Behind the Photo | Between the Attractions

Every destination has “can’t-miss” spots for a visitor’s to-do list.

Manmade marvels like Europe’s cathedrals, Fez’s medina and Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.

Or natural wonders like Southern Africa’s cascading Victoria Falls, Vietnam’s Halong Bay and the Grand Canyon.

Visits to these hotspots are well-curated experiences, even in the most remote locations. With tens-of-thousands or even millions of visitors a year, the tourism industry and local businesses have made visiting seamless. Time-entry tickets, translated brochures, even identifying “Insta-worthy” spots.

While visits to these sites may seem a little manufactured (or a lot manufactured) - don’t deprive yourself a visit to the Sagrada Familia, Stonehenge or Machu Picchu in the name of having an “authentic” experience.

However, between the picturesque places and well-worn routes is where the most meaningful interactions can occur. Whether an impromptu exchange with the owner of a local hole-in-the-wall, the worker you meet at the public transit station, or the people you observe simply living their lives while you pass by on the way to you next destination.

A woman and her children. A farmer in the field. An elderly couple on their way to the market.

We can learn a lot in these micro-engagements and observations between the attractions. Seeing how people really live - their day-to-day activities.

So don’t skip bucket list destinations or events, but keep your eyes, ears and hearts open between stops.

Photos left to right: On the road outside Durban, South African (2016); on the road between Hanoi and Halong Bay, Vietnam (2018); and outside Volubilis, Morocco (2021).