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3 min read Travel

The point of travel

When I first started travelling as a Uni student in the 2010s, I had two (misguided) goals: to visit as many countries as possible; and to tick off everything on the ubiquitous "10 things everyone absolutely must do" list in each city.
View of a beautiful white palace on the side of a hill under a blue sky. It's surrounded by greenery.
View of the Generalife at the Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain, which is one of my favourite places to visit and paint. Photo by Emma Bolton.
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The point of travel
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When I first started travelling as a Uni student in the 2010s, I had two (misguided) goals:

  1. to visit as many countries as possible; and
  2. to tick off everything on the ubiquitous "10 things everyone absolutely must do" list in each city.

Although I still had some wonderful experiences, I fell into the trap of applying productivity culture to my holidays. I was a passive consumer of curated experiences and other people's lives, and in some ways it felt more important to be able to demonstrate socially that I was a successful traveller, than to actually have a good time.

When I moved to London in my twenties, the focus changed slightly. I was struggling with burn out, so weekends away were a form of escape. I found temporary relief in the excitement of being in a new place (and getting a needed dose of sunshine), even though taking a return flight over a weekend doesn't meet the definition of restful.

All of that's changed over the past few years. In Granada, we've built a day-to-day life that's meaningful and more relaxed, so that need to escape has disappeared. Getting on a plane for a weekend away now sounds tiring, expensive and damaging to the environment.

But the love of travel has remained, because curiosity is in my bones. It's just that now you're more likely to find me catching a bus to a nearby town in Andalucía than travelling to a different country. I enjoy travel the most when I have time to breathe in a new place and meet a few friendly locals (ideally in their own language). It's about learning more and going deeper, rather than hitting the highlights in lots of different places.

My most precious travel memories are all about connection. So, when I visit you in your city, I'm far more interested in the rhythms and stories of daily life than in what's famous or trendy. I want to:

  • recline against the trunk of the tree where you dream,
  • paint the view you keep coming back to because the light's just right,
  • drink homemade mint tea while surrounded by the flowers you're growing in your patio,
  • get drenched by the icy waterfall at the end of your favourite summer hike,
  • throw a ball for your dog to chase at their local park,
  • stand in the spot where that scintillating romance started 147 years ago,
  • savour a coffee as we admire the world going by,
  • discover new stories at your independent bookstore, and
  • create an experience that’s new for both of us. 

Even if I'm travelling to a place where I don't know anyone, I try to seek out these same sorts of experiences through the music, language or art connected to that place. Being able to travel to someone else's home is a gift; I want to handle it with the care and gratitude it deserves.

What are some of your favourite travel memories? What is it about those moments that made them so special?

How has the way you travel changed over time?

Sketches from Granada celebrates every-day moments of connection with strangers, friends and ourselves. I know how easy it is not to be present in your own life, and I hope these sketches inspire you to seek out those moments that are worth savouring. 

If this post resonated with you, please share it with a friend you think might appreciate it too!

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