I came across a fascinating interview with Rick Steves, a Lutheran and the PBS travel expert who has written numerous travel guides, especially for his "Through the Back Door" series. Here is one question he addressed that really struck me. The link is also posted in case you'd like to read more. It's worth a look...
"What are the differences between being a tourist and being a pilgrim?
The system encourages you to be a tourist, because the system is an economic engine. You are led to believe that you need to be a consumer, that you need a fancy hotel, that you need to take a fancy tour. You will go home having done some predictable things—just what the advertising told you would happen.
To advocate something different is an affront to the system. If you are a travel editor, you're encouraged to promote helicopter skiing and three-day weekends in Reno and jet skiing in Maui—all of which will endear you to advertisers.
You could go to Africa and take in all the finest golf courses and come home having learned nothing. Or you could go to Africa and drink tea with local people, help them out in different ways and gain empathy for them. You'd come home changed. That's being a traveler. Travelers and pilgrims are people who are connecting, learning, challenging themselves and not doing what's predictable."
http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=8191
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