In july I got the oppurtunity to go to Puerto Vallarta for a week. It was beautiful and relaxing, however, like many other tourist destinations around the world, it has been structured and molded to serve the needs and wants of the average tourist. There was everything from a McDonalds, a Hardrock Cafe, to even big chain like restaurants like Chili´s. And so when I returned to Sayula and people asked me if I liked Puerto Vallarta I coudn´t help but say that I was a little bit dissapointed in the way it has been so ´North Americanized´. My boss just laughed when i exclaimed ´It wasn´t Authentic!´
In contrast to the Puerto Vallarta experience, I got to go on a 20 hour road trip with some friends to the state of Oaxaca. Now that was ´Authentic!´. I got to go to some beautiful beaches that are not spoiled by the monster tourists, and instead you encounter the european backpackers, or the not-so average Loud North american traveller, who all seem to respect the local culture. I did not see one Mcdonalds or big chain restaurant.
I do view myself as a tourist, but with the objective to explore, learn, and understand. When I travel I barely even take pictures. Im so concentrated in viewing the scenery, or taking in the sights and smells and sounds of a certain place and just enjoying it. I am a lousy photographer anyways, so I would rather have that mental image in my head then some lousy picture later on. That´s just me though....
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No where like Mexico have I seen the evidence of globalism so clearly. I was there about 20 years ago and it was exotic. I went again a couple of years ago for Christmas with my sisters and it felt like I in some pre-packaged beach town with Spanish speakers.
ReplyDeleteYou touched on an interesting topic - the search for an authentic experience. I think we are often torn between wanting to have an authentic experience of interacting with locals or being the only foreigner at an interesting destination but we also want our flush toilets, hot water showers, and potable water. For many, the idea of a pre-packaged tour or all-inclusive resort is abhorrent. How can you get an authentic experience if you are in an air conditioned coach or the only time you leave the resort is to travel to and from the airport? Then there are folks who live in homestays, eat where the locals do and try to learn the language. At the end of the day, both are taking from a host what they see is valuable and then returning to their homes after a short period of time. Is one more authentic than another? If so, why?
That quest for the authentic experience has spawned the growth of voluntourism. Well meaning types looking for their authentic foreign experience pay locals for the opportunity to dig ditches or play with orphans. I will let me bias show - I think they are deluding themselves if they think this is authentic.