I'm glad you enjoyed the intended humor in my post.

Re the distinction between travelers and tourists, maybe my mistake was trying to put a label on the kind of traveler who behaves so rudely he reflects badly on his country of origin. I always lose in a question of semantics. I didn't mean to come across as a travel snob. I agree with all the positive things others have said about travel in general. Since so much of my life, now that I'm widowed, is planned around my next travel experience, I am probably one of the worst destroyers of what we all are looking for in our travels -- the true beauty and feeling of the places we are privileged to visit.

I was not talking about any particular destination or class of travel, but really a question of good manners. I get very excited for those I see backpacking, hosteling, hiking and just wish I'd had the chutzpah and the opportunity to do that when I was at an age to do it. And since I'm usually part of a tour group (and certainly not traveling first class), I surely am not going to throw stones at those. I agree wholeheartedly with Gail's observation that Isolation from other world views breeds distrust &fear, &is not the legacy I want to leave to my grandchildren. I love and enjoy travel so much I want it for everyone who would care about it.

So if I stepped on some toes, please forgive. I guess a boor is a boor in any language, and it really doesn't matter if he/she is traveling or in his own backyard.

Sincerely,

Lou