Use the local language

   Someone abruptly interrupts our stroll in the park. They demand in a language we don't understand to know the address and hours of operation of a particular small cafe. Simultaneously, their companion is wildly pointing to a guide book. This may be a bit off putting, yet this is exactly how many tour foreign lands, especially when tired and frustrated.

    How about a simple, "Donde esta Capitan Cook?"   Actually, you may find out where Capitan Cook restaurant is located.  A nice bonus since it is directly on the beach and has wonderful seafood.  
Imagine visiting a friend and strictly avoiding the phrases:  hello, please and thank you throughout the visit.  Awkward?  Why is visiting a foreign land any different?  

    Using even the basics of a language is fun, helpful and opens up new levels of personal interactions that few tourists ever experience.  Think about it, when seasoned travelers tell their tales of their exotic journeys, do their most intriguing stories include their 5 star hotel room or their chance brush with a colorful character?  Use the local language to enhance your experiences, if nothing else.

    Have fun with speaking a new language!  You're not being graded.  Many attempts at foreign languages are preceded by the requisite look of terror.  Why?  Be a bull in the China shop.  Throw a few words out there.  See if they actually work.  If not, you'll be sure to get a laugh.  Roll with it, truly not a big deal.