Travel Blog

Yesterday, my friend Leonie sent me this e-mail:

I am in the process of watching PBS's Hercule Poirot: Appointment With Death. There is a scene in it that I think you will enjoy. One of the ladies (who is a travel writer I think) says something along the lines of this: People believe travel broadens the mind because people like me who write books tell them so. But i think travel narrows the mind. We become blase to the wonders of the world. The more I travel, the more I learn that all that matters are the people, not the places. Show me the humans everywhere."

I know I have got it wrong in parts, but I thought that was wonderful. That bit about people not places that matter. And I suspect that is what is missing from most travel pieces. The focus is on how to get there and what to do once you get there. Because it is much harder to teach people how to show empathy, compassion, and learn about those who call the vacation destination home. Instead, most of the time, we bring our preconceived ideas or biases that are probably made stronger by travel pieces ... and so it is certainly much easier to simply embark with a list than an open mind.

Footnote: I say Leonie is a friend, although we've never met. She first contacted me when I was at the Sun-Sentinel, sending along a wonderful story about living in Spain. As I recall, most of it centered around conversations she had with Madrid housewives at her apartment's swimming pool.