Asked, "What's your favorite destination," a traveler friend of mine responded, "Wherever I'm going next." That's such a good answer. Travel, the experience, the education, the wanderlust, will always be something that cannot be quantified. It can't be crammed into a photo album, or described in a blog, or ranked like a 'best of' series. It's simply a thing you love and do. And whether you take extravagant, enviable adventures, or have quiet, quick getaways, travel gets into your DNA. It not only gives you great stories - tales to tell around a dinner table - it gives you matter to fill the holes in your own life story.
I hate shit like this, but here goes:
T is for tolerance. Learning about how - through wars, social strife, and economic struggles - cultures, religions, and peoples have managed to live together in harmony, gives me hope for how I can be tolerant of other cultures, religions, and peoples. Moreover, Joe and I were joined at the hip for 34 days...the only time I had alone was when he snagged a table in the dining room and I headed over to indulge in the buffet. Those moments were precious. And yet, we had only small disagreements - like, we should have mimosas this morning instead of bloody marys again, or, should you really have visited the buffet three times in light of the considerable time you spent in the bathroom after your last meal. Travel gives you reason to make exceptions, and that's tolerance.
R is for realization. Wandering around in museums, treading lightly at UNESCO sites, and pondering the development of cultures over 4500 years old made me realize the innovation, craftsmanship, and ingenuity of ancient people. Wow! I mean, if I had been alive then, and it was left up to me...we'd still be living in caves and eating raw food. Frankly, I don't know how to make an almost perfectly round bowl without pottery wheels or molds. Or, I'm not sure how melt this down, so I can make a spear and kill something for dinner. And, wait, you want me to quarry marble from a mile away, load it on a raft, float it down the river, off-load it and leverage it up the highest point in the city, then stack it together to build a temple...I need a nap. Travel makes me realize just how incredible history is.
A is for awe. Beautiful white roofs of houses in Bermuda. The power of ocean waves - not, you know, Poseidon Adventure-like waves, but waves big enough to toss around a giant ship. The riot of sights and sounds in North Africa. Uber-rich luxury yachts lined up like soldiers in the marina. The quaint and charming streets of an old town French village. Ancient walls and fortresses. Royal palaces and opulent decor. Colossal statues, temples, amphitheaters, stadiums, and funerary. Museums jammed with artifacts that only a trained eye or a master puzzle solver could curate. I stood in awe almost as much as I stood in line at gelaterias. Travel works to help expand your vocabulary...or just become frustrated with the limited one you have.
V is for variety. This trip: Eight countries. Seven languages. So much food. So many shops. Amazing amounts of scenery. For anyone planning to vacate, there are beaches, mountains, hiking, zip-lining, riverboat tours, museums, restaurants, people watching...there's no end of stuff to do and see. 196 countries and 6909 languages in the world. Try one, try 'em all...they're their for the taking. Travel is a smorgasbord of activities and experiences.
E is for excitement, enrichment, and entertainment. Colorful traditions, cultural rites, local festivals, and national celebrations give you a sense of place and people. Professional guides impart loads of information (historical and anecdotal), local shopkeepers can tell you the best places to eat in the neighborhood, and a stroll through a labyrinth of cobblestone streets reveal surprises around every corner. Travel begs you to go on and do that thing you've always wanted to do.
L is for life. Just like life, travel is challenging! Late flights, missed trains, bad weather, bad tours, diarrhea and swigs of pepto bismol, no whales on a whale watch, heavy luggage, shitty internet...just scratching the surface. But life - and travel - is also sweet. A simple breakfast on a lovely patio with an outstanding view of the Parthenon. A relaxing riverboat ride through town. A day at the beach under dazzling blue skies. An unexpected cool breeze through ancient columns. Finally going in that restaurant you pass by every time you're in town, only to discover that it's wonderfully appointed and fantastically delicious. Travel brings your life to life.
Joe and I have a couple of small trips lined up this summer, but the next big one is to South Africa in August. I can't wait...I'm sure we'll have shitty internet!
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