I am currently in the middle of transitioning to a slower pace of travel after the last few years of trying to tick everything off. I spent my 20's unintentionally slow traveling, spending months of time in Ireland, Italy, Nicaragua, and Bolivia and those experiences mean so so much to me and now I know why. I had time to really get to know the place I was in. I had time to just be in those places without rushing off to the next thing. While I still have a full time job and my travel time is limited by PTO I want to start implementing the ideas and practices of those long term stays into my travel this year.
It sounds like you have had some wonderful "slow" travel experiences, Stephanie! It's so much more satisfying taking the time you need to get to know a particular place rather than rushing from one selfie op to another, isn't it? Where do you think you would like to go next?
I'm planning to spend a month in Spain and Portugal this September! While it's not a super long time, it's longer than I've been able to spend anywhere in the last few years and I'm very much looking forward to diving in to that region. Now I just need to prioritize where I will stay and STAY PUT ;) and not just bop around the whole time.
Transitioning from a tick-off-the-list traveller to a slow traveller has changed a lot in me.
The habits, the people I meet, and the conversations I have. Everything feels calm and joyful in the rush. I love to stay in a place for longer until I know the nooks and corners of the area. Until I get to know the people around—from the grocery shopkeepers to the regulars at a local café. I've found more meaningful reasons to love a place—or even dislike it—from a local’s perspective, rather than just a visitor's.
An avid fan of slow travelling, because it has changed me a lot. 💛
What a wonderful discovery about yourself and your own travel experiences, Anjali! It is so much more enriching and rewarding to slow down and take the time to explore a place and a people in depth, isn't it? Than to simply take a selfie and move on?
Slow travel is one way to avoid cataclysmic changes. It might not be possible for all but with all the technology we have we can try to explore and experience the world differently.
I’ve been watching the weather news for Ireland - I hope you are able to keep safely warm while the power is out. It never occurred to me that your schools weren’t heated, and that’s why they had to close them during this extreme weather. Living in the US, I’ve never attended a school that didn’t have heat, though it does make sense that Ireland’s weather is usually not as extreme.
I’m with you on the slow travel. I was lucky enough to make it to Ireland on an unplanned six-week trip. My dad had died and once I sold the house and settled the estate, I stored things and went to Spain to walk the Camino. Short version, I hadn’t booked ahead enough and ended up flying to Ireland. My plan was to spend at least 3-4 nights in most of the places I went, and there were a few places I went back to more than once. Other than booking a hotel for the night I arrived, and then 4 nights in Kildare so I could see the Irish National Stud, I had no real plans when I got there. I ended up finding a hermitage in Glendalough, in Wicklow; two different hostels in Sligo, which I visited three times for several days each (I kept coming back to see Michael Quirke, the woodcarver/storyteller on Wine Street); 4 amazing days/nights in Dingle; and time in Donegal, Dublin, and Bray (the DART made it possible to spend less expensive visits into Dublin). And you are so right - in addition to Michael I met other folks in hostels, some of whom followed me to Sligo on my second visit. In Dingle, I became a “regular” in a restaurant for breakfast after one visit, and had many conversations with the woman in the bakery I visited daily.
Even when I used to go to writing workshops, I always made it a point to take the time to know the names of the kitchen folks or the staff, which made it more fun if I went back the next year to have people I knew.
Thank you for your nice, long response, Doc! County Kerry seldom gets much snow or icy weather, so this past week has been quite a shock to most people. Personally, we hardly got any snow (we are very close to the coast), but the electricity went off for about 24 hours. Thank goodness, we have a tile stove (kachelofen), so we just built a fire and the radiant heat kept us nice and warm.
I love Dingle, too--we live just 15 minutes from there over the Conor Pass. Unless the pass is too snowy or icy to drive over, as it has been this week. The alternate route to Dingle takes us about an hour.
The Irish are a hearty people who have traditionally not heated their homes well except for a fire in the fireplace. Stores and restaurants are often not heated, and many shops keep their doors open regardless of the weather because it is a traditional sign that visitors are welcome.
I so look forward to your articles. Slow travel is my new travel goal. There are many places I want to visit & now I am gonna do those trips much more slowly.
Thanks, Clarice, for once again a wonderfully written post. 😊 I couldn't agree more and I especially love this part 'the potential to open our eyes, break down walls, and dissolve fear of the other. It can inspire creativity, connect us to the Earth, and give us greater appreciation for our own homes.' I'm looking forward to reading more of your posts in 2025!
What a beautifully written intention for the new year. It is so important for all of us to open ourselves to others, to share and learn about different cultures and points of view if we want to create peace in our lives and in the world. There are so many more shared experiences that bring us together rather than focussing on the few differences that we allow to keep us separate from each other.
I completely agree with you, Janice. The more we can focus on what we all have in common, listen to each other, and agree to accept the differences, the better off we will all be.
I love this! And absolutely agree with you about the importance of travel, even just to another town, about its "potential to open our eyes, break down walls, and dissolve fear of the other. It can inspire creativity, connect us to the Earth, and give us greater appreciation for our own homes. Above all, it gives us stories that enrich every aspect of our lives."
I am currently in the middle of transitioning to a slower pace of travel after the last few years of trying to tick everything off. I spent my 20's unintentionally slow traveling, spending months of time in Ireland, Italy, Nicaragua, and Bolivia and those experiences mean so so much to me and now I know why. I had time to really get to know the place I was in. I had time to just be in those places without rushing off to the next thing. While I still have a full time job and my travel time is limited by PTO I want to start implementing the ideas and practices of those long term stays into my travel this year.
It sounds like you have had some wonderful "slow" travel experiences, Stephanie! It's so much more satisfying taking the time you need to get to know a particular place rather than rushing from one selfie op to another, isn't it? Where do you think you would like to go next?
I'm planning to spend a month in Spain and Portugal this September! While it's not a super long time, it's longer than I've been able to spend anywhere in the last few years and I'm very much looking forward to diving in to that region. Now I just need to prioritize where I will stay and STAY PUT ;) and not just bop around the whole time.
That sounds wonderful, Stephanie. I am so glad you are going to be able to spend a whole month there. It will be interesting to hear where you end up!
Transitioning from a tick-off-the-list traveller to a slow traveller has changed a lot in me.
The habits, the people I meet, and the conversations I have. Everything feels calm and joyful in the rush. I love to stay in a place for longer until I know the nooks and corners of the area. Until I get to know the people around—from the grocery shopkeepers to the regulars at a local café. I've found more meaningful reasons to love a place—or even dislike it—from a local’s perspective, rather than just a visitor's.
An avid fan of slow travelling, because it has changed me a lot. 💛
Happy New Year, Clarice
What a wonderful discovery about yourself and your own travel experiences, Anjali! It is so much more enriching and rewarding to slow down and take the time to explore a place and a people in depth, isn't it? Than to simply take a selfie and move on?
I wish you a happy New Year as well.
Slow travel is one way to avoid cataclysmic changes. It might not be possible for all but with all the technology we have we can try to explore and experience the world differently.
I agree with you, Teodora.
Happy new year !!!!
The same to you, Brenna.
I’ve been watching the weather news for Ireland - I hope you are able to keep safely warm while the power is out. It never occurred to me that your schools weren’t heated, and that’s why they had to close them during this extreme weather. Living in the US, I’ve never attended a school that didn’t have heat, though it does make sense that Ireland’s weather is usually not as extreme.
I’m with you on the slow travel. I was lucky enough to make it to Ireland on an unplanned six-week trip. My dad had died and once I sold the house and settled the estate, I stored things and went to Spain to walk the Camino. Short version, I hadn’t booked ahead enough and ended up flying to Ireland. My plan was to spend at least 3-4 nights in most of the places I went, and there were a few places I went back to more than once. Other than booking a hotel for the night I arrived, and then 4 nights in Kildare so I could see the Irish National Stud, I had no real plans when I got there. I ended up finding a hermitage in Glendalough, in Wicklow; two different hostels in Sligo, which I visited three times for several days each (I kept coming back to see Michael Quirke, the woodcarver/storyteller on Wine Street); 4 amazing days/nights in Dingle; and time in Donegal, Dublin, and Bray (the DART made it possible to spend less expensive visits into Dublin). And you are so right - in addition to Michael I met other folks in hostels, some of whom followed me to Sligo on my second visit. In Dingle, I became a “regular” in a restaurant for breakfast after one visit, and had many conversations with the woman in the bakery I visited daily.
Even when I used to go to writing workshops, I always made it a point to take the time to know the names of the kitchen folks or the staff, which made it more fun if I went back the next year to have people I knew.
Stay safe and warm, and thanks!
Thank you for your nice, long response, Doc! County Kerry seldom gets much snow or icy weather, so this past week has been quite a shock to most people. Personally, we hardly got any snow (we are very close to the coast), but the electricity went off for about 24 hours. Thank goodness, we have a tile stove (kachelofen), so we just built a fire and the radiant heat kept us nice and warm.
I love Dingle, too--we live just 15 minutes from there over the Conor Pass. Unless the pass is too snowy or icy to drive over, as it has been this week. The alternate route to Dingle takes us about an hour.
The Irish are a hearty people who have traditionally not heated their homes well except for a fire in the fireplace. Stores and restaurants are often not heated, and many shops keep their doors open regardless of the weather because it is a traditional sign that visitors are welcome.
I so look forward to your articles. Slow travel is my new travel goal. There are many places I want to visit & now I am gonna do those trips much more slowly.
Thank you, Debby. I look forward to hearing about your trips when you do!
Thank you so much for this, Clarice! I've had similar thoughts lately, and this echoed my feelings perfectly 🥰
You're welcome, Shreya. I think most of us who have spent time abroad have similar feelings. This is why I am so supportive of slow travel.
Thanks, Clarice, for once again a wonderfully written post. 😊 I couldn't agree more and I especially love this part 'the potential to open our eyes, break down walls, and dissolve fear of the other. It can inspire creativity, connect us to the Earth, and give us greater appreciation for our own homes.' I'm looking forward to reading more of your posts in 2025!
Thank you, Rebecca. I'm really glad you liked the post.
What a beautifully written intention for the new year. It is so important for all of us to open ourselves to others, to share and learn about different cultures and points of view if we want to create peace in our lives and in the world. There are so many more shared experiences that bring us together rather than focussing on the few differences that we allow to keep us separate from each other.
I completely agree with you, Janice. The more we can focus on what we all have in common, listen to each other, and agree to accept the differences, the better off we will all be.
I love this! And absolutely agree with you about the importance of travel, even just to another town, about its "potential to open our eyes, break down walls, and dissolve fear of the other. It can inspire creativity, connect us to the Earth, and give us greater appreciation for our own homes. Above all, it gives us stories that enrich every aspect of our lives."
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.