Let’s Go

Believe it or not, friends, I had convinced myself that I wasn’t going to go anywhere this summer. A couple long weekends, maybe, but no adventures.

Nope, I’m doing some projects around the house, having dental work done…you know, exciting things like that are sucking up time and money. No adventures for me this year. Maybe next year.

And then Anthony Bourdain passed away.

I didn’t know him personally, of course, but I have always admired him – his spirit, his attitude, his bravery, his brutal honesty, his creativity. His ability to literally go anywhere and talk and eat with anyone. What a total badass that man was, in so many ways. The quote above absolutely represents what I believe about travel.

Life is, really and truly, short. We can’t know how much time we have left in this amazing world. Losing anyone is terrible, and as travelers and adventurers, losing someone who, more than anyone else, seemed to totally and completely embody the spirit of the explorer feels like a slap.

Get up off the couch. Move.

So in the space of the last few days, I’ve considered and tossed about a dozen ideas for a short-ish trip – from Vancouver to Croatia to Bolivia – and landed on three days in Amsterdam, where I have never been, and three days in London, where I haven’t been in 20 years. Not the most out-there, adventurous locales, but I am so excited to be there for a week and soak in the history and culture of those two great cities. I leave June 30.

Work will be here when I get back. So will the house. And everything else that I get caught up worrying about. Right now? Right now I am healthy, gainfully employed, and I have a week off. So let’s go.

Travel is such an amazing addition to life, no matter how you do it. Nice hotels or backpacking and hostels. Big cities or tiny out of the way places. As I said when I started this project, I believe travel broadens our minds, deepens our humanity, and feeds our souls. Plus it’s FUN.

Ask around. Where have people you know been that they rave about? Or that taught them something? Or that they are dying to go back to? People love to give travel tips (case in point, this blog). This trip would not have taken shape nearly as quickly yesterday if the young woman who gave me a pedicure didn’t offer up the tip that Norwegian Air flies direct from Denver to Gatwick and I might be able to find a decent flight with them. I had no idea. They don’t show up on a lot of flight searches because it’s only a once a week flight. Voila.

She is 25, just got back from a month backpacking in Asia, and is heading out on her first solo journey in a few months. I gave her some advice and a little pep talk to help calm her nervousness about traveling alone, and she gave me the flight tip. We have next to nothing else in common, this young woman and I, but travel brings people together that way, doesn’t it.

What adventure or heart’s desire or even just fun road trip are you putting off for bullshit reasons? (Please note: dental work is officially a bullshit reason. I can’t even believe I typed that)

Let’s Go.

Sending you love and courage to shelve the excuses and get after it. Whatever it is.

Cheers!

Traveling Girl