The latest craze on Facebook, ’25 Random Things About Me’ (in which you’re supposed to write random things, facts, habits, or goals about yourself), inspired me to write a new list of only travel related things.
1. I prefer to travel by train. If I can take the train instead of flying and the ticket doesn’t cost far more, that’s what I’ll do. Once I traveled by train from Zurich, Switzerland, to London, and back. My employer in Zurich thought I was crazy for wasting time on a train when a flight could take me there much faster.
2. I don’t think train travel is a waste of time. Often, the journey matters as much as the destination. Clichéd but true.
3. I like to strike up conversations with fellow passengers.
4. I also like to sit by myself to read a book or watch the landscape pass by, without uttering a word. When traveling in Switzerland I sometimes chose the ‘quiet wagon’, where silence is obligatory. There’s something very peaceful about hearing nothing else than the sound of the train.
5. When it comes to air travel I want to have a window seat or sit near the exit, otherwise I feel somewhat claustrophobic.
6. On charter flights, I can’t help but laugh when passengers applaud after landing.
7. Stepping out of an airplane at a new destination is one of the best things in the world.
8. I’m starting to feel too old for hostels.
9. The first thing I do after having checked into a new hotel is a) check out the view, b) inspect the bathroom, c) flick through the hotel brochures, d) pack up before heading out to discover the area.
10. Even if I’m at an unfamiliar location, I never worry about getting lost. I think I may have an invisible built in compass somewhere that tells me exactly where to go, and where not to go. So far it has worked perfectly fine — the exceptions being one summer day after midnight when we couldn’t find the way back to our hotel in Harlem, and one equally late night in Paris when I discovered I had walked in circles around my hotel. Apparently this ‘compass’ doesn’t work that well when I’m tired.
11. Whenever I pass by a cozy or cool looking café, bar or restaurant I can’t resist walking in to check the place out — even if I intend to leave shortly afterwards without having bought a thing.
12. I would have to discipline myself very much to pass by a chocolatier without at least taking a look at their products.
13. The delicious Swiss chocolate was one of many reasons I loved living in Switzerland for half a year.
14. I love people-watching.
15. I like to eavesdrop on conversations.
16. For some reason I find it much easier to understand what people say in foreign languages than making myself understood in foreign languages.
17. My favourite sound is the sound of the sea.
18. I love beaches, but if I lie in the sun longer than an hour I feel restless and want to start moving, play beach volleyball, go swimming, or take a stroll along the beach.
19. I like almost everything about Greece: the food, the culture, the atmosphere, the people, the beaches, the language, the music. One day I want to make a long island hopping trip in the Greek archipelago.
20. Ever since I was about 15 I’ve wanted to learn how to dance flamenco in Sevilla, samba in Rio, tango in Buenos Aires, and salsa in Havana.
21. When I was in elementary school I thought all women in Paris were slim, wore heels and black clothes, and smoked cigarettes.
22. I like hot weather as much as I like cold weather. When we visited the mountain region of Kalabaka in Greece about ten years ago, the temperature hit almost 40 degrees Celcius. I didn’t want to leave.
23. The trips I took with friends after high school made me realize I needed to learn how to compromise more.
24. I can’t remember I have ever felt bored while traveling.
25. I love most things fast-paced: fast motor boats, skiing fast, driving fast, fast roller coasters.
26. Amusement parks are one of the best inventions ever.
27. I often feel torn between my love for cities and my love for the outdoors.
28. One day I want to realize my dream of having two ‘homes’ — one beachhouse somewhere warm and sunny, and one house or apartment somewhere else.
29. I find many European cities more beautiful at night.
30. About 80-90 % of the trips I’ve taken since high school were last minute.
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7. I’m a big fan of stepping out onto the tarmac, rather than directly into the terminal. Always love the experience, feels like I’m James Bond.
29. Most cities are more beautiful at night, in my opinion. I love wandering at dusk, taking pictures, observing life pass by, even after the city empties out.
25. I could sit in a park or a public space forever (because of #14).
21. Isn’t that Madrid?
1. I wish trains were better in the USA.
16. Alcohol helps immensely.
8. I am too old, but it hasn’t changed my behaviour… yet.
and btw, I’m a big believer that while it’s more of a personal choice about how much of our personal lives we display on our blogs, it’s critical to display our personality
It is fun reading lists like these and finding similarities.
I love trains, am planning on doing a train journey through Malaysia soon. Yes what is with people who clap after landing?
I’m too old for hostels, that thought occurred to me when I didn’t enjoy waking up to a rat sleeping next to me.
Love people watching but can’t do the eaves dropping. Some people just have dumb conversations like: “I’m getting fat” or “do my eyes look big to you?”
Agree with Taylor’s last comment as well on number 8.
Cate’s last blog post..Singapore Swing – first impressions
Fascinating read! I haven’t succumbed to the exercise myself yet, but I enjoyed reading yours! Love that photo too!
lara dunston’s last blog post..Sightseeing: taking time to take in the sights – or not. How do you ‘see’ the sights when you travel?
Great tips Erica, thanks!
I swear, I could have written this list myself. I think we have lots in common.
I receive the same message on FB, and perhaps, I should start thinking of my ‘list’ as well. It would be a great exercise to get to know myself once again.
I second Taylor’s thoughts, “I’m a big believer that while it’s more of a personal choice about how much of our personal lives we display on our blogs, it’s critical to display our personality”.
Not sure I could do the same list, I’m still too shy!
Anil’s last blog post..Keep Your Travel Blog Going With A Weekly Posting Goal
@Taylor,
7. Exactly!
29. True. They show different sides of themselves at night. And it is interesting to see cities when no one’s around. I find that you often notice other (and more) things you wouldn’t have paid attention to in daylight.
25. Parks are great for people-watching. Even though I love most things fast-paced, sometimes it’s nice to just chill and do nothing except for taking in the surroundings and watch locals and other travelers.
21. I wouldn’t know. I’ve never met any women from Madrid
1. Don’t have any experience of train travel in the U.S. yet. Perhaps I’ll go with Amtrak some day. To me it seems like more people prefer Greyhound though.
16. Sometimes. But I find it way easier to translate the meaning from a foreign language to Swedish rather than the other way around.
8. Actually, I don’t think anyone can be too old for hostels. But once I checked into a hotel after having stayed in so many hostels it was easy to feel spoiled and not wanting to leave that comfort. I still stay in hostels, but tend to avoid the ‘party hostels’.
Yes, showing our personality is way more important than how much of our personal lives we share. The latter doesn’t matter when it comes to the quality of the content.
@Cate, A train journey through Malaysia sounds exciting. I hope you’ll have a great trip.
So far I haven’t heard people clapping after landing on any flights other than charters departing from Sweden. It’s seemingly more common among first time flyers.
A rat sleeping next to you!? Which hostel was that? I’ll want to make sure to avoid it.
You’re right about dumb conversations, but I think those are kinda fun to listen to as well. In Sweden, there’s even a famous blog entirely dedicated to dumb and silly conversations the blogger has overheard on restaurants, buses, in stores etc.
@lara, Thanks… I also like the photo. Found it on sxc.hu. I wonder what the little boy is looking at.
@Buenos Aires, I wouldn’t call these tips but thanks for commenting. Buenos Aires is on my list of places to visit, so I will check out your site.
@jen laceda, Really? Then we do have lots in common. I checked out your blog by the way. VERY beautiful pictures!
@Anil, I also agree with Taylor on that one. But when it comes to personal lives I think it’s not always easy to know how to keep the balance between sharing too much and too little. Some days I feel like blogging about very personal stuff (mistakes I’ve done, dreams, goals, etc), other days I don’t feel like being personal at all. It goes up and down.
As for lists, perhaps you can do one with, say, 3-5 things rather than 30. And maybe you could ask your readers to mention three things about themselves as well. In fact, that might be a good idea for all bloggers to ‘get to know’ their readers better.
Great list Erica. #24 definitely – I can’t remember being bored on a trip unless I’m with others with little control.
Can’t bring myself to do the 25 random things yet.
Lola’s last blog post..Postcard: Jumbo Cafe
@ Erica:
Good advice, I’ll start slowly, but you’re right it’s hard to strike that balance.
Anil’s last blog post..Keep Your Travel Blog Going With A Weekly Posting Goal
@Lola, With little control? You mean those who get irritated/angry easily?
I think no matter where you are, there’s always something fun to do, things to look at, people to talk with – even if you’re on a 10-hour train ride. I find it a bit difficult to understand how it’s possible to be bored.
thanks for checking out my blog. I love yours, so I will certainly be lurking around and learning more about you and your travels!
jen laceda’s last blog post..Florence: A Walk On The Feminine and Masculine Side
@Erica – With little control meaning you’re stuck with a group on a rigid schedule or with a controlling team leader. This happens a lot with some volunteer trips.
Lola’s last blog post..Postcard: Jumbo Cafe
@jen, Same here!
@Lola, Ok. For some reason ‘little control’ made me associate with angry people (not sure how that could relate to being bored though)
Anyway, now I get what you mean. A rigid schedule when traveling really is the antithesis of fun. Fortunately I don’t have much experience from that.
Hopped over from Matt’s site. Must compliment you for that fantastic list you complied over there.
Like you, I love to wonder around European cities after nightfall. Those lights that lit up otherwise buildings that have passed their prime really make a whole lot of difference.
C K’s last blog post..Near misses at Train Level Crossings in the UK
I love your travel take on the “25 things…” list. Great idea
wendy-escape from NY’s last blog post..Paricutín – Mexico’s Pompeii
@C K, Thanks… You’re right about the lights. Looking back, I especially remember the opera house in Vienna and the walk along the river in Lyon. Wish I had brought my camera.
@wendy, Thanks.
Love the list. Love that it’s personal.
Anil, as someone who reads your blog I would welcome such a list on your site!! I’ll be thinking on one too.
@ Gillian:
Goes perfectly with what I wrote today – it’s been hard for me but I’m cooking up a list to be posted in the next 2 weeks
Anil’s last blog post..Would You Spend Your Life Savings For A Once In A Lifetime Trip?