Last Sunday's stage of the Tour de France, finished in Carcassonne France, just hearing that was the destination my mind lept to connections. On our 2024 Grand Adventure we spent two nights in Carcassonne. Carcassonne has one of the most complete medieval walls, surrounding the core of the old town. The hotel we stayed in was about a five minute walk south of one of the Gateways.
Travel and seeing places around parts of the world, creates a connection, a familiarity when I see, hear, or read about those places. It adds a depth of understanding, a curiosity, often, but not always, a yearning to return. Travel broadens horizons, helps us to better understand different places and people. It brings me a connection to the world that I wouldn't have if I hadn't been there, seen that, done that.
There are thousands of excuses not to travel. Ignore them and go. Even if it is to a place that leaves you saying say, "never again" you will have a connection and understanding of that place and the people who live there that you can't have any other way.
I am planning next springs Grand Adventure, a trip that will take us places we have not been. I was talking with one of the summer lifeguards last Friday. He commented about "where he is from" and I asked where he is from. Slovakia - and he showed me photos of the alpine mountain lakes in his corner of the country. Hmm? Pretty place.
I’ve heard Slovakia is beautiful. I’ve never been there.
ReplyDeleteI am still plotting.
DeleteIt's hard to find a place in Europe that doesn't have some attraction. I wish I was closer. I know a little about Slovakia from YouTube train videos. It is a great place to visit, and quite cheap.
ReplyDeleteI think with all the travel we did, the only place I didn't really like was Marseille. It felt rough.
Talking to a summer lifeguard. Hmm.
We were warned to avoid Marseille. Some of the lifeguards really like to talk, while I float around the pool.
DeleteHow would you know a place is a Never Again if you hadn't at least tried it.
ReplyDeleteYou gotta try it.
Well there was Mississippi
DeleteTruth.
Delete"Travel opens your heart, broadens your mind, and fills your life with stories to tell." - Paula Bendfeldt
ReplyDeleteAlways stories to tell
DeleteI'm glad I got to travel when I did. I'm not sure if I could do it now...
ReplyDeleteGo when you can, the way you can.
DeleteI love recognizing places and having a full understanding of place. Travel has enriched my life for sure.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question on my travel blog, "Paris is always a good idea".
We are flying home from there next spring.
DeleteI've never been to Slovakia but I did date is Slovakian man once. He was very pretty.
ReplyDeleteYou should see one of the lifeguards
DeleteSo are you bound for Slovakia? They say that Ukraine is appealing to American tourists nowadays. Best to go in an ex-US Army jacket carrying a rifle rather than a camera.
ReplyDeleteI am not crazy
DeleteI have a friend whose ancestry says he came from Croatia. It, too, is a wonderful place.
ReplyDeleteCertainly a pretty corner of the world
DeleteYours is the best traveling advice I've read in ages.
ReplyDeleteBy the way I read the title as Connecting to Wordle.