Do you ever feel jaded when you travel? (page 2 of 2)

I sometimes wonder what it'll be like when I've seen almost all of Europe

Why? Does it seem more complicated outside Europe? You liked Russia, so you're continuing the same way with former Soviet countries like Uzbekistan. In Bukhara and Samarkand, there's no shortage of monuments... You could also start with Turkey—there's plenty to visit in Istanbul. It's pretty easy, transportation is convenient, the people are welcoming, and you can find accommodation at reasonable prices. After that, you can go almost anywhere without worry.

I think it’s completely normal not to spend your life at the same pace, with the same desires, etc... If long-term travel starts to feel tiresome, you’ve got to ask yourself what new desire is sprouting inside you. Since we’re not talking about obligations here, but leisure and freedom, you should turn toward something else that brings you joy. The taste for travel might come back—or it might not, or it might come back in a different way. Travel isn’t the only thing that can fill a life with pleasure.

Yes, Béatrice, there’s a budding desire for elsewhere, but not necessarily abroad. Sailing in Brittany, a little caravan to take in the mountains... That’s where I’m leaning. Honestly, it was starting to feel more like an obligation than a pleasure: *Where am I going this year?* Like I was forcing myself. It just doesn’t make sense for me right now, at least for the moment.

I don’t see this as a particularly fundamental questioning, unless you’ve only defined yourself by this activity... I think that’s rare, though. But hey, everyone’s got their own experiences.

I sometimes wonder what it’ll be like when I’ve seen almost all of Europe

Why? Does it seem more complicated outside Europe? You liked Russia, so you’re continuing with former Soviet countries like Uzbekistan. In Bukhara and Samarkand, there’s no shortage of monuments... You could also start with Turkey—there’s plenty to see in Istanbul. It’s pretty easy, transportation is convenient, the people are welcoming, and you can find accommodation at reasonable prices. After that, you can go almost anywhere without worry.

Russia is still Europe.

I’ve been to Istanbul—it’s nice, and I’d like to go back.

Yeah, Europe is simpler, cheaper to get to, and cities that are self-sufficient with good transport.

Overall, I’m mostly drawn to cities with heritage, so yes, more toward Europe, but that’s another topic.

But for now, it’s still easier to take a week-long trip to a European city.

In the end, COVID gives us the "perfect excuse" to postpone our trips... and at the same time, it gives us time to reflect.

Personally, I’m not tired of my African adventures, but I also feel like diving back into Parisian cultural winters. It comes at a cost, though... so I have to choose.

I plan to increase the number of my European getaways, focusing on cheap accommodation options (like apartment swaps)—that should work. And Africa... we’ll see, but no more stays of several months.

I hope you find joy in your future plans.

Thanks so much for your kindness, Béatrice. Wishing you beautiful getaways, whether in Africa or Paris. Do you still love Africa as much as ever? Is it easy to travel there without a guide on your own? What is it about Africa that you love so much? I’m really curious, but Africa has never appealed to me—I wonder if I’m missing out on something amazing. Or not.

Or not, yeah, because it really depends on how each person feels.

What do I love about Africa? (I’m talking about the Maghreb and West Africa—I don’t know the rest.) It’s a certain way of life and the relationships with the people, of course from the perspective of a Western woman. I’m not mistaken about that. People seem way cooler and most of the time ready for an exchange, a chat, and mutual help. In sub-Saharan Africa, the humor. I love this life where, since the state has nothing to do with ours, and in the absence of strong public policies to help the people, mutual aid and resourcefulness are there. You always have a solution for everything, everywhere. From my perspective as a Western tourist, it’s amazing. For the local populations, there’s the good and the worst, which we don’t experience. (Healthcare, education, corruption)

The landscapes, the abundance of markets, the eloquence and strength of the women, their courage... eating wild mangoes, having a sip of sodabi with the village elders, eating in the *maquis* from morning on, foamy milk coffee with an omelet sandwich—"one or two eggs?"

In Morocco, outside the ultra-touristy areas, the welcome, the exchange. The beauty of the landscapes—mountains, palm groves, centuries-old kasbahs. In Mauritania, the desert, just desert, the immense dunes and barkhanes, the pink, blue, and soft green villages nestled in the dunes, the herds of dromedaries.

Just a glimpse of what I love.

I travel without a guide. I organize everything myself, on the spot.

No danger for solo women. There’s a bit of flirting, but it’s quickly put in place with a little humor. Never aggressive or vulgar. Oh, the *tchatche*...

There you go!

The hardest thing right now is the insecurity due to various forms of terrorism. You have to stay updated on the news... awful, awful, poor people.

thanks for this recap, it really feels like I’m there! 🙂

Hi Nathalie,

Yes, I’ve experienced that before. I noticed it happens when I’ve been in the same routine for a few weeks. For example, if I’m hitchhiking and couchsurfing or staying in hostels and doing city trips a lot... I realized that changing up my routine—whether it’s my mode of transport, accommodation, or activities—helps me stop feeling so jaded. I also adjust my travel pace, making it slower or faster. I try to step out of my comfort zone too, which helps me feel less bored and discover more about myself. It also builds my confidence. For instance, I might do some volunteering, look for a job, or spend an extra week in a city. Basically, I listen to myself as much as possible, follow my instincts, and the boredom or "blah" feeling fades away.

Another thing that helps is calling my loved ones on video. Often, they remind me how lucky I am to be in such a paradise-like place, and that gives me a great energy boost.

I think all travelers go through these kinds of feelings—it’s not a big deal. You just have to accept it and find little tricks to make it happen less often.

Hi Mélanie, and thanks for your contribution. This year, I was supposed to go to Greenland—a mythical place for me. But honestly, canceling didn’t bother me at all. Let’s just say there’s a huge gap between the dream of traveling and actually making it happen, and that gap eventually discourages me.

"Let’s just say there’s a gap between the dream of traveling and actually doing it that eventually discourages me." What do you mean by that? Can’t you take the plunge?

"Let’s just say that between the dream of travel and making it a reality, there’s a gap that eventually discourages me." What do you mean by that? You can’t take the plunge?

Oh, I do take the plunge—but the reality often ends up being disappointing because the trip was so idealized in my fantasies.

Hey, I listen to myself a lot between couchsurfing, city strips, and viseos??? It’s the new way to travel, but why not. 🙂

It’s not really new—it’s just that nowadays it’s less marginalized. Before, they were called explorers, adventurers, backpackers, or outsiders...

Hi there, I think Covid temporarily solved your problem. But afterward, did the weariness return just like before, or not? Or did you replace traveling with something else?

Sometimes, you meet someone and suddenly the urge to travel comes back because with two people...

Hi there,

Not jaded, but it’s not quite the same as before.

I have to say, apart from Marrakech, I haven’t left Europe yet... I hope to go farther, but after all, what attracts me most is still our good old continent!

That said, I can’t imagine my life without travel, but at some point, I’ve seen what interests me most.

The upside: I can die in peace—I’ve fulfilled my dreams (aside from a few trips, I don’t have any others left).

Personally, what I find really draining these days (thankfully not everywhere) is how people are constantly glued to their phones, spending their lives taking selfies or livestreaming/vlogging their lives.... But as they say, not every corner of the globe is like that yet, thankfully.

Yeah, after a while everyone enjoys it in their own way.