Why Travel?

As a former flight attendant for over 20 years and a present day travel addict, I’ve traveled to 54 countries, throughout the United States and sailed on over 34 cruises. My bags are always ready to be packed for a new adventure. Here are just a few of the reasons I thrive on new places, new experiences and meeting new people.

No photo adequately captures the breathtaking majesty of the Grand Canyon, the rare beauty of a double rainbow across the entire horizon at sea, the romance of Paris at night or the thrill of a hot air balloon floating serenely over the Sonora Desert as sunset paints a masterpiece across the sky and the desert. No book or video can rival the experience of being there.

 Meeting people in their surroundings and learning about their daily existence guides us toward more compassion and understanding. When we travel with an open-mind and open heart, we learn to appreciate that because cultures, beliefs, and traditions are different, they are not wrong.  We learn new ways of thinking and new ways of approaching problems.

Travel gives us the opportunity to become part of past, present, and even future history.  From a lighthearted perspective, my husband and I enjoy seeing places we have visited featured in the news or movies. It’s fun to say “Hey, we’ve been there!”  On a much deeper level, through travel we experience first-hand what it must have been like to build the Great Wall of China or the pyramids centuries ago.  Standing in the midst of historic sites and before monuments to our past, such as the Arizona Memorial in Hawaii or the Viet Nam Wall in Washington DC, invokes deep respect for the sacrifices that allow us to be where we are today.  It is not an exaggeration to say that travel is a life-changing experience.

Travel is an important source of continuing education. A passport filled with stamps from around the world or a journal filled with travel memories at home and abroad is your diploma. Seek out opportunities to be a participant rather than simply a spectator when you travel. As a committed travel foodie, I enjoy learning to prepare exotic new dishes with totally different ingredients and tastes. Some of my favorite souvenirs are recipes shared by hosts in other countries.

Finally, travel brings us closer together. Whether we travel with a significant other, close friends or solo and make new friends, shared experiences strengthen relationships and create memories that bring pleasure, and warm our hearts for many years go come.

 What are you waiting for?  St. Augustine said, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” Don’t stop with one page. If you’ve always dreamed of walking the colorful streets of Hong Kong or taking an ocean voyage around the world, don’t wait. If your 75 year old mother or grandmother wants to see the pyramids, take them. If your son or daughter wants to surf in Maui, find a way to go. If your spouse or significant other wants to run away to Tahiti, pack your bags. Life is so short and many things we put off until someday or the right time never become realities. Make your travel dreams a reality and savor the memories forever.