Why I Travel

Ever since I was a kid I can’t think of a time where I didn’t feel passionate about traveling. The first time I recall doing this was when I was only 6, and I was begging my mom to say yes to move to Costa Rica. I thank her so much because I know this was a huge sacrifice for her, to leave all she knew behind – her parents, her friends and her whole life back in Cuba.

I can’t say I traveled too much during my first years in Costa Rica, money was tight, so my parents could only take me to local places – luckily for me, Costa Rica has a ton of beautiful spots to explore!  But I always had the wish inside of me of going somewhere else too, and the minute I had the opportunity to start traveling I did – and haven’t stopped ever since.  OK, don’t take into account the COVID-19 lock-down on this!

DOES EVERYONE LOVE TRAVELLING?

Years ago I did not ask myself why I liked to travel that much, I thought my feeling was normal, and everyone else felt the same way. This statement is of course so wrong! I understand we all have different priorities, some people can’t afford traveling, or they don’t like it, or they simply travel differently.

Why I travel? – I think the reason has been different in every stage of my life.  Before, I guess I traveled:

• To actually do something on the little vacation days I used to have in my first IT job
• To escape a bit from reality of course

Whatever the reason was, I know I was meant to be in those places I visited.

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SO, WHY SOME PEOPLE DON’T LIKE TO TRAVEL?

Sometimes I wonder how people that have it easy to travel don’t really enjoy, or appreciate it.  Yes, it is part of being different I guess, we don’t share the same passions, but what else do we take with us in the end if not the beautiful memories we create in this world?

And then, there are so many people who haven’t even been able to get out of their own town, isn’t this sad? I wish we all could experience the life changing opportunity travel can bring to our lives.

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WHAT TRAVEL HAS DONE FOR ME

Being born in Cuba means our chances to travel abroad are very limited – for different reasons.  When I was growing up in Costa Rica, and still did not have the dual citizenship I understood how tough it is for Cubans to travel.  Our Cuban passport basically The truth is, travel renovates us,  we come out of each trip with a new, and – most of the time – better version of ourselves.  Now, after +20 years since I first traveled, I travel differently – but with the same strong emotion.

It is in me to explore, I can’t stop planning my next trips, or thinking about the places I just left and the ones that await me, does that happen to you too? I now travel to:

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• Reconnect with myself
• To find peace and rest from the routine!
• Enjoy the world, and its diversity!
• I travel also to smell the different scents of nature
• To hike that not so difficult trail
• Meet wonderful people
• I travel to get lost, and come back with new beginnings
• AND TO TAKE A CRAZY AMOUNT OF PHOTOS!

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MY BEST TRAVEL LESSON

Travel has taught me to be more tolerant – a value we need in our world so much!  As an immigrant, this is something I truly appreciate, and have learned throughout my whole life – yet I keep learning a bit more in every new adventure.

And hey, it is not about the perfect pictures we see – those sometimes distract us from the reality.  It is really about the connection with the place where we are, the emotions of that moment we’re living and the learning curve all along: travel has always a lesson.  It is also about recognizing we might be tired to continue sometimes, but this is when we need to stop, reconnect again and keep moving to the next destination.

Why do you travel?