What’s Your Travel Style?
Someone recently asked what all countries I’ve been to. I feel weird answering since I never wanted to have the “check off syndrome.” You know when people refer to countries as being “done.” “Oh I’ve done this place and we did that place…” I don’t “do” countries, I try to experience them and delight my senses through the smell and taste of the local culture and the adventure of taking in outdoor activities.
When I think of India I see a swirl of brilliant Saris, hear the exhilarating traffic of touktouk’s and smell deep, pungent spices.
In Ireland I see the lush emerald green hills, hear the fiddles of Doolin and the rattle and hum of the pubs (pun intended).
In Guatemala I smell the wood-smoked black beans, taste the fresh buttery avocado and visualize the weave of Mayan textiles.
Every time I travel, it only makes me want to travel more. Everywhere I go I learn about places I’ve never heard of!
So…here’s my “list” but please know, that with each of these places there are stories. No matter how simple or exotic – from the lobster shacks in Maine to the smoldering campfires of Texas, I try to appreciate everywhere I go, take nothing for granted and and always leave wishing I could go back for more; besides
for every place I’ve been there’s about 10 more waiting, hence the Wanderlist!
- US
- Canada
- Mexico
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- El Salvador
- Costa Rica
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Bolivia
- Peru
- Chile
- Argentina
- Ireland
- England
- Denmark
- Portugal
- Spain
- France
- Italy
- Austria
- Hungary
- Greece
- South Africa
- Thailand
- Cambodia
- Vietnam
- India
- Jamaica
- British Virgin Islands
- New Zealand
- Lesotho
- Morocco
I encourage you to stop “doing” and simply exist, slow down, breathe and take in your surroundings, even at home!
Chances are you’ll discover the unexpected and those moments may end up being your most cherished memories.
For me travel has to be a travel of the senses as well as of the feet. I was lucky enough to have lived in Spain for four years in the early seventies. To this day I can close my eyes and see the bright warm sun of Summer shining on the dusty fields of wheat outside of Madrid. The smell of Paellas and lunch drifting up the shared common center breezeway of the hotel Aitana in downtown Madrid. This breezeway was a hum of activity throughout the day… I could her peoples voices singing as they cooked, arguing over dinner, murmuring softly later as night fell.
In Germany I loved the bustle and hum of the people rushing about, the best beers in the world could be sampled on almost every corner and despite a language barrier I found the Germans to be very warm and friendly.
Paris in the Fall! It was all I had dreamed of and more! Following through on a promise I made to myself in High School of someday sitting at an outdoor café, ordering a wine and just sitting back and “watching” was one of the first highlights of my stay there. Followed by miles and miles (did I mention miles?) of walking, too many museums to visit (means I must go back!), picking up chestnuts and leaves to press in my guidebooks. I tried everything presented to me! Tried all sorts of new food. Surrendered to the entire experience and didn’t try to control a single thing!
As for an experience list, it includes;
Iceland! I got to see it briefly on a layover and saw so many things I wanted to explore more fully.
Norway, Sweden and Finland are high on the list with (I hope) the opportunity to see the Northern lights in one of them.
Spain, I want to see it again and experience that same warmth.
Portugal
Ireland and Scotland
England
Alaska
Newfoundland
Canada
Greece
Croatia
Amsterdam
and so many, many more!
Hopefully I can just be open to the opportunity whenever and wherever I find it!
Thanks for sharing Deb (I only just now saw this comment & apologize for the delay)! I’d love to go back to Spain and see the North and even hike the Camino de Santiago. Munich is high on my list as I am a beer lover. Have only been to Berlin, but will go to Oktoberfest as crazy as it may be! Chris & I went to Paris in the fall too! We were there for our 15 yr. anniversary – quintessential. We plan to hike Kilimanjaro for our 20 yr. You have a great Wanderlist!
Here’s mine: http://drishtiyogateachertraining.com/carris-personal-wander-list/