Making time to travel is something that has always been important to me. Writing about those trips and other travel-related topics is another love of mine, as I enjoy dedicating this space to travel stories as often as I can.
Last week my wife and I had the chance to visit someplace we had never been before. We both suffer from a bit of wanderlust — a benign condition we’re thankful to have that has led us to a myriad of different parts of the world since we were both teenagers.
Last week’s sojourn was somewhat last minute, as we had no plans at the beginning of 2024 to make a trip across the pond this spring.
Toward the end of January, however, Jen found a great deal on airfare to Valencia, Spain — tickets that were less expensive than what I paid in 1997 when I flew to Spain for the first time when I was a sophomore at Bluffton High School.
We thought about it for a few days before booking the trip. Jen had decided from the moment that she saw the tickets that we should go; I’m the one who oftentimes needs a few days to make decisions.
Valencia has been on our bucket list for awhile. It is located in southeastern Spain on the coast and is Spain’s third-largest city. The city boasts some 300 days a year of sunshine. Orange trees abound, which creates a savory smell that wafts from many of the city’s plazas and parks.
By the end of January, we had decided to book the trip for spring break. We were both craving some natural Vitamin D as winter began, which made the decision a bit easier.
We found another great deal on Airbnb to rent a studio apartment that was located right off one of the city’s most noteworthy plazas.
Our friends who live in northwestern Spain have visited Valencia several times and highly recommended we stay in the Old Town near Valencia’s cathedral close to the Plaza de la Reina (the Queen’s plaza). The plaza is one of the busiest in Valencia.
The area is surrounded by cafés, restaurants and shops. There are a plethora of small and winding streets located throughout the Old Town that can keep you busy for days as you stroll from place to place to explore.
As you wander the streets, you’re reminded of the time as El Miguelete — the cathedral’s 165-foot bell tower — rings. Otherwise, it’s easy to lose track of time as you explore the maze of narrow streets and passages around the Old Town with frequent stops in the stores, cafés and restaurants.
We spent the week exploring the city on foot except for the one day we rented bikes to pedal to the beach. We enjoyed some flavorful and satisfying meals and beverages as we sampled the local gastronomy — both savory and sweet delicacies. We marveled at the beautiful buildings, plazas and cathedrals that we saw every day.
The best part, however, was just slowing down for a week to be fully present in a new place without a lot of everyday distractions.
Most times when we travel overseas, we will activate an international plan with our cell phone provider. This time, however, we decided not to pay the extra fee to have a data plan. In other words, our phones were in airplane mode the entire week we were there so that we didn’t accidentally try to Google something without thinking and end up with an unexpected charge.
We had WiFi when we were at our studio apartment but beyond that our devices turned into cameras for the week instead of small computers in our pockets.
It was great to be out and about for hours on end during the day and not feel my phone vibrating in my pocket.
Please don’t read that last line and think I’m anti-technology; in fact, the opposite is true. A week with limited connectivity, however, was wonderful to be more fully present in a new place.
I’m still “young” enough to remember life before all the technology we enjoy today such as the internet and smartphones. I’m not saying I’d like to return to that era, but cutting back a bit on screen time every day is something that could benefit all of us — young and old alike.
I took my laptop with me to Spain, as I wanted to spend an hour or so each day getting ahead on a few projects that I’m working on at school for the upcoming months.
As I sat down the second night to do a bit of work, however, I discovered that I couldn’t log in to my work email where I had some files. An error code that I didn’t understand told me I couldn’t access my email due to trying to sign in from a location that was restricted by my organization.
A few moments of frustration quickly faded thanks to my wife’s innate ability to remind me the work I brought on vacation could wait until we got home, especially since what I was planning to do was only to work ahead.
She was right.
A week without work email and limited connectivity made us enjoy our week in Valencia even more than we thought was possible.
How can you not enjoy an idyllic Spanish city located on the coast where the sun shines some 300 days a year? The toughest decision we had to make all week was where should we have breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Dalai Lama once said, “Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.”
We try to follow that advice every year, as making time to travel someplace new is so important to us. The places we have visited and the people we have met during the last 20-some years have helped my wife and I better understand the world and the beautiful people we share it with across different cultures.
I often wonder how many of today’s problems and arguments would never come to fruition if more of us could go someplace every year we have never been before and return home to reflect on what we observed and share what we learned with others.
What new place will you visit in 2024?
Regardless of whether it is near or far, a trip to a new place rarely disappoints and always gives you a new perspective to consider.
jdpeeper2@hotmail.com
