Thoughts On Travel

I’ve thought a lot about Travel, learned much, and have much yet to learn.

I was in Old Cairo, about to climb the steps to the Church of St. George.

A guide approached.  A pleasant man in his thirties.  He asked if I might like to join a group.  He wasn’t pushy, like some, or insistent in any way.  I considered, though I’m not one to walk about with ten or twenty people, led by a man, or woman, stick held high in hand, pennant at the top.

His group wasn’t full yet, so we talked.  Compared notes.  I listened.  He listened.  In the end, I decided to go alone, at my own pace, seeing what I wanted to see.  But my traveler’s mind had been set in motion, offering up what I’ve learned through trial, and much error, and might be of value to others.

These are thoughts that floated up as I ascended the steps leading to the Church of St. George:

Before leaving home, decide whether you want to be a tourist or a traveler.

Consider going alone.  If that’s not possible, at least go alone for an hour or two each day. When you’re with another - spouse, partner, friend - it’s more difficult to have “your experience”.

A personal guide can be helpful. In a group, not so much. You’re not likely to remember what they tell you, and there won’t be a conversation.

Have a good smart phone, (I prefer Apple) with a good data plan, but turn off the cellular as much as possible.  Use WiFi when available.

Carry a charger.

Take photos, but not too many.

Use Apps,

and become familiar with them before you leave.

Take notes.  Become skilled with dictation.

Keep a journal.  Paper or on your phone.

Do research ahead of time.  Do research after.

Use Google maps when you’re lost, knowing that getting lost can often be the best thing.

Rome2Rio is nice for getting the big picture.

Try not to book lodging before you leave, except the first night or two.  You want to have an adventure, not be locked into an itinerary.  Try to go for at least two weeks.

Use an App like Omio for booking buses and trains city to city.

Consider Uber rather than a taxi.  There’s no haggling.  These days, Uber is much safer and you know ahead of time what you’re going to pay.

Use a good flight search engine.  Skyscanner is my favorite.

Google Translate is invaluable, as is Currency Pro for conversion.

World Clock tells you at a glance what time it is at home, and elsewhere.

Cross busy streets with a local, just a step behind.

Take photos of signs.  Learn from them. They often provide excellent information.

When necessary, have a good driver.  A good driver can tell you much on the way.

Wear good sandals in a warm country, not running shoes

Wear nondescript travel pants with lots of zippered pockets, not blue jeans.

Pack light.

Drink lots of water.

Avoid the heat of the day if possible

Don’t take cruises, unless it’s the boat ride you came for.

Don’t take tour buses with people like yourself.  You can talk with Americans back home.

Take your time.  It’s about Quality not quantity.  Have two or three good experiences a day.  Far better than checking off a list of 8 or 10.

Walt Whitman wrote:

“Give alms to everyone who asks.”

You can’t do that, but give some.

Feed the birds.

Be curious.

Engage.

Know that you know very little.

Get off the beaten track.

Seek out the quiet places.

Trust your intuition.

Trust humanity.

Humanity is like an enormous spider web, so that if you touch it anywhere, you set the whole thing trembling.  As you move around this world, and act with kindness, or with indifference, or with hostility, toward the people you meet, you too are setting the great spider web a-tremble. The life that you touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place and time your touch will be felt. Our lives are linked together. No one is an island.

• Frederick Buechner