The fancy-schmancy reasons we travel are for cultural enrichment and to broaden our worldview. But honestly, much of our joy comes down to being in the moment when we travel so we can appreciate the small details that delight us: from a folk art painting of a hillbilly backside flapping in the breeze, to a pink-tongued lion on guard at the Swedish Parliament building.
It’s hard to put a finger on it, and it varies from place to place, but …
1. SOMETIMES IT’S THE PEOPLE
Regardless of the popularity of world-renowned museums, ornate cathedrals, or extravagant temples, every city is made up of real people going about their daily lives. Dog walkers, selfie shooters, and pram pushers; all are a part of the signature of the city and its culture. And one luxury of our travel is that we always take time to people watch. Take a seat on any bench, and the delights just happen.
2. SOMETIMES IT’S THE ART
Whether it’s a a beautiful portrait in a museum gallery, a child’s sidewalk chalk drawing, or a building-side mural, any art can be delightful. It’s all around us when we travel and the variety is astounding. Oscar Wilde said “A life without art is like a sunless sky,” and we have few cloudy days on the road.
3. SOMETIMES IT’S THE NOVELTY
When someone says “There’s nothing new in the world,” I know they haven’t traveled recently. No matter where we travel, not a day passes when one of us doesn’t say, “I’ve never seen that before.” Whether it’s something entirely new, or a creative new use of something old, the world is brimming with novelty, and it adds a delightful spice to any trip.
4. SOMETIMES IT IS THE PLACE
Cities are complex places, and sometimes the result is greater than the sum of the parts. Whether it’s the sheer audacity of Dubai’s contemporary architecture, Bangkok’s seemingly unlimited collection of flamboyant temples, or the Netherland’s idyllic canal and windmill landscapes – each makes delightful memories that are never forgotten.
Arnhem, Netherlands.
5. AND SOMETIMES IT’S THE NOSTALGIA
Returning to cities like Istanbul after years away feels like visiting an old friend that’s had a modern makeover. The haunting calls to prayer have been joined by the noise of trams and traffic, and the ancient minarets now stand among new high rise buildings. But sitting at the crossroads of east and west, Istanbul’s ancient heart remains untouched underneath.
With covid, crowds, and the normal circus of life, our travels have certainly changed over the past few years. But even with all its warts, traveling still delights and rewards us, and the road keeps calling our names. Hopefully, you hear its call as well.
Happy and Delightful Trails,
James & Terri
GALLIVANCE 
I totally agree with you about how those five things often define our travels. They can make or break a trip. Sometimes we don’t like one aspect of a place, but the rest can make up for it. Do you have any plans to travel for an extended period in the near future? Another RTW perhaps?
Bama, like most travelers we like to see the popular sights and attractions in any destination. However, we find that more and more what pleases us is paying close attention to how people live, their history, and what makes their culture different from ours. The Buddhists have it right when they encourage “being in the moment.” We try to relax and stay in the present when we travel and it enriches the experience so much. ~James
being in the moment, yes!
Beth, this is an old meditation idea that I learned years ago which has certainly improved my outlook on life. ~James
All this makes me keen to get back on the road again. Being there in the moment is so great. Better yet, those moments seem to echo forever through the future and the past.
Shane, I hope to never become one of those jaded travelers who has “seen it all.” But focusing on what’s right in front of me means that I’ve never seen it all. For years our travel philosophy has been that we see what we see, and what’s most important is to truly appreciate what we DO see, and not worry so much about a checklist. And it’s still working. ~James
Like you, we find something unique and delightful everywhere we visit. I have heard people say that after a while every Spanish village/castle/cathedral is the same. I couldn’t disagree more. Every one has it’s own personality and its own story to tell. You just have to look for it. We’ve been here for ten years now and are still delighted with everything we see. This goes for any country of course.
Well said Darlene. Cathedrals are a good example of your point. I’ve been in a few, and it’s always interesting to me how the local clergy and the artists they hire interpret the bible and translate the stories into religious messages. And truthfully, this seems to be the same with any religion. ~James
We take the same delights in travel. Sometimes all of these happen at the same place, sometimes it’s just one or two, but every place we visit teaches us something new, and it’s what makes travel so rewarding. Maggie
Maggie, my opinion is that if one looks hard enough, every place has something of interest and its own story to tell. And I guess this is what keeps avid travelers on the road as opposed to those that lose interest and stay at home. ~James
I love the giraffe crane! Definitely something new.
Diana, isn’t that giraffe crane a hoot. We saw that shipyard crane on a ferry trip from Stockholm to the small village of Vaxholm. These unexpected splashes of whimsy are always welcome. ~James
Yes indeed. All five are fantastic reasons to travel. The people, culture, novelty and simply savouring new sights, smells and sounds in a different location. As the famous saying goes “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes”. Happy travels this year!
Miriam, I suspect that each traveler has a unique list of priorities and preferences when visiting a new destination. But at some point most dedicated, long-term travelers get beyond the punch list of popular sights. And as you so well put, they take a breath and appreciate the “people, culture, novelty and simply savouring new sights, smells and sounds in a different location.” ~James
Aw I love this, there are so many incredible reasons to travel and I love the selection you’ve shown here.
Hannah as you know, each list of reasons is as unique as the traveler. And honestly, the reasons are probably less important than maintaining the motivation to broaden one’s world view. The world is literally getting smaller every day, and being able to relate to others on the planet is essential. ~James
The comment that most resonated with me was about always seeing or experiencing something new, especially when we think we’ve viewed so much. At this stage of our lives, we feel we don’t have the time to return to old haunts. One place, however, would be Dubai for its spellbinding architecture, as you mentioned!
Annie like you, there are so many places we haven’t been we aren’t quick to re-visit destinations. However, there are exceptions that we make for our favorites. We lived in London for a few years and it’s one of our favorite places in the world. So anytime we go to Europe we stop off to see a show and visit our favorite museums. But in general, we always choose the novelty of somewhere new. ~James
The wonders of traveling! I love that giraffe crane. And, yes, the road keeps calling. As long as we remain curious about new experiences and excited about the world, that desire will never cease. Happy travels, you two!!
Well said Liesbet. And given the life that you and Mark have lived, I’d say that few people can speak about travel with anything approaching your level of experience and expertise. The nomad’s life certainly gets in the blood. ~James