During the three years I lived in Montenegro, I saw lots of unusual English translations.  The combination of a country where English is not a common language, and it being off the main tourist path, is a recipe for amusing translations.  At many restaurants we would laugh at the menu while trying to figure out what it meant.  Often I wonder where all these translations come from.  Even on city tourist boards, sentences can sometimes be impossible to understand. 

The large island of Chiloé is a wonderful place. We are in Castro, which was founded in 1576, and it is Chile’s third oldest city in continued existence. 1000 km south of Santiago, this place brims with culture, from the wool weavings of local artisans to the wooden purple and yellow church of Castro. We pass by the front of this remarkable church on our way to eat lunch.

People scream as the huge mass of bamboo poles and tissue paper plummets toward them. At the last moment, it pulls out of the dive and soars back up into the air. Everyone keeps a watchful eye on the giant kite. I’ve heard enough stories to know that these things really can hurt.

My Spanish teacher Maria chatters on about the history of Antigua, Guatemala, the wonderful city where we are visiting. We are sitting on a bench in the town square. I zone out as she tells me something about an earthquake. I look around at the locals and tourists meandering through the park.

Just about anyone can be a traveler, but in order to be a good one, there are certain qualities you should have. Without these 11 traits, you might still have a good time, but you will definitely not get the most out of traveling. My recipe for Travelers Soup has been regularly tested over the past year as my family has traveled around the world.

I race down the concrete track, wind tearing by my face. Trees whiz by as I accelerate down the hill, gripping the handlebars tightly. A turn approaches from up ahead. I lean into it, and come out perfectly. I see a sign that says “Merge!” where another run joins into this one. Next I go through a tunnel, and several other signs warn “Slow Down!” The track narrows to a third of its old width, and I bounce off the wooden bumpers a couple times as I navigate the last bends.