As a self-professed nerd, there are few better ways to spend a night than playing a round of pub trivia. Fortunately, by some divine intervention, the rest of the group capitulated to my desires, and we entered Paddy’s Irish Pub on a chilly Monday night. As soon as we stepped foot into the bar, it felt like an enclave of tourists. Despite us being mere minutes from the historic Plaza de Armas, a prominent cultural site of the Spanish-speaking world, we were mere minnows in a sea of other tourists. It felt as if a Boston pub on St. Patrick’s Day magically relocated to Cuzco, Perú. Not an ounce of Spanish was spoken, and the menu brimmed with classic American foodstuffs and alcoholic beverages.
Yet, there was some semblance of comfort. Even though I have valued the opportunity to be immersed in a Spanish-speaking environment with rich cultural significance, there was something comforting about being in a space with people with similar backgrounds. Since I initially felt guilty for thinking this way, I began to reflect on why tourist traps are so appealing despite warnings in every travel guide to avoid them. I realized that the cathartic feeling I experienced at the pub was simply because I wanted a homely, familiar environment in Cuzco. Whether it be ordering McDonald’s, eating the cuisine of my home country, or being drawn to tourists who look similar, I seem to replicate aspects of my hometown in some small way.
Since this is my first time traveling outside North America, I came into this trip feeling uncertain about what I’d truly experience. Given how I enjoyed the Irish pub, I’m sure that if I were to coordinate the trip myself, the destinations I’d choose would be tourist traps. Upon further reflection, I’m unbelievably grateful for how I’ve experienced Cuzco through the Spanish language while dining in authentic Peruvian restaurants and hearing about ancient sites from local guides. For future travels, I’ll be sure to avoid the bulwarks of Americana (apart from when there’s pub trivia, of course!) in favor of meaningful, irreplaceable cultural experiences.
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