A Matter of Intent/The Sometimes Perplexed Traveler

artificial roses-Seville

new age statues-Edinburgh

religious statues-Malaga

furniture-Lucca

haggis-Edinburgh

As you wander along the streets of an unfamiliar city, the almost universal modern cultural element of the storefront window display is unavoidable. Some travelers intentionally try to avoid these displays and focus on architecture, statues, modes of transportation, and the ways people dress and act. I look at a storefront window display and try to figure out for whom the items are intended. Unless you know the culture of a place, coming to a conclusion isn't always an easy thing to do. Even if you do arrive at a conclusion, there are times that the only way you can be sure you are correct is to ask someone native to the community. That assumes that you are able to develop a rapport with someone who lives there and he/she will be frank with you. That conversation, if you are fortunate to have it, can lead to interesting cross-cultural discussions.

Take a minute and think about the photos in this post. In the bottom photo you see a rather unimpressive display of haggis. Are you familiar with haggis? If not, read what Wikipedia has to say about it:

"Haggis is a dish containing sheep's 'pluck' (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal,suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally simmered in the animal's stomach for approximately three hours. Most modern commercial haggis is prepared in a casing rather than an actual stomach.

Haggis is a kind of sausage, or savoury pudding cooked in a casing of sheep's intestine, as many sausages are. As the 2001 English edition of the Larousse Gastronomique puts it, "Although its description is not immediately appealing, haggis has an excellent nutty texture and delicious savoury flavour".^[1]"

Given the fact that many Scottish people consider haggis to be a taste treat, was this display intended for them or for the tourist who wants to "take a walk on the culinary wild side"?

Spain has many very religious people and Catholicism is very strong there. The religious statues could be for them. On the other hand, they may be intended for commercial purposes only and "real" religious statues are best bought though Church-related places. Spain is also known for its colorful clothing and accompaniments. I can envision a Spanish woman potentially wearing one of the artificial roses. On the other hand, I have a minimal understanding of the culture of Spain, and both displays could be for the tourist who thinks that the items are small, light, easy to pack, and are representative of Spanish culture. I never took the opportunity to ask-any conclusion would be pure speculation on my part. The same could be said of what I think of as the "New Age" angels founded in the window of an Edinburgh store. Do Scottish people get involved in the concept of "New Age" to any degree?

The only photo that I am 99% certain that it contains goods intended for local buyers is the furniture store in Lucca, Italy. Few tourists buy large pieces of furniture and have it shipped home, at least among the travelers with whom I am familiar. Even this photo's content perplexes me because it seems incongruous. The modernistic lighting was found in a narrow side-street in the walled old city rather than the modern part of the city.

Travel and all of its opportunities to be exposed to other cultures is what going beyond your present horizon is all about. It is enjoyable and, at least sometimes, is a chance to experience different styles and perspectives.

I hope that you enjoyed your visit, thank you for stopping by. May your travels be interesting and enjoyable.

Kerry