Rent an Apartment, Learn the Language, Meet the Locals
Have you
ever come back from a vacation with the eerie sensation that
you’ve been away from home, but you haven’t really been
anywhere different? Have you ever strolled the streets of a
foreign city feeling like a spectator rather than a
participant? Have you ever eavesdropped on a lively group’s
conversation in an overseas café and wished you could join in?
If so,
this site is for you.
La Vida
Local (my invented Spanish-English term for “the local life”)
offers inspiration, ideas and practical tips on slipping into
the local scene in destinations around the world. Whether you
want to rent a Caribbean villa, brush up on Australian current
events, learn a few basic phrases in Dutch, or familiarize
yourself with French movies before, during or after your trip,
you’ll find help here.
Have you ever
fantasized about sitting in your Paris studio apartment,
nibbling croissants and reading the International Herald
Tribune? Have you ever dreamed about relaxing with new
friends over drinks in a Buenos Aires bar? La Vida Local is
your guide to renting vacation properties, meeting the locals,
and immersing yourself in cultures from Sydney to Santiago.
Choose a destination from the
left-hand menu, or click on "How To" at the top for tips on
meeting locals, learning languages, renting holiday apartments and
more.
And finally, an
administrative note: this site is very much a work in
progress. I'll be expanding the how-to section constantly with
new articles and tips. I'll also be adding new destinations
frequently. I started with Paris because it's one of the
easiest and most popular places to "live like a local." Next
up will be New York and Buenos Aires. After that, it will
likely be Amsterdam, Montserrat, Melbourne and Ottawa, the latter being
the city where I actually am a local!
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