Mark Twain said, “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.” Writing about travel in the 1800s, Twain’s words remain brilliant.
Do you love adventures the way Samuel Clemens did? Does experiencing the new make your heart happy? Traveling is how my brain rejuvenates. Hiking a new trail, beautiful views unfolding with each turn, fills my soul with joy. Returning home, I feel able to plod on through the daily life we undertake—work, house chores, personal obligations. Things that sometimes feel like drudgery become lighter upon my return from a trip.
Starting My Travels
My novice journey outside the USA was to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was a fabulous time involving swimming in the Sea of Cortex and touring the Eagle’s Hotel California. That was almost thirty years ago and I’m still hooked on using my passport. There was another vacation to Mexico before I hit the Caribbean a couple of times. St. Maarten provided a great initiation to French/Dutch culture, but the Bahama trip was interrupted by Hurricane Floyd. I started going to the Toronto region of Canada for work in the early 2000s. The excursions to Europe began with my first jaunt to Germany. My world exploded during that experience.
Exploring new places and meet new people, even when I didn’t speak the language, became my favorite kind of fun.* Visiting with locals to get the scoop on the best trails, museums, and restaurants is always a high point for a journey.
Take a trip by reading the blogs from Hawaii to Italy and places in between. Would love to take you along–even vicariously!
*When an American lands in Europe and asks a local, “Do you speak English?” The answer you often hear is, “Yes, but not very good.” The person then proceeds to speak so eloquently to you that your first language sounds lyrical.
