The 8 Things I Love About Travel

I always get a bit reflective as a year comes to an end and a new one is about to begin. 

And I’ve really been thinking about what travel means to me — why I travel, why I love it and how it affects my life.

The question: What do you love about travel? popped up as I was perusing travel articles.

So I began to really ponder this question.

Maybe more so because I’ve been unable to travel much this year due my 92 year old dad’s failing health.

I’ve been thinking about travel … A LOT!

And how much I miss it. 

So, I’m going to get a bit contemplative here in this end-of-the year post.

Bear with me.

I hope when you finish reading this, you’ll drop me a comment and tell me what you love about travel.

Ok.

Here are some of the things I love about travel.

It gives me a chance to explore something new … or dig deeper into a place I’ve been before

One of the things I love about travel is discovering new places.

I put my explorer hat on and let my curiosity guide me.

It’s great fun to wander about a new (to me) town or village.

To peruse a historical site learning about the culture.

To eat some local food.

To walk a mountain trail.

To stroll on a sandy beach.

But I also thoroughly enjoy revisiting destinations I’ve been to before, diving in deeper.

I always find that I come upon something new.

It’s that “new” that I love about travel sooooo much.

Every day is a new day — and you never really know what’s going to happen.

Each travel day is a surprise!

I get to meet new people

One of the things I love most about travel is meeting new people.

Now for some folks, this may be daunting because they’re more introverted.

Believe it or not, I’m not an extrovert.

I’m that wonderful mix — an ambivert — who can be quite extroverted at times but who also loves being alone.

So what I love about meeting new people as I travel is that I can turn on my extrovert persona when I feel the need for human connection.

And then turn on the introvert persona when I want to be on my own.

But when I do meet people, I usually have a wonderful time.

The interactions as you stumble over the language barrier are fun — if a bit challenging.

If there is no language barrier, then you can easily share stories with other travelers or perhaps locals who speak the same language.

I learn so much about a country, region or town from the local people.

History, traditions, daily life, food, sites, things to do. 

Meeting people is absolutely one of things I love about travel the most.

I learn about different cultures

I’m a naturally curious person.

So learning about different cultures is so much fun for me.

The history, the customs and traditions, the food and any myths and legends are intriguing for me to discover.

Sure.

You can read about places in books or watch tv shows or films.

But there is nothing like that on-the-ground education.

To actually see, feel and hear the sights and sounds of an ancient burial tomb or a medieval castle.

To taste the food and drink of a culture.

To actually partake in a festival or a ritual.

Hands-on experience beats reading about it and watching it on a screen any day.

Learning is one of the things I truly love about travel.

It allows me to see the world in a new perspective — and let go of biases and prejudices

And as you learn about the culture and meet the people of a place, you let go of those preconceived notions about a destination and its people.

There are some great quotes out there about this idea. 

I love this one from author, Henry Miller:

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” 

And this one from Mark Twain is a definite favorite of mine: 

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

I truly believe that as you travel, your views on the world change.

Maybe a lot.

Maybe just a little.

Regardless, I do believe that travel breaks down barriers between people and cultures.

While there will always be differences in our languages and histories and customs, when you peel all that away, you just see other stories of human beings. 

And while I find myself with a new perspective on a destination and its people, I also …

Simplicity

When I came back from my recent long term trip to Europe, I looked around my bedroom and literally said out loud, “Why do I have so much shit?”

And I know that I don’t have as much as a lot of folks. 

Of course, I also know that I do have more than many people.

But the joy for me is that when I travel, life is simpler.

I don’t have drawers full of clothing to choose from.

I don’t have other ‘stuff’ laying around.

I have all that I need and want.

It’s simple.

And I love this about travel.

The other piece of this is that your life is less complicated.

You find a place to sleep.

You figure out where or what you’re going to eat.

And you might find something to do, see or experience.

You find yourself thinking more about the basics in life rather than all the other crap.

Simplicity.

I love this!

Please note that Wander Your Way is only recommending international travel to those who are vaccinated and feel comfortable doing so. While travel to Europe is getting easier, we are still not out of the woods with COVID.

If you do decide to travel internationally, please do your research or use a travel planning service such as Wander Your Way. Please stay up to date using official sources like the WHO and CDC.

And if you are ready to go soon, please contact Lynne for any assistance you may need.

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