We’re often inspired when we read about other people’s journeys, or are enticed by images they post of what certainly appear to be their trips of a lifetime. So we can easily fall head-over-heels for the rosy travel pictures they paint; but how do we keep the romance going when things don’t go to plan for us in real life?
When it comes time to book that next trip, the romance of travel as captured in the stories, songs and imagery of a place can be a strong motivator. Our expectations are already soaring well before the journey begins.
However, with notable (and noteworthy) exceptions, for the most part travel writers, musicians and photographers don’t spend much time capturing the unpleasant parts of the voyage; rotten weather, bouts of sickness, occasional must-see or must-do disappointments, sporadic disillusionment with inconsiderate fellow travellers or dismay at overhyped destinations.
Perhaps, though, it’s better to look at travel a different way. We learn to love (or live with) the ‘faults’ of the people in our lives; why shouldn’t we do the same with our journeys? After your passport, a re-setting of expectations can be the second-most important thing you take along with you.
So if the mark of a strong relationship is loving the person warts and all, that’s precisely how you can make the most of travel experiences too. While smooth sailing may be the least stressful, it turns out that the bumps in the road, the awkward moments and unexpected situations, make for the best stories (and can also cement your bond with a travel companion).
And while you may never be able to completely eliminate the negative (after all, there will always be unforeseen moments in any adventure), it’s still possible to accentuate the positive. To go with the flow. To find the silver lining to that cloud; while you may be soaked to the skin touring on a rainy afternoon, the unforgettable rainbow after the showers will make it all worthwhile.
For me, the most memorable (and funniest) travel moments are inevitably those that were unplanned or unexpected. Like the chance evening encounter with Johnny, a jaunting car driver in Killarney whom we’d met earlier that day. After reuniting over pints and live music, as the night wore on I unintentionally agreed to give him a lift home from the pub — but surely he lived nearby? — and as it turned out Johnny’s house was well out of town, down a rutted country lane without a streetlight to be seen.
My companion at the time (behind the wheel as I blithely passengered) wasn’t entirely delighted to be on unfamiliar roads after sunset. But once we’d deposited our new best friend on his doorstep, finding our way back through the pitch black we stopped in a layby to look at the Irish night sky — we’d never seen so many stars, millions of diamonds resting on deepest indigo velvet.
Or the time visiting Crete when, after a long, hot, dusty trip from the airport, another companion and I just missed the not-very-frequent ferry to car-free Loutro and discovered that we had at least an hour to kill. We settled in a waterside taverna and spent the time enjoying a delicious Greek salad bursting with locally sourced freshness, sipping ice-cold Mythos beer, and watching the sun glint off the gently lapping waves.
Initially a bit annoyed with the inconvenience, it immediately switched us into a more relaxed frame of mind by necessity. And by the time our ferry, the Daskalogiannis, arrived at the Sfakia dock, we were fuelled up and ready for further adventures to come.
So it turns out that the challenges, the misadventures, and the rough spots can be at least as lovable as the perfect moments. And several decades into my travel romance, I’m pleased to report that the honeymoon is far from over.
