You're absolutely right, you never forget your first! For me it was Florence. I couldn't get over how beautiful the city and how much I wanted to make it my home. Mexico is a great place to kindle that love, though. I went just over a year ago and it was the furthest you could possibly get from the tourist show. We ate real street food and lounged on the empty public beach of Tulum. If anyone were to offer me a free trip to a resort, I would cash it in and see the real Mexico! I hope your friend follows his freshly discovered love!
Lisa
· 10 months ago
I'd almost forgotten! That first trip...the moment you realize, "hey, I can do this"...when you slip from being a tourist to being a traveler. This is a great post, thanks for reminidng me.
Alex
· 10 months ago
Beautiful. This is exactly how it feels, indeed... once the bug has bitten you, you won´t ever be the same; people will gave you that strange look when you talk about going so far away and eating sandwiches, even you friends won´t understand your occasional desire to camp or your aversion to conventional hotels.
Damn, even writing this makes "The Itch" comes back... someday i will scratch it in Mexico, for sure! :)
Celeste
· 10 months ago
I am SO that friend, and your next travel companion hopeful. My kiddies and I have had the good fortune to travel all over the US in just this manner; "living local". I've had the incredible pleasure of visitng just over the Mexico border. That was a painfully delectable taste for me. I've laways wanted to explore...even as a little girl. I'm smitten and bitten forever. ;) C.
Audrey
· 10 months ago
Beautifully written. I really enjoyed reading this and found myself smiling and nodding throughout. I remember falling for travel and I've also been fortunate to see other people go through the same process. It's wonderful.
Discovering travel is an amazing thing. I've been intermittently living that life forever; I probably discovered that life when I was 13 in the Bahamas, but I seem to "re-recognize" and value the experiences of travel in a new way every time :)
Greg Wesson
· 10 months ago
I was recently asked to comment on the difference between a traveller vs. a tourist, and I must admit that having been on the road for a few years now, I tend to think there is little distinction between the two. Whether we are travelling for pleasure and vacation or travelling for experience and culture, we are all travelling and touring.
However, this post reminds me that there is a difference, and that there is something special about travelling independently, outside of the tour group, that perhaps those of us who have been doing it for a few year forget. It is good to be reminded though the eyes of the newcomer that it is something very cool and special.
Thanks for posting this. It is a good reminder that we independent travellers need to remember that this is something worth remembering.
This is a great post, Christine! Just reinforces my desire to go travel on my birthday a few months from now. Never mind that me and my friends have to skimp on food and other stuff to come up with the budget.
For any traveller who has a good hand with a pencil, perhaps you might want to check out Mo Willems' You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When It Monsoons (The World on One Cartoon A Day). A good alternative to blogging/photography.
What a wonderful story! I unfortunately can't remember my 'first' as I've been traveling all my life, but I've certainly taken friends along and have had the privilege of watching their eyes open to the wonder of travel, to a first communication in a foreign language, a first bite of unknown foods, a first ride on a dusty rural bus...
I may never have that 'first' awakening to the world of travel again but I always look around me with wonder - there's no trip without its own 'first'...
Keith
· 10 months ago
I took my first trip to Paris, a school trip, at the age of 14 ... and was utterly gobsmacked by the fact that the police carried guns, and everyone drove on the wrong side of the road, and spoke French!
Wow, fantastic post! I'm actually choked up here. You've perfectly captured the ideal of travel, that potent, burgeoning limitlessness of the world we sense now and again in those special moments on the road. That anything is possible.
This is the best thing I've read in a while, thanks!
I can still remember the excitement and slight apprehension at entering a different country (UK) for the first time. I hope that I never remember that feeling as travel should always have that sense of anticipation, feel of the unknown and excitement at experiencing and seeing a new place.
excellent post. my very first hostel experience in sydney was a bit boring, since all people in my room an d 80% in the hostel came from my country, forming little groups. eventually they split up afte a week or so to discover australia by themself, or at least would team up with locals or people from other countries :)
NP
· 10 months ago
Any advice for a single, female, 27 years old who is thinking a lot (almost 3 years now) about taking a different road...no 9 to 5er, living a traveler's life, etc. I am scare as i think anyone would be wanting to take a completely different path. how do i convince "myself" to take this step that I want to take rather than succumb to my fears as I have been? How should I go about it? Financial, work, etc. Thanks!
All Comments
Damn, even writing this makes "The Itch" comes back... someday i will scratch it in Mexico, for sure! :)
<abbr>Audrey´s last blog post..Travelers as Diplomats?</abbr>
However, this post reminds me that there is a difference, and that there is something special about travelling independently, outside of the tour group, that perhaps those of us who have been doing it for a few year forget. It is good to be reminded though the eyes of the newcomer that it is something very cool and special.
Thanks for posting this. It is a good reminder that we independent travellers need to remember that this is something worth remembering.
Greg
<abbr>Greg Wesson´s last blog post..England: Winter Wonderland?</abbr>
For any traveller who has a good hand with a pencil, perhaps you might want to check out Mo Willems' You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When It Monsoons (The World on One Cartoon A Day). A good alternative to blogging/photography.
<abbr>mauie´s last blog post..If I Were a Star, This Would Be My Come-back Movie</abbr>
I may never have that 'first' awakening to the world of travel again but I always look around me with wonder - there's no trip without its own 'first'...
<abbr>Keith´s last blog post..More Snow Pictures</abbr>
<abbr>Nomadic Matt´s last blog post..Best Places to Go Scuba Diving</abbr>
This is the best thing I've read in a while, thanks!
<abbr>Hal´s last blog post..This Is Home</abbr>
<abbr>Lola´s last blog post..Postcard: Jumbo Cafe</abbr>
<abbr>Mark H´s last blog post..Winter Hiking in the White Mountains (New Hampshire, USA)</abbr>