It seems the more little trips we go on the more we are missing travel as a whole. It has been awhile since we have been able to just take off and explore and right now we are craving travel. In the end travel means everything to us and here are 11 reasons we miss and are craving travel (regardless how silly some of them are)
Seems a little strange to start out with us missing morning beer, really I could have a morning beer right now if I wanted to but thats not really what we miss. What we miss is the freedom of being able to wake up in the morning, have nothing planned and sit and have a beer as you watch the world go by. The freedom of knowing your time is your own and you don’t have to answer to anyone. The freedom of knowing that we have chosen a life of travel and we will never regret that.
Did you know that Castel Sant’Angelo was not only a prison for the Vatican but it also was Hadrian’s tomb and also linked to the Vatican through a secret passageway so that the Pope could escape if the Vatican ever became under attack?
I love history, a lot. We are talking about someone who purchased an academic book on the Library of Alexandria years out of college, for fun. I am weird but I love it. I miss being able to go to a site and learning about it. I buy guidebooks just so I can read about the history of the country I am visiting and to be able to understand the country we are visiting. I also just love going to a historical site or museum and actually know what I am looking at. And yes I can do that here in California but when you start your studies off by learning about the ancient Minoan societies from 2000BCE suddenly San Francisco doesn’t seem so old. Plus no one seems to care when I get all nerdy about history or art but when we travel it is suddenly fascinating. I was a tour guide for a reason after all. I love sharing the knowledge I have and learning from others as well.
Friendly warning sign. Almost wish I didn’t understand this one!
There is something wonderful about going somewhere new and realizing that you cannot understand anybody. Yes it can be as equally frustrating but is there any better sign that you have gone somewhere completely different from what you know than walking around and realizing you don’t have a clue what is going on? Its the first true sign that you have traveled somewhere new, somewhere different, somewhere outside of your comfort zone when this happens. Yes it can be difficult but travel is about new experiences and pushing yourself. It wouldn’t be worth it if it was easy or convenient. When you realize you cannot understand anyone it is a sign to learn something new and connect with different people even if you only begin to understand hello and thank you.
There is a freedom with being able to wake up and decide to go somewhere new, maybe its just a train trip out of town, a day trip somewhere new or packing up and heading to a new country but there is a freedom in travel that doesn’t really exist anywhere else. We can go where ever a whim takes us. Alex and I ended up planning a trip to Vienna and Prague one Fall when our other plans abruptly fell through. We will never forget that trip and had such an amazing time. Its amazing what can happen when you spontaneously change your plans or randomly book tickets to Greece. We would never have discovered Thessaloniki otherwise.
I know that it sounds super nerdy but we love foreign currency. I find it fascinating to see how each country depicts themselves through their currency. You can see the character of a country through their money. It is hard to explain but when I get a new currency I spend a good amount of time examining it and of course trying to figure all the different bills out. It is always nice to bring foreign currency home as well. It is a easy and wonderful reminder of your trip.
There is something about the first breath in a new country. The unfamiliarity of the smells in the air excites me as my eyes dart back and forth trying to take everything in. Getting off a plane is one of the greatest feelings in the world. It is freeing to know that everything you are about to do is going to be a new experience. I love and am addicted to stepping into the unknown. Crossing that threshold into adventure is just thrilling. Once you have stepped off that plane there is no looking back, you have let yourself be open to new experiences. Why not just embrace and keep on traveling and take the first steps off a plane in a new place more often? It just makes life much better.
I love the expat community. I love sitting with a beer and having a conversation with a person who has decided to leave the comforts of his home country and starting a new life in another. A lot can be learned from them, they have picked this place for a reason and it is most likely a reason that I don’t want to miss out on. They can tell you about all the local places and the touristy place you should avoid. We spent a lot of our time with the expat community in Rome. It was a great community of people who knew Rome and loved Rome. They appreciate certain nuances of a culture that a local might take for granted. Everybody has there own opinions on expat communities but I love them because they will always have the inside scoop.
8- Miss discovering a new city and having it mapped out in my head.
I am very good at directions and very good at mapping a city. It is something that just clicks for me (except Brussels, I always get lost there for some reason!) and I love it. I love coming back to a city that I haven’t been to in years and instantly be able to find my way. I love walking around and getting lost in a city only to take a correct turn and be back at our hostel. I love that I can stumble around Paris, recognize some monuments and streets and arrive back at a restaurant I thought I would never be able to find again (especially since I couldn’t remember the name of it). There is something about being in a city for long enough to be able to walk around without a map and really explore the streets and all the city has to offer.
Just like talking to expats, talking to travelers is a good way to get the inside scoop about a new place right away. Also they are travelers and you already have something in common. It is nice to meet people who love doing what you love as well. Ash and I have gotten along with other travelers better than any other people. They typically have the same mindset and it is nice making friends on the road and swapping travel story and tips over a few morning beers. Knowing that there will always be other travelers like you out there is comforting in a way. To talk to a person about how you are taking 6 years to travel and they don’t look at you like you are crazy is always a nice feeling. They understand the drive to do something like that. They are not shocked or impressed by it, they just understand it and that’s a comforting thought.
Wine has become a huge part of our life, especially now that we live in wine country. Yet Ashley and I over the past few years and been really getting into exploring the wines around the world. It is a fun experience to go to a new a culture. Wine is a big commodity in the world and a place’s wine can tell you a lot about them and the land. Wine is a constant evolving industry and when one is out traveling the world it is fun to try all the local wine, whether it is drinking Romanian wine at two in the morning on a train with a local or going to the wine caves in Budapest and having food paired with it. I can’t wait till I’m back on the road and drinking all the local wines.
Alex is over joyed to have Kabob man right outside our hostel in Istanbul!
Now this is why I travel! I love to eat and I love to try everything, no matter what the food is in front of me I will at least try it. I have had a rule in my life that you must try everything at least once when it comes to food. Also if you do not like it the first time you keep trying it until you like it. I am definitely the more adventurous one when it comes to eating food while Ashley is a little more conservative. We both though, have a love for food and love exploring local cuisine; it not all bugs and guts for me, even though I do dive into those a few times, but its all about what a place is known for. Like when you go to Rome you have to try the carbonara, calcio e pepe, coda alla vaccinara(oxtail), and tripe. These are just some of the classics that one needs to try. Every culture has their own cuisine and how else are you going to understand another person’s culture without learning about their food and what they eat.
Who wants some squid eggs? We found this lovely meal at Chatuchak Market in Bangkok
So now we are missing travel even more! Let’s go on adventure and satisfy our travel cravings!
Why These Little Things Matter
When people ask why we crave travel so much, the answer is rarely one grand moment. It is the small, ordinary pieces that add up: the first coffee in an unfamiliar café, a bill you cannot quite decipher, a conversation with a stranger who has a better idea of where to eat than any guidebook. Individually they seem silly. Together they make up the feeling we chase, and it is hard to find at home.
Travel also changes how we pay attention. At home we move on autopilot, but in a new place every street corner, sign and smell demands a second look. That heightened awareness is a big part of why a short trip can feel longer and richer than a month of routine.
Making the Most of the Waiting
Since we cannot take off whenever we like right now, we have tried to keep the travel spirit alive in smaller ways. None of it replaces the real thing, but it helps:
- Plan without committing. Sketching out a dream itinerary, even a loose one, keeps the excitement going.
- Read about the places on our list. Guidebooks and history books are a perfect excuse for a nerdy evening.
- Explore close to home. A local day trip can still bring that sense of the unfamiliar.
- Look through old photos and currency. A few foreign bills in a drawer can bring a whole trip back.
What Comes Next
We do not know exactly when we will next step off a plane somewhere new, but we know the feeling will be worth the wait. Until then, we are collecting ideas and remembering past adventures. If you are in the same boat, take a look at our Where In The World Have We Been page for some inspiration, or browse our Travel Advice for tips to have ready when the time comes.
What do you miss most about travel? Chances are some of it is just as silly as our list, and that is exactly what makes it so good.