I’ve always loved to travel. Give me free time and some money and I’m ready to leave. But what have I learned from traveling in Europe and Greece in particular?
1. Living with less is not bad
I’ve always been a light packer. I don’t like dragging suitcases and packing too many things “just in case”. After several days living out of the suitcase, it’s very easy to understand the freedom of owning only what you need. So when I’m at home, I’m more careful to buy only what we need and not waste money on things that aren’t necessary. And best of all, I’ve learned that it doesn’t take much to be prepared for (almost) everything.
2. Being flexible and coming up with interesting ways to use different things
A nice dress can be worn with high heels during the night in the club or with casual shoes during the day. A pair of jeans can be turned into excellent clubbing attire with the help of a tank top and high heels, yet during the day adding the walking shoes makes the outfit excellent for spending hours checking out the city. A cute scarf can easily be used as an accessory to hold the long hair. The cell can easily double as camera (especially if you’ve got a high-end one) and laptop (if you have wi-fi on it).
3. Photos are worth a thousand words and are more important than souvenirs
I do admit I’m not afraid to pick up souvenirs but that’s definitely not my goal when I travel. Yes, the remind me of the places I’ve visited. But the photos are worth much more. So my goal is to always bring as many memory cards as I’ve got (and often times end up buying some new ones while away). And I always take notes. As a travel writer, this is inevitably part of the “professional faults” but, looking back, I’ve always done it.
4. Finding good food
It’s simple to spot a place with good food. You won’t find it in guidebooks (printed or on line) and is usually so well hidden that you wonder if it’s a good idea to go down that alley. It’s filled with locals and the menu is never in English. And the food is cheaper than anywhere else. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try the local dishes, even if they do look slightly weird to you.
>>read more about Food & Drink in Greece
5. The sign language traveler’s way
When you visit a country in which English is not spoken everywhere and you don’t know many words in the local language, it’s normal to worry a bit. Even with the best phrase book in your pocket you can make mistakes. But, you’ll soon realize that the games of charades you played in high school come in handy now. If you know some simple words in Greek and use some simple gestures, the success is guaranteed.
>>read more about The Greek Language
6. Travel is one of the best investments … ever
Sure it doesn’t seem that way when you realize how much money you spent on your vacation. But in the long run, when you look back at the photos and read the notes, you’ll realize that the money don’t mean anything compared to the experiences and memories you created for a lifetime.
7. Be prepared for everything
Especially when you travel in the Balkans, it’s important to realize that things can (and will) go wrong. That doesn’t mean you should be a pessimist, but you surely need to know that nothing is perfect. The operator at the train station might not speak English, the ferries get delayed due to the weather and so on.
>>read more about What Not To Do in Greece
8. There’s no place like home
No matter how much I love the places I visit, coming back home brings a smile on my face and warmth in my heart.
Photo credits: Santorini , Greek Food
