A Place Called Roam
  • Home
  • Tao of Travel
  • The Best Of
  • Archives
  • About
  • Contact Me

THIS THING CALLED TRAVEL

11/14/2013

 
Travel is such a paradox.

When I’m home, I long for the foreign and the strange (
I am beyond longing at this point!): the smells, the sounds, the sites and the sensations of different cultures, different people.  
 
When I’m travelling, sooner or later I long for a familiar face in the crowd.  The need to hug my grandkids, to have a leisurely lunch with an old friend, to write at my desk and sleep in my own bed; all conspire to lure me back home.   

Having been home for the last six weeks while Jimmy and I took care of some much needed housekeeping (I still don’ t know why we couldn’t have hired someone to take care of the housekeeping:  the blood draws, the physical therapy, the new cataracts) I continually felt restless, that I was missing so much out there in the world at large.   

What is this thing that has such a hold on me?  I was hoping you’d ask. Okay, I did bring it up but this is typically a one-sided conversation anyway.  Jump in any time.  I know you're out there. 
 
Travel is a lot of things to a lot of people, running the gamut from adventure to Zen-like with everything in between.  Here’s what travel is to me. 
Travel is . . .

. . .  ordering something out of the Sky Mall catalogue, against your better judgment.

. . .  allowing complete strangers to pat you down in the name of safety. 

. . .  discovering your internal alarm clock is set for three am local time.
Picture
. . .  missing home, but not enough to return home.

. . .  rarely knowing what day of the month it is, sometimes what day of the week.  
 
. . .  eating day after day sans diet.
Picture
. . .  waking up in the middle of the night and getting lost on your way to the bathroom.    
 
. . .  sitting two rows up from the crying baby on the eight hour flight to Europe.

. . .  happening upon a highly entertaining street busker in a foreign country who caps off a 
       memorable two weeks of travel in a very unique way.
Picture
. . .  heading home on an early morning flight, only to arrive home late in the morning of the
       same day.  
 
. . .  communicating with locals via hand gestures.

. . .  discovering how liberating it feels to step outside your comfort zone.
Picture
. . .  carrying a cell phone good only for snapping pictures.

. . .  spending five minutes figuring out how to turn the shower on.

. . .  not letting a little rain (even a lot of rain) ruin your plans for the day.
Picture
. . .  finding chocolates on your pillow.

. . .  sometimes eating while on the run, then paying for it with the runs.

. . .  detesting food that comes wrapped in cellophane or aluminum foil only to discover you
       can stomach almost anything when you're hungry and on a plane.
Picture
. . .  having no idea how you’re going to get all your belongings back into your suitcase for the
       return trip home.

. . .  examining your passport with pride as soon as the local agent hands it back to you freshly
       stamped.

. . .  celebrating other cultures.
Picture
. . .  never having to change the linens or clean the toilet. 
 
. . .  returning home with a better view of the world, and you in that world. 
 
. . .  losing yourself, finding yourself, loving the new you.
Picture
Joan
11/15/2013 01:16:06 am

Yeah, for travel! I would add hugs from a 6'5" dining room manager, getting an upgraded room without evenh asking for it, having the bathroom cleaned twice a day with towels refolded, beds turned down at night with chocolates on the pillows, eating marvelous foods you never have at home & don't even know what they are, walking cobblestone streets that you have walked before, new sights, new friends (at least for the lengh of the trip), & that final...how will I ever get all the same stuff in my suitcase plus the goodies I'm taking home!!!!

Sherry
11/15/2013 06:22:58 am

Missing those hugs! Yes, travel occasionally makes us feel pampered, which makes returning home that much tougher.

Kathy Algarin
11/15/2013 03:43:58 am

When I read your travel blogs it's like I went with you! I love your humor in everything you experience. I also learn a little bit too! As I get older I almost cringe at the thought of ever taking another plane ride. It just is so tiresome and exhausting! But when I go with you I am not tired or broke! Thanks for sharing cuz!

Sherry
11/15/2013 06:25:42 am

Oh, but what fun if you really got the chance to go along with Jimmy and me! Yes, much of it is tiresome, but then so is giving birth. But, ah, the rewards! I'm reborn every time I visit a new place; I come home and see life so much differently because of my travels. I really enjoy your comments Kathy. Thanks for sharing.

Diane link
11/21/2013 02:58:25 pm

Since I am always playing catch up with your blogs I read them lastest to oldest. The last comment I left was "Love it" but this one's even better. Great pictures, good text! and things I can relate to. Thanks for taking me along.

Sherry
11/21/2013 03:03:00 pm

Does that mean we're related?


Comments are closed.

    About

    I'm searching for more meaning, magic and mystery in life through travel.  If you're searching for more info about me click on this link.   

    Categories

    All
    Attractions
    Botanic Gardens
    Cities
    Cruises
    Culture
    Europe
    Food
    Fun Foto Friday
    How You Venn?
    Islands
    Lake Geneva
    Life's Mysteries
    Middle East
    Museums/Memorials
    National Historic Landmark
    North America
    Nothing To Do With Travel
    Parks/zoos
    Photos
    Random Thoughts
    Restaurants
    This Thing Called Travel
    Top Ten
    Tuesday Travelista
    UNESCO World Heritage Site
    Who Knew?
    Zen Travel Moment

    View travelbug's photos on Trover

    Blog Roll

    This Is Indexed
    NatGeo Travel
    Science Dump
    Traveler Writers Exchange
    Matador 
    Brain Pickings
    House By the Sea
    Time Goes By
    The Happiness Project
    Dictionary of Obscure 
       Sorrows

    For Automatic Blog Updates
    in same time click the RSS Feed button below and sign up for email notices or click the Like button below for automatic updates to your Facebook page. 

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly