Problem of Travelling

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I think the problem of travelling is easily explained: the more you travel, the more you want. And the more you experience, the more you realize that the list of places to visit is endless. Furthermore, you want to experience new destinations, but eventually you also want to return to places you already know because your experience piles up and you want to see how you would now feel about an X place. See what I mean?

Yesterday I was emptying some of my memory cards and saw the photos I took in Varanasi. Even if the place is so obscure to say the least, I would like to return there. After all, I am not much wiser today than I was when I wrote Purpose of Varanasi, and to me this alone is a sign of “unfinished business, an urgency to go back to figure something out”. Places with a soul tend to have that effect…

Today I was on a more cheerful mood so I started missing Southern France. Avignon where the Popes lived for a short period, gypsy town Saintes-Maries de la Mer, world-famous Saint Tropez and charming Menton. I have done these places several times and what a road trip that is! South of France, NiceIt is likely that I will travel next week, so in overall, I am not doing so badly. But I would not say no to hopping on a TGV train tomorrow for a weekend trip either!

What about you? Toward the end of each trip, do you start to have that itching feeling of rushing home, or do you secretly (or openly) wish you could continue forever?

 

28 thoughts on “Problem of Travelling”

      2. Miia Post author

        Ohhh you are too philosophical for me 😉 Coming home, yes, leaving home, yes, all that is complicated. They say one has to live in carpe diem but who knows. All I know is that I miss Varanasi and that is pretty strange. Who misses Varanasi???

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      3. SalvaVenia

        At least one person right now. 🙂

        Its a matter of heart and attachment, even if that might be unconsciously so. May be you start some research to find out?

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    1. Miia Post author

      The best school one can have 🙂

      Btw, not experiencing too much of a culture shock in Finland? How long are you planning to live there for?

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      1. brainmusick

        Definitely! Yeah I’ve had some shocks but have tried to embrace it (sauna hasn’t been as big of a problem for me as I thought it would be, although some of my friends from the US are horrified!). At the moment I’m planning on being here indefinitely, but I need at least 3.5 years to finish my degree. We’ll see. 🙂 Life is very unpredictable! It’s nice to read about your experiences in France, too–everyone had always told me that Parisians in particular are rude and snobby, but I was there recently and found nothing but friendliness and warmth. I think it’s a lot about the attitude and how you present yourself, that determines how people act toward you. You seem to have a very open attitude toward people, so have you found people to be generally friendly?

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      2. Miia Post author

        Hey! What are the shocks related to 😉 ?

        I have been in France on and off for so long that I have had my “phases” with France (or Paris, to be precise). I think Parisians can be real b**** (and in a very specific way that is hard to catch in the beginning) but I think this is common in many places that attract a lot of tourists. Not trying to defend the Parisians or others, but I often have a feeling in these places that tourism just has gone too far (for the locals). For example Venice.

        This said, I have heard in the last maybe 1,2,3 years that tourists who come to Paris have only had positive experiences. My theory is that there is a new generation (for example of restaurant owners) that have realized this bad reputation phenomenon and want to change it. Or, maybe also the combination of crisis ad globalization have shown Parisians that one has to work toward tourism! Nothing comes easily these days.

        For me, I have learned to toughen my skin, respond when necessary, and do that in a specific way. Unfortunately being nice does not always guarantee anything… (sorry to be pessimistic!!)

        Well, I better stop my ramblings now 😉 Off to eat Chinese 🙂 Enjoy Finland and hope it gets warmer soon.

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      3. brainmusick

        Haha I think most of my culture shock in Finland came from the fact that I’m usually seen as very quiet and reserved in the U.S., but here I’m an extrovert! 😉

        Yeah I definitely think that tourism and tourist culture has a lot to do with it. For example in Paris I deliberately avoided any tourist areas, but I was also in Dijon on the same trip, which is pretty touristy around the whole city centre area, and we were treated horribly there. But I have also had bad experiences in London and Belgium in touristy areas, and good experiences elsewhere, so maybe it’s about tourist culture rather than the locals themselves.

        But you know they say the best things in life are worth working for, so I hope you’re in a good phase with Paris (or itching to travel again!) 😀

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      4. Miia Post author

        Oh, that is funny! But even within Finland it depends where you are from. The more toward Russia you go, the more they are usually talkative and relaxed (“lupsakka” is the word often used about them).

        I come from the west and ppl do not talk a lot, and when they do, it is VERY SLOWLY. I have my own culture clashes when I go back…. 😉 (I now talk like the French hahah)

        Yes, as a general rule I always tell ppl to try to avoid the most touristic places… That is not where one would experience the best of Paris!

        I am having a relatively good phase in Paris now. Still a few years ago I used to defend Finland when I am in France, and vice verse, but now it is all mixed up. I guess I have finally become more objective!? I understand the benefit (and agree with it!) of fixed eating hours in France, etc.(something most tourists complain about).

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    1. Miia Post author

      Do you book a lot in advance? We never do…. Long distance we book just early enough to get a visa if necessary. A bad habit or an exciting way of living –dunno?!!

      Where and when are you going next?

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      1. Sue Slaght

        We tend to book in advance for our big trips. Maybe an age thing. 🙂 we are headed to Italy mid Sept for three weeks . In the middle a cycling tour in Tuscany.

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      2. Miia Post author

        Lovely! Where else will you visit in Italy? Do you often combine traveling with cycling?

        We will most likely go somewhere in Sep, too, but probably Turkey or Greece (island hopping yes!!). If in Italy, that would be in the southern part or maybe Sicily. Any chance you would be around that region?

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      3. Sue Slaght

        Yes for the last five years we have had a yearly cycling trip as part of a longer vacation. Italy (Piedmont), Turkey, Spain, Slovenia and now back to Italy. From Sept 20-25 we are in Rome, Pompei, Positano and then up to Tuscany.

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      4. Miia Post author

        The Amalfi Coast is so, so beautiful. If you have a chance to visit some of the islands, I would recommend Procida. Not famous like Capri, but cute. Or Ischia.

        If we happen to be there around that time (probably a bit too early for us), should we meet over some pasta 🙂 ?

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      6. Miia Post author

        Mine is miia_niskanen at hotmail.com

        I seriously doubt we can free ourselves that early, but that would be fun!

        Otherwise, France has beautiful cycling routes too 😉 Or Corsica (where I got married) !!!

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      8. Miia Post author

        Haha. Surely our paths will cross one day somewhere 🙂
        This said, I now have go and bake salmon! Have a lovely week!

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