Travel is something that does not get old—new places and new people captivate you. Personally, I have this longing to see the world. Not in the vapid sense of staying in a nice hotel and visiting the touristy sites but truly living in and learning from the people of that culture.
Traveling is a learning opportunity that is like no other. There might be a price on a plane ticket or a room but what you learn about a culture and about yourself is priceless.
1. Every city is not the same.
You may have heard that you see one city you have seen them all, well that is a lie. Every city, town or village has a totally unique vibe to it. Be it the architecture of the buildings, the way people interact or the stories that are told through the history of that place. Because of these reasons there are countless places to visit!
2. You are the master of your travel experience.
You get what you want to get out of each travel destination. You want to see all the museums, do it! Maybe you want to eat at street carts, or perhaps you want to make it to every farmers market, spend every day at the beach, or hike the nearest mountain.
Well shocker, you can!
Travel is something that we can all tailor to ourselves, you and a friend might have both gone to the same place but have seen totally different things and that is what travel is all about.
3. Public transportation is full of possibilities.
Most major cities have a wonderful transit system, LA may not, but pretty much every other big city I have been to has a great system. Take advantage of it and buy a week long pass, day passes are over rated.
Odds are you will be using transit for the whole trip so just spend a few more dollars up-front to have peace of mind for the whole trip. Also it will take you a day to get the transit system down, but always carry a map, you will thank me later for this.
(Once you have learnt it in one city you will be a pro in almost all cities.)
4. Currently we live in a world where there are some not so safe places, but this should not limit your travel.
Last week I was in Munich and while walking to dinner one night I had to walk through riot police waiting for an anti-refugee protest. Shit happens, do not stop, do not let it bother you and most of all do not tall your parents until you make it home safe and sound.
For there is truly no reason to worry, that country you are in is dealing with it, causing panic back home will just add unnecessary stress.
5. Traveling and being on vacation are two very different things.
To travel is to live and learn from a culture. Vacation, on the other hand, is one hundred percent relaxing and pampering. To enjoy a trip you do not have to be pampered, you have to just be open to new places and new people and you will find yourself falling in love with every place you visit.
I hope those fives things are enough to make you rethink that trip you just planned to the same place you visited last year. Find somewhere new, make new friends and see the world. Remember there is only one world and you only have one life, so spend it wisely.
