Here in Louisville, we live in a metropolis with a small-town vibe. We reside in a place where Northern progressiveness meets Southern hospitality in a steaming, if not saturated, pool of bars and restaurants. Most of us adore living here for reasons including being able to have an evening out and often run into old friends, classmates and even family. Were all big fish in a relatively small social pond, so to speak. So, what happens to us when we choose to leave the Derby City bubble on holiday? If we dwell constantly in the familiarity of Louisville and visit the same watering holes and are friendly with the same bartenders (so much so we may even feel comfortable leaving our iPhone on the bar for a quick wee), how do we prepare ourselves to embark on a journey to another land?
My partner and I spent Thanksgiving week south of the border, in the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes, as they say, in Nicaragua. As most of our time was spent immersing ourselves completely in Nicaraguan culture through (what else?) food and drink, I began to wonder: How should one prepare to best appreciate gallivanting and bar hopping abroad?
First, and quite possibly most important, my advice for globetrotters is to familiarize yourself with the culture of the region or country youll be visiting. Albeit, a bit cliché, but respect is a universal language, and while many of us cant become fluent in a language prior to jet-setting, locals will be grateful and often more apt to help if you simply make an effort. My partner and I spoke moderate Spanish throughout our trip in Nicaragua (solo un poco) and became better after a few days of immersion. Our efforts were rewarded by a warm embrace when we asked for help with directions and ordered food and drinks. Dont forget to learn the currency exchange and tipping etiquette, as well, for the sake of our foreign bar brethren.
Dress etiquette is also a cultural aspect that should be researched and observed. For example, we visited the colonial city of Granada, and, while its hot AF and appropriate to dress accordingly, its also widely known that flashy jewelry, heels and shirtless men are not apropriado. Alternatively, in the sandy, coastal, festive town of San Juan Del Sur, where bronzed surfers and drunken ex-pats are still bustling through the streets at dawn, we found a bikini top or flowing tank and shorts to be more than sufficient for a Macua (the national drink of Nicaragua and my new favorite libation: Flor de Cana Rum, fresh papaya juice and lime) at the beachside cantinas. Pro tip: Leave the heels at home when visiting this part of the world. While we babes can trot around in pumps on any given evening at the bars here in Louisville, in Nica youll look out of place and, probably, fall repeatedly on the street (often more like a collection of rocks). Trust, yall.
With respect and cognizance comes my next piece of advice for traveling (and, really, at all times): have situational awareness. While on a voyage, its so incredibly important to maintain situational awareness of ourselves particularly as women and our belongings. Bear in mind that walking around a foreign city using Google Maps on our iPhones is probably not the smartest plan of action. Remember, we are visitors in their country, and know when entering a machismo culture that you may get cat-called or even followed. Does that make it OK? No. Does it mean we must be hyper-vigilant? Yep. For example, in Nicaragua, men and women were fascinated by my visible, colorful tattoos and would often walk up and touch my arms. In Louisville, I probably would have told them to fuck off. But, I had to keep in mind that they were simply being complimentary and that, again, I was a guest in their country. I was grateful for the compliments, and, if they crossed the line, I knew my quickest exit route, but no I wasnt going to slug someone and create a potentially-dangerous situation in a foreign country. Situational awareness, always.
Finally, dont forget to indulge and enjoy the local fare. In Louisville, we love nothing more than to teach tourists about bourbon, introduce them to the Hot Brown and take them to Churchill Downs. People in other countries and cities are just as proud of their heritage, which is why I spent my week eating Gallo Pinto and downing Tona cervezas. Jamie and I even embarked on a local bar crawl that included my own participation in an ass-shaking competition and ended with gorging a street-food quesadilla covered in ketchup and mayo and a cop telling Jamie in Spanish to take me home (well, maybe dont get that drunk, but you get the point). Immerse yourself. Dive in. Its what we want folks to do when they come here. Where are we off to next?
This article appears in November 30, 2016.