If you have traveled at all you know that the desire to study, explore, and see for yourself, never grows old. If you had to cancel vacation plans this year, or are sad because your retirement plans have been put on hold, it may be time to explore some new options.
Travel is limited right now but the desire to see and appreciate our world is stronger than ever. Start planning your next trip right now. Planning the perfect vacation is half the fun, and you can still do that, but don’t limit yourself.
Getting older puts a whole new spin on traveling, and it happened before the coronavirus came to call. We have all had to shift our ideals. Hiking through the Alps or bicycling through Europe may no longer be an option, but you can still drink in the beauty of it all.
During uncertain times you may be wondering if you be able to revisit favorite places or take a real vacation again. Think positive thoughts, but in the meantime, let arm chair travel come to the rescue. Seriously, the only way to travel right now is from your living room. I’ve watch so many PBS Mysteries lately that driving on the “wrong” side had started to look quite normal.
Pick a country. Immerse yourself. Learn how to speak a few words of the language, cook a meal (alright, order out from an ethnic restaurant), listen to native music, learn a folk dance, drink the wine, and appreciate the art.
The internet age has made it possible to visit places that you thought you would never see. Armchair travel is a real thing; it is sharing another’s experiences by reading, hearing or viewing.
Start by contacting a reference librarian to find books, movies, and documentaries about the country of your choice. Ask for help to access YouTube and other venues that can zoom you away to faraway places.
I hate to use the phrase “time is running out.” but it could very well be. Explore this wonderful, exciting and beautiful world while you still can.
Leave a Reply