As I sipped my coffee the other morning and looked around, memories flooded my heart as I took in the treasures purchased abroad on our travels over the years.
Although the desire to travel was not sparked early on, it has become a passion of ours throughout our married life. We caught the bug bad and couldn’t wait to get away to destinations annually, many being the same over the course of some years as we became familiar with surf and sand in beach holiday zones while our kids were young.
When our sons got older and began to travel on their own, they encouraged us to get out of our comfort zone and experience journeys that would give us a greater taste for world adventure. It took some coaxing and a stretch into the unknown but those have been the biggest blessings in our lives, along with the ability to do it together with our sons and their spouses.
Some of the first took us beyond familiar destinations like Hawaii and many places in Mexico to no less than 18 distinct countries spanning four continents. Some of the highlights include visiting Machu Pichu and seeing the floating islands on Lake Titicaca in Peru; experiencing Easter Island — the most isolated permanently inhabited island on the planet, home to the Moia; sipping wine in Malbec country in Argentina and dining on Argentinian beef; visiting Phi Phi Island only a year or two after the tsunami in Thailand that nearly wiped it out; driving the coast of the south island of New Zealand and strolling along the Yarra River in Melbourne Australia, and many others that have made an indelible imprint on my mind.
In recent years we have made some roots in Huatulco, Mexico, where we have chosen to spend much of our holiday time, often with our kids and their broods now.
This year with travel plans pending due to the pandemic and not knowing the future of international travel, the longing and desire to go is increasing, but there is a certain thankfulness for the years we have had the opportunity to venture out into the world.
Travel will always be in our blood and although my treasures from abroad delight me as I take them in, my precious memories of the adventures we have experienced are always with me in my heart and mind and continue to bring me joy as I reminisce.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
