Survival of the Thickest - ok the music in this TV show is amazing. Watch it for the music, the outfits, the humor, the body acceptance, watch it!
I love Action Bronson too! This was a fun read <3