On Demand
Far Away, At Home
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Staying home for vacation is one thing, but recreating an out-of-country experienece takes it to a whole new level. Wall Street Journal Reporter Mary Pilon wrote about Karen Ash and others who are experiencing the far away from home, right at home.
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I understand people need to take vacation days from work but why do our culture feel the need to travel somewhere during our time off.
Depends what type of tourist people want to be? Do you want to go to Mexico to stay in Puerto Vallerta, Alcapulco, Cancun or some fancy resort or do you want to see the real Mexico and the small villages where people live and work hard. I have experienced both. I loved Cancun. But I do have to say in all seriousness that nothing beat the funny memories of visiting friends in a mountain village in Oaxaca and a rooster from their farm walked into my bedroom and it was dark and scary and I started screaming because I didn't know what it was and the think freaked out too and went running. That was a great memory.
So it all depends on what you want. Do you want to stay here and experience this program, that's great and if you want to go to a foreign land, that's great to. It's about options and being open to explore new ways of thinking and doing and experiencing how other people and cultures live and think.
Just come to East 9th and East 10th Streets seems the Japanese bought up just about the entire area and own everything including residences. Too many sushi bars but they're there if you want them.
I want to recommend the Urasenke Chanoyu teahouse in Manhattan for the lady having the Japanese staycation. Located at 153 East 69th Street (between Lexington & Third Avenues) 212-988-6161
to JC: because traveling abroad allows you to see other peoples and cultures which allows you to broaden your knowledge and human experience. You become a better educated and more informed person. Seeing and experiencing other countries and cultures allows you not only to better understand other people but also see and understand your own in a more objective manner.
JC: Escapism.
Well put #5 RosieNYC.
My friends went to Italy to stay at somebody's appartment, and the Italians are staying at their place for the whole month! What a great idia!
RosieNYC
right on!
What ever happen to camping! People could certainly take a train upstate and go camping. Also I like to take a blanket during the middle of the day to prospect park and read an adventure novel such as Arthur Conan Doyle's Lost World.
Going to a business hotel and pretending that you are in the Bahamas sounds rather pathetic to me. Why does it seem pathetic? I can't quite put my finger on that. But it doesn't sound like a fun way to spend your vacation time unless you enjoy being self-delusional.
Lake George is a nice place to camp upstate and if you like to hike there is Black Mountain, Bear Mountain and tons others, you will be up in the Adirondacks.
Come visit Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn for your "staycation"! You can watch as the formerly Italian-American residents wither away while being pushed out by entitled arrogant hipsters and precious baby making machine couples. Come witness greedy landlords jacking up the rents to $2000.00 for a 1 bedroom apartment!
I (Heart) NY!!!!!!
abg
can we camp in central park or would the popo come after us?
I can't stand the word "staycation". Please stop saying it.
There's a very nice Japanese pottery studio in Midtown called New York Togei Kyoshitsu (5 W.30th bet. 5th & Broadway--www.nytogei.com). You can sign up for a one-day trial course. The teacher and many of the students are from Japan, so you can practice your Japanese as well.
RosieNYC, You know, being a tourist isn't always that great. Tourism does transform those other cultures you seek into commodities for you to buy after all. I find tourism is always tainted with a bit of guilt because you are in fact buying a piece of someone else's culture.
#15, I agree. The word "staycation" is horrible.
After all it's no surprise that many tourists try to avoid the touristy locations where the local culture has been destroyed by the local tourist industry. Kinda sad eh?
In my family we do stay at home and in the city-summer-camp. The Parks dept and the Brooklyn Public Library have all kinds of free activities. My kids participate in free tennis lessons twice a week (available in various parks locations) Many museums have free days or hours, or suggested donation admission. Our parks are beautiful to explore and play in, Regal Theatres provides free kids movies. The staten island ferry is free. I could go on and on. My kids and I are having a wonderful, very affordable, stay cation.
Can’t afford to go to Europe, Asia or South America? We live in the 3rd largest country in the world! Go out and explore the great USA! If you think you can’t see diverse cultures or learn anything while exploring this great country, then you really need to get out of NYC and actually see this amazing country.
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