Travel and tell

If you are stuck in life travel to a place you have never heard of.

I've been traveling for quite a few years. Each time, somehow, something happens to me. Sometimes, it's funny; sometimes, it's intense; usually, it feels like it's straight out of a comedy show, and it's never easy to shake off. I often ask myself, "What was I thinking at that time?" I frequently don't learn the lesson. I've experienced travel in many ways, shapes, and forms. Sometimes solo, sometimes in a group of 18. I've slept in dormitories and stayed in five-star hotels (by mistake). I've done self-guided tours and paid for luxurious ones. I often travel for business, and once, friends told me that we crossed the border after a party (again, a mistake, and what a mistake). So I have some suggestions for you, to make things more interesting.

Do you run from or towards something?

I believe there are two modes of traveling: run from or run towards. If you "need a vacation," if you need to escape the routine, if you need to recharge, revigorate, and "read that book that you don't have time to," then I think you are running from something. And there is no problem in doing that. In this way, you travel to remove yourself from your routines, get the pampering and attention you don't ordinarily get, and ideally do fun things instead of work things. So you travel to where it is easy. This is called a vacation. I do vacations, but often, I don't come back with a story.

The other way is to run towards engagement and experience. You travel to discover new things, have fresh experiences, embrace an adventure with uncertain outcomes, and encounter otherness. You move to find yourself through pleasures and challenges that you don't encounter at home. This type of travel is a form of learning; out of the two, it is the one I prefer.

Small and frequent works with running from something, long and rare works with running towards something. Frequent city breaks to different cities can keep things fresh. Two weeks of travel to a remote place and slowly returning to civilization is very humbling.

So, what tips do I have?

1. Make no assumptions about whether something will be open (or closed!). There are so many things that can happen. If possible, check at the last minute; if not, have a plan B. Once, I went to a very good coffee place that should have been closed. All the signs told me that it should be closed, but it was being renovated, and the barista was installing the new machine. I made a bad joke and somehow tasted a few espresso (mal)configurations – it was a long night trying to fall asleep then.
2. Organize your travels around passions rather than destinations. An itinerary focused on obscure cheeses, naval history, dinosaur digs, stargazing expeditions, or ancestry exploration will lead to far more adventures and memorable experiences than a grand tour of famous places. It doesn’t have to be your passions; it could be those of a friend, family member, or even one you’ve read about. The goal is to move away from the expected into the unexpected. Become the apprentice and start learning! Sardinia has a traditional cheese that is less known but very unique (I don't know the taste, sorry).
3. Crash a wedding. You are not a nuisance; you are the celebrity guest! The easiest way to do this is to find the local wedding hall where weddings happen on schedule and approach a wedding party with a request to attend. They will usually feel honored. Don't lie and expect to be rejected (but very often, I was not). You can offer the newlyweds a small token of cash if you want. You will need to have your dancing shoes with you. Take photos, and make even the photographer laugh. It will make your day and theirs.
4. Whenever you think activities are "too expensive," use your total trip as part of the scale. You've invested too much to let a tiny fee stop you from seeing what you were destined to see (or hear, smell, taste, feel). I can't say all those museum passes were incredible, but I came out of them with something extra.
5. The best criterion I've found for choosing travel partners is to observe how much they complain. Justified complaints do not enhance the experience; instead, they detract from enjoying the trip.
6. While walking, look around. Try to find out in which direction more people are going. Human movement often leads to great places. Usually, in great places, you find great things: a parade, a market, a birthday party, a festival, or a chess park. I once found a spot running a three-card monte, won a round, and stopped.
7. An inexpensive and authentic meal can still be found near tourist areas. Find the epicenter and try restaurants outside a half-kilometer radius.
8. Take breaks often. The most memorable moments—conversations with amazing strangers, an invitation inside, a hidden artwork— happen when you are not moving.
9. I don't see a connection between where you eat and any stomach issues you might have. So, eat where locals eat. This implies you are ok with the local recipes (remember: milk, yogurt, or ice cream for spicy food).
10. It's always cold at night in the tropics, so pack at least a layer of clothes.
11. Sketchy travel plans and travel to sketchy places are ok. Take a chance. If things fall apart, your vacation has just turned into an adventure. Perfection is for watches. Trips should be imperfect. There are always opportunities to develop oneself.
12. Like in anything, limitations create creativity. Give yourself constraints: Try traveling by bicycle, with only a day bag for luggage or below the minimum budget, or sleep only on overnight trains. Mix it up.
13. Go to a cemetery. Look for sacred places. People live authentically there. Visit the markets and small workshops, hardware stores, and pharmacies – places with easy access to local practices. See how it’s different and the same all at once. Leave those places without understanding why you were doing things differently. Bidets are a common example of how different things are for small things. (Yeah, I mentioned sacred places and bidets in the same paragraph).
14. Many apps can help you travel and adapt to any "situational changes." I use the following:
    1. Trip organizers: TripIT (old-school), Tripsy (previously using AppInTheAir).
    2. For using the train: Seat61
    3. Translations: Google Translate
    4. Network connectivity (most phones support calls via Wi-Fi these days): Airalo or GigSky for e-sims.
    5. Health insurance: You need it – everything is easier with it when a problem appears.
15. I may not know much about hiking, but I learned one important thing: Bring cucumbers on a hike, bike ride, or any strenuous activity! They’re 96% water and deliver a significant burst of hydration when you’re running low on agua.
16. You can jump from high rocks in lakes only if you have previously swum to the bottom of it and there are no rocks in place.
17. Better journaling involves visiting a small bookstore, purchasing a card, writing about how the day went, and mailing it the following morning. Send it to yourself, your parents, your friends, or maybe to that teacher in sixth grade who was the only one who believed in you. Please, no return address!
18. The best experiences come to those who invest significant amounts of money or time, and sometimes both, but rarely Small and frequent work with running from something, while long and rare work with running towards something. Frequent city breaks to different cities can keep things fresh. Two weeks of traveling to a remote place and slowly returning to civilization is very humbling.. Of the two, it is far better to have more time than money. Although it tries, money cannot buy what time delivers. You have enough time to attend the rare festival, learn some new words, understand what the real prices are, wait out the weather, or get to that place that takes a week in a jeep. Time is the one resource you can give yourself, so take advantage of this if you are young without money.
19. For me, and I've heard that I am the only one on this, taking pictures makes me forget what happened. Knowing that it's so easy to record a static or video, my brain goes into lazy mode and doesn't try to remember things. A picture is worth a thousand words, but it's better if those are yours.
20. All big cities these days feel the same on first arrival.
21. Not everyone you meet is perfect, and there are times when you might feel taken advantage of or tricked. However, one of the best ways to navigate these situations is by approaching strangers with trust and kindness. When you treat others well, it often encourages them to respond in kind. If you shine your best behavior, you’ll likely see it reflected back at you. A simple smile goes a long way in keeping things positive. Staying humble and letting go of your ego can make a big difference too. It’s interesting how this approach seems to resonate across the globe, even in places with challenging reputations!
22. Community guides usually offer the best experiences, second to friends who are locals. Yes, you can ask funny questions, just be ready to hear the answers. Give a token at the end of the tour and give a review if they went the extra mile. Professional tour guides usually have a script, usually found in guidebooks. I am ok with risking some accuracy for some personable conversations. Community guides usually have friends in the business. Getting an inside tour is the ultimate travel treat. How about a factory tour, a visit to an Amish home, or backstage at an opera?
23. Sometimes, the experience comes from letting others guide you completely. Sometimes it comes from ice cream tricks, other times from chess hustlers, and maybe carnival games. If you are an above-average opponent, you will get a physical bonus and a story for sure.
24. Like reading? Get the most recent guidebook you can find. Guidebooks have depth and breadth, while forums offer speed. Take note of a weird fact and ask a local or a guide. A vacation should not be the reason why you have time to read your favorite book.
25. Do you need to hire a driver or take a taxi? Offer to pay someone to drive you to visit their mother; they will often agree happily. Filial duty fulfilled, you might enjoy a story and some great cooking. It's more likely to happen during lunchtime.
26. The local farmer's market is generally where you encounter the most activity, the biggest smiles, and delightful aromas to kick off your day. Negotiation is always an option; instead of trying to lower the price, consider adding a local snack or some spices. The first time you say "NO" is usually free; don't be afraid to use it.
27. Learning a few key phrases in the local language, such as "please," "thank you," and "excuse me," can endear you to locals and service staff, often resulting in better assistance and friendlier interactions. I've heard that 20 dollars is also an effective phrase.
28. Want to find the particularities of the local cuisine in the fastest way? Go to a local McDonalds and compare with the one you have at home. You don't need to eat the food, but see how the menu is different. The differences should offer some ideas for what kind of food you should look for.

And the tips from you

29. Let me know in the comments or as a reply to the email.

Have fun exploring this small world!