Travel Reflections: Buenos Aires, Awkward Moments and Preparing for Machu Picchu

It is exactly one year to the day since I left the U.S. for a 2 month work assignment in Buenos Aires – an incredible time in my life that not only opened up my world to new cultures and people but also was a lot of plain old fun.

And no matter where I go, or for what purpose, books come with me in my travel toolbox.

Three books make the cut: My current fiction read, a daily inspirational anthology and The Art of Travel.

Ever wonder why there is this crazy niche of people obsessed with traveling? I’m one of them. A traveler at heart and by rigorous practice, I buy any book with the word “travel” in it. But before I read this, I had no idea how to put my fixation into words. The Art of Travel breaks it down for us.

It’s organized into five distinct chapters: Departure, Motives, Landscape, Art and Return. From these perspectives, the book describes from the author’s point of view and experience, why travel is one of those activities that promise everyone some form of happiness.

The book is not a guide telling us how or where to travel, but an examination of the role of travel, broadly understood, in the lives and work of a few eminent artists and writers. While De Botton does not provide full biographies, he provides examples of their insights, using their work and experiences as a backdrop. At points, he inserts his own traveling experience, yet it is less of a memoir than it is a commentary on exploration.

De Botton successfully presents a readers with a travel commentary combined with the introductions to eminent artists with which we may or may not be familiar. While others’ experiences are the focus of the book, the author writes in a style that is accessible to common reality.

Before The Experience

My favorite section of the book is when De Botton describes the “anticipation of travel.”

A new world, new people, new activities, new food – we have no idea what we’ll encounter, but we know it will be fabulous. We tell people about where we’re going (and sometimes they get jealous) and previous visitors offer abundant advice on what we should do.

In addition, De Botton reminds us that while many of us always anticipate my trips with great excitement, there have been those times when the reality doesn’t live up to the experience. Using experiences from William Wordsworth to Vincent Van Gogh, the author presents teachings that invite us to appreciate travel for all of its flaws and greatness by staying in the present and recognizing even the most simple elements of location (from motels to airports) and feelings (from romance to depression).

Reality Sets In: Awkward Travel Moments

While I always anticipate my trips with great excitement, there have been those times when the reality didn’t live up to the anticipatory magic in my mind:

1. Like the time I went to Moscow in the dead of winter.

2. Or the time I got sick in Buenos Aires and, not knowing much Spanish, had to mime my illness to the doctor.

3. Or the time my friends and I went to Tokyo and visited the World War II museum on the day they were honoring the Japanese war veterans. We were three of five Americans there and understandably got a few stares.

Those times can feel awkward. Feel free to share yours … I know you want to.

Lesson learned: Even when we’re traveling, life is still life. It will be fun, but it also could be hard.

When we return, De Botton reminds us that there is a natural feeling of disappointment, but also, it signals the time when the planning of our next trip starts the exciting cycle of anticipation all over again.

Next Stop: Machu Picchu

In a few weeks, I’m off to Machu Picchu – first it was just for holiday and cultural experience, but now I’ll be writing a piece on it for another publication. I’m most excited to connect directly with the people – where the stories come from.

I’d also encourage you to check out Roadmonkey, one of the organizations TJCC supports. Roadmonkey focuses on “Adventure Philanthropy” and offers interested folks the opportunity to travel globally and support various causes along the way. They recently visited Peru and are currently in Vietnam. You can read more about the Peru experience here.

Yesterday, I told a colleague where I was headed. She said, “Wow, how glamourous.”  That was nice of her, but the 3 planes, car, train and bus to get there and back will likely involve many bandanas and a lot less glamour. So that reality might not jive with the anticipation.

Or maybe it will. I’ll let you know.

P.S. I would love your input. If you’ve already been to Machu Picchu or would like to submit your own interview questions or resource ideas, I’d be thrilled to add them as I’m preparing to go (and will credit here when I repost the excerpt). Feel free to comment below or shoot me an email.