Tip 6 - Take Photos of Home with You

Load a few well-selected photos of home onto your digital camera for out-of-country trips. Your pictures might help you build a new friendship, answer a question, or just break the ice. Choose pictures of your home & family, snow scenes, scenic wonders such as the Rocky Mountains, or some distinctly Canadian plants, animals, or buildings. Include some warm-looking photos. Otherwise it gives the impression we have no summer at all.

The operative word here is a few pictures: 10 to 20 is plenty. Other tourists are on vacation. Staff at hotels, restaurants or elsewhere usually like seeing your photos but remember they are at their job. Our experience in Mexico showed us these professionals are far too polite to stop you or say it's too much time away from their tasks.