A couple of times recently someone has asked me about my holiday plans, and when I say we're probably going somewhere in Britain, there seems to be a slight sense that this is strange, that we should be going somewhere more exciting and impressive, like Machu Picchu or Angkor Wat.
But this wanderlust tendency isn't limited to an occasional thrilling holiday. Lots of people, it seems are travelling more or less permanently, with only the odd pause to catch up with domestic needs. Jenny's brother and his partner (both retired) are always either on holiday or planning the next one.
Some cruise enthusiasts go from one cruise to another, and are away from home for months on end. And then there's Anderson Dias, who visited all 195 countries in 2019.
Unfortunately the increasing and apparently insatiable desire to travel is what's causing over-tourism in lots of popular destinations and greatly upsetting the locals, whose daily lives have been disrupted by a huge influx of inconsiderate and demanding visitors.
Personally I'm not gripped by wanderlust. I've been to several countries that interested me and that's enough. I've no restless desire to tick off more and more places on the global map, no burning curiosity to see what this or that country "is really like".
Machu Picchu will just have to get by without me.
I've been to several foreign countries, and would be interested in visiting certain others, but in every case it's due to a genuine interest in the culture and history. I don't feel a need to check off every exotic locale.
ReplyDeleteWhen somebody applies for a passport there should be some kind of brief mandatory class on being respectful to the locals while traveling abroad. Americans have a terrible reputation for arrogance and ignorance when overseas. I don't want to be like that. I always learn as much as I can of the language, for example, rather than expecting them to speak my language, when I'm on their turf.
Infidel: Some people seem to think the locals should be "grateful" for their visits, even if they're arrogant and don't spend much.
DeleteThe only place I feel like visiting is Chester. I just want to walk around the city wall again.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'd like to see York and Whitby again.
I've never really had a yen to travel. I'm not good at it.
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Ms Scarlet: We have a couple of friends in Chester, so we've walked round the walls several times. York and Whitby are worth a visit too.
DeleteIt’s mind blowing to me the number of young people who are like you describe. Where are they getting the money and how are they able to get that much time off from work? When we were in our 20’s, we only had 1-2 weeks vacation all year and we’re saving for a down payment on a house.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: Indeed, where do they get the money? And if they're working, how do they get so much time off? Perhaps they do short-term jobs and travel in between.
DeleteMany young folk work using the internet; it's called being location independent. They can work wherever they have a decent signal. Satellite internet has made it even easier to do.
DeleteLinda
Linda: Yes, I've heard about people who do their jobs from anywhere in the world. I suppose they check out the local sights while they're at it.
DeleteMost young people these days know they'll never be able to afford a house or even a decent apartment no matter what they do (young adults still living with their parents is at an all-time high), so there's no point in saving up.
DeleteInfidel: I think you're right about not saving. In many cases people's savings will never catch up with escalating property prices.
DeleteI do wish I had travelled more when young....but needed to work! I enjoyed holidays with Leo, who had a knack of getting under the surface of places, but these days the sheer hassle of damn fool security at airports deters me unless in case of necessity.
ReplyDeleteFly: Airports are getting more and more troublesome. I read that there will be loads of flight cancellations for years to come because of a shortage of skilled engineers and a shortage of spare parts for planes.
DeleteI travelled when young. Not excessively, but some. Then my life settled into home, child and dogs. I am a homebody at heart and I don't regret that. Mark has siblings who are constantly on the go. I have zero desire to do that.
ReplyDeleteSandra: I'm a homebody too. I've done some great travelling but in the end there's no place like home!
DeleteWe've traveled to several countries but no longer do that. We also lived full-time in a motorhome traveling the USA for three years. We no longer do that, either. But, I'm glad we did it when we were able to do so. It's nice to be able to visit those memories while staying home now.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Linda: A lot of Americans seem to be touring the country in motorhomes. People here don't do that so much, mostly they hire a campervan/ motorhome for a particular trip and that's it.
DeleteWhen I was young my parents set out to show us as much of our country as could be seen in annual three week chunks. My grandparents did the same for my mother. I did the same for my children and they did the same for theirs. This country seemed too large to be overrun by tourists, but it's happening now. One thing we were taught was to leave every camp site cleaner than we found it, and that has carried to each generation, too.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: Great that each generation has explored the country. But yes, tourism has got somewhat out of hand in the last few years.
DeleteA relocation trip across our continent when I was a preteen reinforced my interest in travel. Eventually, I did manage visiting a few countries in North and South America, a couple or so little more than just a little time over the border. I really wanted to see the rest of the world across the pond, especially. My husband had no interest in doing so, saying there was lots here in the U.S. he wanted to see, including our national parks, so travel here we did and wanted more. Perhaps I'll get across the pond in my next life.
ReplyDeleteJoared: It sounds a bit unadventurous but you must have had some great trips around America. I don't think you've missed much by not seeing Britain!
DeleteNick,we travelled for our work and stayed in the countries for some years Now we travel only by train when we wish to visit an exhibition or some cultural event.. There is a huge climate crisis which is of course denied by a lot of people. I'm upset that we are destroying our planet . The coming generations will have to cope with big problems . Humans and their governments not always show responsibility. A real shame. By the way "wandern" means first to WALK. through nature We did it a lot when I was a child and only need our feet to get on.
ReplyDeleteHannah
Hannah: We try to use public transport - or walk - whenever possible rather than use our car. We do what we can to prevent climate breakdown but in the end it's action by governments and big corporations that would make the real difference.
DeleteGlobetrotting is also really, really bad for the environment. As an ex-professional travel writer, I have been so very lucky to have had the chance to see the places I really wanted to see.Many are in Europe, and loads are in the British Isles, (which actually IS a great place for a holiday.)
ReplyDeleteJenny: Globetrotting is indeed bad for the environment. Like you, I'm glad I visited so many wonderful places when the climate issue was not so prominent. Yes, I was a bit too scathing about Britain. There are lots of terrific sights and buildings and landscapes, though Brits themselves can have some very odd views!
DeleteI dislike the act of traveling (flying, driving, train), although I usually enjoy myself once I'm there. However, my reluctance to travel is shared by my husband, so we have never been out of the country, except to Canada. Will we ever venture out? Who knows? Maybe. It's not uppermost on my list, though.
ReplyDeleteColette: I quite like travelling, except for long-haul flights which are pretty unbearable. I'm so physically restless I hate being stuck in a seat for umpteen hours.
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