A moment of reflection

We have 3 full days left in our adventure and as I sit and watch the sunset over the caldera in Santorini, 3 glasses of champagne in my stomach, I can't help but wax philosophical and reflect on the past 4 months. So, I apologize in advance for the self indulgence.

Throughout this trip people can't help but to ask what our favorite country is and I never know what to say. I end up listing each place we've visited and explaining why I liked or even laughably disliked (hello Glasgow) them. Each city/village/town holds such a special and unique memory. If I had children, I feel like this question might be a bit like asking who your favorite child is. You love them all equally (I assume), but perhaps for different reasons.

While scuba diving in Fethiye (this comment falls in the self indulgent column), I met a man who traveled Europe in an RV for 2 years with his wife. I couldn't help myself and asked him what his favorite city/village/town was. He fell silent for what felt like a short eternity and told me he couldn't choose just one. My mouth immediately felt 4 marshmallows deep in a chubby bunny competition as I realized I just asked him his least favorite question, my least favorite question. However, he provided the answer I was searching for all along.

It hasn't necessarily been the places we've been, more-so the adventure itself. Sure, I can now recommend a great place for wine tasting or the best beach to encounter the most interesting man in the world. And, to be honest, I love that I am able to do this, that I have added a few more notches to my travel belt. However, I will never have a favorite. My favorite place is a state of mind. It is this weird state of being where you are always slightly uncomfortable, routine is a thing of the past, adventure falls along the spectrum of which place to visit next to death defying hikes, you are the only one who knows where you truly are in a specific moment, and everything feels attainable. For me, it is pure freedom. Pure happiness. While traveling, your only responsibility is to meet people, learn, absorb and never lose sight of the moment.

So, random man on a boat, thank you for reminding me what travel truly is. I hate cliches as much as the next person, but going toe to toe, the journey always wins over the destination.