A tourist doing traveller things.

Re: having to back up when encountering a truck or farm equipment on a narrow road with lots of blind curves.

That's a common occurrence in rural Normandie, in the bocage (hedgerow) area.

I had some similar experiences driving an Icelandic overpass and more driving the fjords.

I am mostly a tourist. I have a plan and things to see and experience. My traveler days are the days when I am doing regular daily activities in a fantastic place. (Laundry, grocery shopping, reading a book, etc). Both kinds of days are great, but for right now there are too many things to see to have too many traveler days.

Traveling in Ireland and Northern Ireland during The Troubles.

Seeing armed British soldiers canvassing a field on a back road as we were in route to Armagh.

Belfast City Hall was cordoned off with barbed wire.

My "traveller thing" is walking around the outskirts of cities where there are no tourists and often little if any English. I like the fish out of water feeling, makes me feel like I'm getting away with something, like I'm seeing something I shouldn't be seeing.

In Germany I do the tourist activities, go to those well known cities and sites...Munich, Heidelberg, Frankfurt, etc...all very nice, enjoyable , and cultural enlightening and interesting.

Far, far more in Germany I aim for the "traveler" experience.... go to numerous cities and towns in the boonies totally off the "tourist" or even the visitor radar, towns where those you see on the main streets or public transport are all locals, where " they" can spot you out a mile away not only as a visitor and an outsider.

Lots places still like that in Germany.....luckily. In eastern Germany this sort of experience is a given.

Of course, "traveler" in the UK has a different meaning.

We have them in the US too. There was a documentary about them maybe 20 years ago

Allan,
I laughed out loud at your description of “earning your spurs”. I will now compare you to the great Mr. Bean.

I was a “traveller” back in the late 70’s early 80’s. This is how I defined it. Landing at an airport and hopping on the back of a scooter to be taken to the driver’s parent’s loseman in Bali. Travelling alone with my thumb instead of public transportation. Splurging on a room with the bathroom down the hall as opposed to out back. Walking through Cairo in a skimpy tank top and not realizing how wrong that was. Everything on the cheap.

Now I like being a tourist. Comfy bed. Own bathroom. Cab from the airport if I choose. Reservations. Eating in a restaurant. Sometimes even flying business class. You can still have enriching experiences as a tourist.

You can still have enriching experiences as a tourist.

Driving on single track track will likely be my most extreme experience. I too, am perfectly happy doing what I want and seeing what I want without pushing the envelope. I was expecting some comments in the Anthony Bourdain mode of extreme eating. Not from me though, the wildest I got this time was trying Haggis flavored potato chips.