believe is edited by Jeff Greenwald (more on him
below), arrived in my mailbox today. Among subjects
discussed is the "problem" with touts in Egypt.
It brings to mind the inevitable encounters every
traveler has. Is there a surefire way around touts?
I doubt it. Maybe all that's required is a rethink, a
change in attitude. After all, especially in the
countries where jobs are few and far between, it is
simply a means of making a living. Is that such a
wrong thing?
Maybe they should be called "guides" or "scouts"
rather than "touts", which truly reeks of nefarious
connections to the netherworld of dubious activities.
A long time ago, A New Zealander with a fair amount of
travel experience gave me two invaluable tips:
One, always take a smile on your trips - it is light
lugagge and will always come in handy.
Two, if you are being pestered you need a good
response for the usual first question: "Where are you
from?" He suggested "Zanzibar" as an answer
sufficiently unique to provide the split-second
advantage of escape.
In truth, I have claimed to be from Zanzibar a few
times years ago and can attest to it working.....But
I won't and in fact can't do it anymore. By now I am
reasonably comfortable in most surroundings and this
assurance seems to be enough "protection".
Here is the link to the Ethical Traveler website:
http://www.ethicaltraveler.org/index.php
Jeff Greenwald's "The Size of the World" is among my
favorite travel books.
Ever attempting to use modes of transport other than
airplanes, Jeff refuses to turn his passion to explore
the globe into something akin to a "long commute".
I like his style; he strikes me as authentic (which to
me means he calls it as he sees it...). Wonderfully
entertaining page-turner.
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