I know this will be an unpopular opinion, but airports. And their bars. I have had so many interesting conversations with random strangers at airport bars.
And I mean genuine, honest, conversations. I had a layover in Vegas the day after a guy killed like 60 people at that concert. I had been in the Vegas airport many times before and it’s always so loud with the slot machines and people are excited and happy…there’s a lot going on.
That day, it was absolutely silent except for people crying and quietly chatting. It hit like a ton of bricks…the contrast. But everyone wanted to talk about it and tell their story - what they saw, how they escaped, etc. And granted, this isn’t a typical story and it’s tragic as fuck, but everyone has a story and I find that fascinating.
Exploring different cultures and food is definitely high up on my list.
All the time I have spent not doing it. Those are the better days.
I don’t really like travel, but my favourite part is probably going through YVR airport, since it’s such an amazing airport. The architecture, interior design, first nations culture, and everything else makes for a really cool environment.
Maybe not number one but I weirdly enjoy airplane food.
Food. I also enjoy flying and weirdly, airplane food. I’m an urban person and most of my travels are to cities, and my favorite part is urban exploration and walking around.
The same thing as my least favorite thing weirdly.
I have had some of the greatest meals of my life traveling objects that I didnt get the name of, would be next to impossible to replicate or even describe in some cases and even if I could, I dont know if I would want to.
And I can likely never have it again.
Trying new foods. Seeing new things in person. Feeling like I’m somewhere completely different to home.
Just walking (and mass-transiting where available) the earth and exploring in a new city or region, and figuring things out on the fly. Makes me feel alive.
Getting to my destination.
meeting strangers
I’m honestly thinking I won’t travel again really because of COVID. We took a plane trip in December 2022, wore N95s everywhere, are heavily vaccinated, still came back with COVID, and my spouse ended up hospitalized for two weeks shortly after due to other situations. (Ozempic is a bad idea). That leaves me with driving trips, and mostly that would be the US, and in the current political climate down there I utterly refuse to travel to conservative states and give them my money. We used to go to Charleston SC a lot, but not with mask bans and drag bans and abortion bans now. I do love Buffalo NY (seriously it is a great city with lots to do) so I think I’ll mostly stick to road trips there. I’m a little traumatized on travel right now.
It’s not compulsory, so I get not to do it.
Definitly the experiences. Seeing how other people live elsewhere is always mind expanding. Also exploring towns and nature and swimming in seas and rivers.
