1. Traveling is getting a little lost
Knowing where you are is the opposite of traveling. Dedicate at least half a day in an area not covered by your guidebook. Pretty easy really: walk of the map and be happy, don’t look for anything in particular, don’t try to orientate, don’t be in a hurry. Relax, walk around and absorb the city. You might very well discover places or customs the guides forgot to talk about.
2. Visit a supermarket when traveling
Visit to a local supermarket, not necessarily a small one. This tells a lot about local culture, on what people eat, wear and spend their money on. Use the shopping bag to store your valuables in when walking around in the city: thieves rarely snatch a supermarket bag out of the hands of a tourist.
3. Get a new haircut
What better souvenir than a new haircut. Not speaking the same language gives it a daring touch although very little can go wrong. And even in the worst case scenario, you’ll have something to recount when back home. You might want to get a tattoo. But don’t tell your mom I suggested that.
4. Do as the Romans
Don’t be a sheep and copy what others do. Show some personality, be brave. Remember you are on a holiday, so relax. If the locals have a rest in the afternoon, do so too. Ice cream for breakfast? Why not. Racing through the city as a furious maniac on wheels? Control wether your insurance covers accidents and then step on the accelerator.
5. Take a bus
Hop on the first city bus that passes and stay there. With some luck it will loop back to where you boarded it. If it stops at the depot somewhere in the periphery, try to get back. Take your time, use your skills and remember you’ll tell your friends about the adventure when back home.
