In response to my travels, my grandparents always respond with, “That’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” I used to think that this meant they thought I would never travel to those places again. I thought they assumed I would be done now, settle down and be professional. Since you’re reading this, you know otherwise.
I don’t think my safety-conscious grandparents will ever be sold on the idea that I will be traveling the world hundreds of times in my lifetime. That’s okay. I discovered that I like thinking of travel as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” because it inspires me to make the most of the experience. That attitude helped me make friends with strangers in Berlin who would later show my friends and me around the Camden Stables Market in London. In Rome, with wonderfully witty girls from Manchester, we were booted from an Irish bar because the wit of the Brits wasn’t appreciated by the locals. In Madrid, at the Mercado de San Miguel, a market with delicious tapas, I ate an amazing foie gras mini-burger because you don’t pass up a goose liver “burger” in Madrid.
Even with my travel bug, and to the delight of my grandparents, I do have a rewarding professional life as a marketing specialist with a focus on digital and social media. This blog combines my passion for travel with that social media spin. Checking In is a travel blog about adventures, meeting new people and tools that help you stay connected – or disconnect – along the way. I’ll share stories about making new friends in Rome, finding the best walking tour in Berlin, tips and tricks on using hotel review sites and great digital travel tools.
Why do you travel? I hope you’ll share your travel inspiration and experiences in the comment section below.
This quote by Thomas Merton inspires me to travel and be truly cheesy about all of the good stuff in life. I think it would be grandparent-approved.
“This day will never come again.” – Thomas Merton
Happy travels,
Lauryl