I've just added a new country to my list, and while I was almost sure of my count, I decided to spend a little time to make sure; which I was, but the little website I used made me see things in a slightly different perspective.
I feel like I am fortunate enough to have traveled quite a bit so far and yet... 14%. That's the percentage of the world I traveled to. And of course, I likely have seen only a small part of all the places I visited.
Still so much of our planet to know. The solution? Keep travelling, as much as I can.
To nature, cities, with company or without it. Just for a couple days, or a couple of months. It's a way to learn about different realities, new cultures, even if it means stepping a little (or a lot) out of your confort zone: they say that's where magic happens, and I tend to agree.
Especially nowadays, travelling became so much simpler. I remember when I did my first long trip, an interrail in Europe that lasted for 3 weeks. I was in college, and there were no smartphones: only a lonely planet guide, and a ton of previous phone calls to book accomodations. Now, everything is just a few touches on a smartphone screen away.
Book a hotel? A few minutes in an app. What to do in the city? Ask chatgpt or do a quick google search. Need net on the go? Download an app, get an esim, bam: no need to search for physical sim cards. Heck, with some phones, even finding out what you're looking at is simple! Point the camera, some finger magic on screen and...
There you go, all the info you want at your fingertips.
Albânia is my recent destiny, chosen a week and a half ago just because. Everytime I travel alone, even though I lost count of the trips I've done by myself, there's always that pre-travel mini stress: what if something goes wrong? What if I feel lonely? What if, what if...
A few hours after arriving wherever I'm going, also me: best decision ever.
The more I think of it, the more I think it's the truth, at least for me: travel = happiness. That's why it is so hard for me to understand how someone, having the means to do so, stays at home during vacations instead of seeing the world, even if it means exploring your own country.
After just a few hours (minutes?) in a new destination, 99% of the times my mind just relaxes. Problems vanish. And a feeling of joy just grows.
I haven't even left the capital, and I've already learned so much about the country and saw so many cool things, including an amazing city park and a species I had never expected to see in the wild!
I have no idea what will the rest of my vacations bring, but until proven wrong... best decision ever.
So, if you're wondering whether you should that trip you were thinking about... yes, you should. Yesterday. And if that scares you... well, go anyway! You might be surprised afterward. 😉