[TravelAndTourism] Playing tourist in an unknown city

[Asanda Pavlacka]

I think in your case, doing a bit of research on the places you will be going would be the way to go. If you have specific personal interests that would be fun to check out in a new city or if you want to know what others Do when they travel to a specific city it's often just a Google or YouTube search away. Even Google searching phrases like "traveling blind around the world" or something like that can produce some fun resources and results. Play around with keywords and see what resonates. I've found some great Youtubers and also some niche Websites and newsletters to follow related to my own exploration and interests. And it never hurts to ask tour guides, concierge, or even just random locals, if you speak the language, what they recommend. If you know you love something specific like sushi and want to find the best places for that in the place you're at, It's also just a Google search away. 
Hopefully that's slightly helpful.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 26, 2023, at 9:27 AM, carcione--- via TravelAndTourism <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi everyone.
> 
> It looks like from the archives that this is a quiet list, but hopefully
> people are out there ready to answer a question when it comes up.  Here
> goes.
> 
> I am totally blind, and my husband used to have low-vision, but now he's
> lost most of what he had.  
> 
> We've been to Ireland a couple times with a tour group.  It's a bus tour,
> stopping in 3 towns for a couple nights each.  We enjoy it very much, but
> when we went last year we had some trouble playing tourist on the days we
> didn't have scheduled events.  Our tour mates would go bounding off to go
> shopping or look around, and, if we couldn't catch anyone and ask if we
> could come along, we were on our own and not sure where to go.  Next time we
> go, we'd like to have an action plan.  
> 
> We might see if a friend would like to join the tour, because she would
> enjoy the things we want to do, and we enjoy each other's company.  We'd
> offer to pay at least some of the trip for her, and that would be expensive,
> but it might be worth it, if she's interested. 
> 
> We could ask our tour guide if he has any ideas.  He might help us, or
> sometimes one of his children is along to help wrangle.  We'd give a big
> tip, but it wouldn't be as much as bringing someone along.
> 
> Or we could try using GPS and such to try to find places.  Cell service in
> Ireland can be spotty, but I imagine it's OK in cities.  In my experience,
> GPS isn't anywhere near as good as walking along with someone who can spot
> interesting things, but it might work.
> 
> I'd really like to hear any ideas or experiences other blind people have
> regarding playing tourist in an unknown town without a sighted friend along.
> I don't want to be wimpy, but, the older I get, the less I enjoy wandering
> around without some kind of idea or direction.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Tracy
> 
> 
> 
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