My Seven Travel Truths

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August 16, 2011

I’d like to point out a little somethin’ somethin’ in my sidebar. Those are affiliate links to B&H and Amazon. And if you click on that link to Amazon and buy something within 24 hours, I’ll get a little somethin’ somethin’ if you know what I mean :) With the B&H link, it’s not 24 hours, I’m not sure how long the cookie lasts. But if you are going to buy something from either store, I’d love if you’d buy through those links. I’m working hard on monetizing this blog in order to have a second income stream because I don’t enjoy having all my eggs in one basket. So if you’re already going to buy something from either one of those websites, why not do it through that link? You get the product you were going to get anyways and I get a small commission. Win/win.

I also put a little rotating Amazon widget of the books I’ve read recently, because I read a lot and recommend books a lot so I figured it made sense. You can also buy Kindle books through the link and it still counts as an affiliate sale for me. Thank you for helping support my blog!

Now let’s get down to the meat and potatoes of this meal. Enough with the salad already.

My awesome travel blogger friend Oneika, who is coming to visit me in Chile in September, did an equally awesome blog post called My 7 Travelling Truths. I thought it was such a good idea I decided to steal it. Oh, and while I’m busy breaking the 10 commandments, I might as well mention — I lied. She’s not coming to Chile to visit me. She’s coming to Chile to, you know, see Chile. But I’ll be here! And we’re going to hang out! So that totally counts.

1. I too, am a travel princess. When it comes to some things. I’ll walk all day long or take public transportations over taxis any day. I don’t mind flying coach — though I’m always happy with an upgrade, for sure. But, I don’t do hostels. While I use traveling with expensive camera equipment as en excuse, that’s not the only reason. I mean, it’s a true excuse, but it’s an excuse nonetheless. The sheets never feel clean enough. Sharing a bathroom with all those people isn’t enjoyable. I’m not big on the party atmosphere that a lot of hostels have. Simply put, hostels are not my favorite.

2. Fashion is more important than comfort. I’d rather get hit by a car (again) than look like a stupid tourist in khaki shorts and tennis shoes with a camera hanging around my neck. The camera part I can’t help, but even though tennis shoes are obviously the most comfortable for walking around, I don’t care. I’ll always choose sandals or ballet flats. My feet will suffer, but I’ll look cute. I travel with a suitcase in part because it’s way more comfortable lugging around than a backpack, but also because it looks better and because it holds more clothing options and is easier to keep them less wrinkled.

3. I am never weather appropriately dressed in cold climates. This doesn’t change. No matter where we go. No matter if I know it’s going to be freezing there. I dress like I’m going on Algarve holidays.I don’t own winter clothes! I HATE them! Everybody looks fat in layers and sweaters and parkas are so ugly. I don’t wear jeans, I almost never even wear any kinds of pants, so that leaves me with dresses and tights for all occasions. I did buy a winter jacket though, which has been useful. But still. I’m always woefully underdressed when we go to chilly weather countries.

4. I’m sometimes waste travel opportunities because I’m not prepared. I don’t do any research on any of the countries we go to. I just get there and ask friends and/or the internet what we should do. I’m sure that on more than one occasion this has meant we’ve missed out on cool things. But I don’t stress about it too much. I don’t enjoy researching — it’s too much effort for too little reward. So I’d rather just wing it. Walking around and taking pictures of a random neighborhood in London is just as much as fun for me as going to somewhere that’s iconically London, like the London Tower for instance. Now that I’ve read every Philippa Gregory book that exists, I want to go back and visit the London Tower. But I didn’t know that until after I’d already left the continent.

5. Both Seba and I are inherently lazy travelers. If we’re tired, we don’t try to go see another tourist attraction, we take a nap. If we have work to do, we stay behind and get it down, and if that means that to go out on the town in a foreign city we’d have to be filling our days ridiculously full, we skip being tourists. I’m not willing to sacrifice my sanity all for a snapshot of me in front of the Eiffel Tower. I’ve never regretted not seeing something. Though Seba wishes we’d gone to Versailles  Palace while we were in France. But, I don’t apologize for being a lazy traveler and “not taking advantage.” To me traveling is about the process, it’s about walking around and doing what I feel like and being relaxed — not running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off. No matter how cool the attraction is, it’s not worth it to me.

6. Maybe I only have 5 travel truths. No wait. I thought of a 6th. I am so annoyed by people who talk condescendingly about how great it is to get off the beaten path and think that they’re all local just because they had dinner in a dive bar. Getting off the beaten path is often awesome, it’s true. But don’t judge me for wanting to go to places on the beaten path. The path to La Sagrada Familia is beaten because it’s SO awesome that everybody wants to go there. And everybody should! Sometimes a place is so amazing it really shouldn’t be missed by anyone. That’s how the path gets beaten. Nothing wrong with that. And I hate the stupid expression “The beaten path.” Stupid! When I write it, I feel like I’m living in that stupid movie, Eat Pray Love. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Let me tell you how I really feel.

7. I’m forever caught in a catch 22 between living in the moment or taking a picture. I feel like I notice so much more about a place if I am photographing it. But I also feel that I get so caught up into getting a great shot that I forget to just enjoy. To just be. Sometimes I wish I’d have left my camera behind, because it’s heavy, taking pictures of everything slows us down, and it distracts me from spending time talking to Seba or observing life like a normal person. But every time I leave it behind, I immediately feel sad not to have it. I see all kinds of amazing pictures I wish I were taking.

8. Oh! Oh! I have an 8th truth! And that is: I get excited about EVERYTHING. Seba gets excited about nothing. Well he gets excited, but his tone of voice and body language and expressions never show it. He’ll say, “The Peruvian Amazon is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to,” in the same tone of voice that I say, “It’s a nice day out today.”

Scotland, man. Cold, windy, often rainy. Lovely Scotland. We didn’t plan a damn thing when we went to Glasgow for the day. Walked into a store and asked a helpful woman what things we should see while we were there. She gave us a map, and off we went to the necropolis! Amazing, right?

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30 Comments

  1. I often like “off the beaten path” tourist attractions only because they have less tourists – and I don’t really like people so that’s always a bonus for me :)

    But I couldn’t agree more with your truths! I often don’t take pictures because I feel like I am missing living it when I spend too much time with my camera. Of course, months later, I am all “what was that thing called, with you know, and the thing?”

    Comment by Deidre — August 16, 2011 @ 9:37 pm

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    • Yeah I don’t always like people either. At Notre Dame, in Paris, for example, I thought that was so overrated and I wanted to punch every single one of the millions of people all around me. But Sagrada Familia was pretty packed and I still loved it. It was worth fighting the crowd.

      Haha, and what was that thing with that thing? That’s me trying to do our travel posts every time. Thank god for Seba!

      Comment by kyle — August 16, 2011 @ 10:02 pm

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  2. Oh wow, I’ll definitely have to remember about the Amazon and B&N links, because I like to buy stuff from there sometimes :D

    And I pretty much agree with all of your travel truths, except I love skinny jeans, boots and scarves a lot and wish I could wear them all the time

    Comment by Bronwyn — August 16, 2011 @ 9:40 pm

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    • Umm, YAY, that would be super duper awesome!

      And I love skinny jeans…on other people. But I don’t have skinny legs and sadly they don’t make fatty jeans (well they do, but they’re not as flattering).

      Comment by kyle — August 16, 2011 @ 10:09 pm

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  3. Woman, we could live in summer dresses & sandals & ballet flats for the rest of our days. I so #3. I hate winter, hate the constricting, unfashionable, dowdy clothes that involve winter. It also seems we all dislike the condescending traveler.

    There are too many of them.

    Comment by Nomadic Chick — August 16, 2011 @ 9:52 pm

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    • Why are there so many of them when I hear so many people saying they dislike them?! Do they not realize they’re being condescending?

      And cheers to dresses and sandals. And maybe champagne :) Scratch the maybe. Always champagne.

      Comment by kyle — August 16, 2011 @ 10:10 pm

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  4. I am excited!!!

    Comment by seba — August 16, 2011 @ 10:00 pm

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  5. oh, I’ll totally use the Amazon affiliate link, I buy stuff from there all the time.

    Comment by brett maxwell — August 16, 2011 @ 10:13 pm

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    • Duuude, rock on. That’s (extra) awesome of you.

      Comment by kyle — August 16, 2011 @ 10:14 pm

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  6. NICE!! You had me laughing so hard at the khaki shorts and tennis…I feel you :) Because of you I’m seeing parts of the world I would have never imagined so I’m pretty glad you don’t let go of your camera quite often…

    Comment by Vivian — August 16, 2011 @ 10:55 pm

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    • haha, I’m so glad then, I’ll keep that in mind when I want to leave it behind!

      Comment by kyle — August 17, 2011 @ 9:28 pm

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  7. Um, but OF COURSE I am coming to visit you, that is what I am most excited about for Chile!! I’m already picturing the dancing video we will make together… LOL!!! CANT WAIT TO HANG!!

    But back to the list: YES YES and YES to this list Mamacita! Soy de acuerdo con la mayoria, we are travel twins for sure! I hate travelling in cold weather because packing those winter clothes make my bag heavy and I love to pack light. I NEVER remember the names of the places I visit and am forever trying to google the name… LOL. I am also take way too many pics and struggle with whether or not to let the place I’m seeing go undocumented so I can “experience”. Girl, as time goes on I am soooo over the hostel and try to avoid them when and where I can (which reminds me that I need your accomodation recs for Santiago). As I said in my post, like you I am soooo annoyed with stupid condescending travellers who are soooooo about going native and going off the beaten path… I very much enjoyed the Sagrada Familia, thank you very much!

    So glad that you decided to share your 7 Travel Truths!! LOVED THEM!

    Comment by Oneika — August 17, 2011 @ 4:45 am

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    • Our dancing video is going to be EPIC.

      Comment by kyle — August 18, 2011 @ 12:51 pm

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  8. This is a fun idea. R and I are lazy sometimes too. We definitely napped through our first day in Paris and didn’t regret it one bit. We’re much more apt to wander aimlessly than follow any kind of plan. He gets excited about stuff though, so cute! As for fashion when I travel I just dress the same as I do at home – no SPF 30 khaki zip off pants, but no chic dresses and accessorizing either. We do stay in hostels sometimes, but rarely share a bathroom and NEVER share a room so I don’t think that counts.

    Comment by Laura — August 17, 2011 @ 6:02 am

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    • I feel bad sometimes that I’m lazy because people will be like, “You should go out and see this! Or see that!” But sometimes you really just do need a nap!

      Comment by kyle — August 18, 2011 @ 12:51 pm

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  9. I’m a travel princess. That’s definitely my #1 truth. Ain’t no lying about that! I agree on pretty much everything else except I go into hyper-Andi mode when I travel and I hardly take any time to relax (maybe it’s because I drink a ton of coffee?) and I’m the world’s biggest planner.

    Comment by Andi of My Beautiful Adventures — August 17, 2011 @ 6:20 am

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    • You have an insane amount of travel energy my friend!

      Comment by kyle — August 18, 2011 @ 12:52 pm

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  10. It’s hard to express how much #7 resonates with me. Often when I travel I feel obligated to capture it with my camera, even if I would have rather left it back at the hotel. Other times you couldn’t pry the camera away from my face because I’m determined to capture the moment to share with everyone else.

    Comment by Kai Heeringa — August 17, 2011 @ 6:36 am

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    • I know, its so hard to know which one is better — being in the moment, or being an hyper alert observer with your camera. Or is there really a “better”? Probably not.

      Comment by kyle — August 18, 2011 @ 12:52 pm

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  11. I love summer dresses and ballet flats and sandals — and am perpetually freezing between November and April most everywhere. Also, I absolutely hear you on processing the world better when you photograph it. The act of photography is, for me, an act of mindfulness as well.

    Comment by Roxanne — August 17, 2011 @ 6:42 am

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    • The act of photography is an act of mindfulness.

      You are so right.

      You always say such intelligent things Roxanne.

      Comment by kyle — August 18, 2011 @ 12:53 pm

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  12. Omg I know it’s early, but I feel like I was just reading about me. I don’t like winter clothes, hostels, sneakers or backpacks. I like to see everything once, even if it’s “tourist-y.” I treat vacations like, uh, vacations: If I want to sleep in, I do. But I also like to DO stuff. We’re the same. That’s all!

    Comment by Abby — August 17, 2011 @ 6:50 am

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    • YEEEES. A fellow winter clothes hater!

      We should travel together somewhere. Let’s do it.

      Comment by kyle — August 18, 2011 @ 12:54 pm

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  13. I hate winter clothes, but I hate being cold more. Bring on the marshmallow layers!
    I have to admit to having a little laugh that in your point about not researching things you talk about the “London Tower” when there’s no such place…but you should check out the Tower of London next time you’re there because it’s cool, just go early so the line for the crown jewels isn’t too long :)

    Comment by Emily in Chile — August 17, 2011 @ 7:23 am

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    • Haha, London Tower, Tower of London, same difference, you knew what I meant :)

      I saw Scotland’s crown jewels and had to stand in a really long time for them and they were probably the most boring part of the Edinburg Castle for me. Really I want to go to see the rooms where all the people I read about were imprisoned and some of them tortured.

      Comment by kyle — August 18, 2011 @ 12:55 pm

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  14. i never wear winter clothes either!! Mi suegra siempre me reta por eso..

    Comment by Catherine — August 17, 2011 @ 12:23 pm

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    • Not wearing winter clothes is so anti-Chilean!

      Comment by kyle — August 18, 2011 @ 12:55 pm

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  15. agreed about hostels and leaving the camera behind! I would miss the pictures of ur walks if u forget it! I refused to wear sneakers for a long time, but blisters are less fashionable! i used to wear the cute puma shoes until my arch was killing me after walking in DC non-stop for 3 days! i hate to wear them outside the gym but i have to admit they allow me to have longer days! and i am the opposite of lazy traveler. i should balance it bc i always return tired from my vacation! i just need to see EVERYTHING that i researched before the trip!! u know i like doing my reading in advance :)

    it’s 2:30 in hawaii and i must finish seeing everything before we fly back to TPA tomorrow!!

    good luck w the links! i will def use them for amazon! :) ) love u

    PS: i thought it was my tropical soul that complained about looking fat in winter clothes. I’m not alone!! :)

    Comment by Catalina — August 18, 2011 @ 5:23 pm

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  16. “I am so annoyed by people who talk condescendingly about how great it is to get off the beaten path and think that they’re all local just because they had dinner in a dive bar.”

    Yes! This!

    This also drives me nuts too. I think there’s such a condescending way about certain backpackers/travellers who’ll actually go out of their way to avoid things like the Taj Mahal or Machu Picchu because it’s now “too touristy.” Yeah, okay, so I don’t want to go in a group with tourists but I still want to see those places. I mean, come on. And I hate that so many of them think there’s a certain ‘way’ to travel: You have to have a backpack, you have to look unkempt, you have to go out of your way to avoid the hotspots. Get over yourselves.

    *phew*

    Sorry, darling. Rant over. Hehe.

    What I meant to say was: “Great list.” :D

    Comment by Ceri — September 4, 2011 @ 4:54 am

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