The drudgery of being a constant tourist

This is a first world problem I know, but too much of a good thing can mean that you don’t appreciate where you are or what you’re doing.  Call it travel fatigue or cultural indigestion or whatever you like but it’s real and needs to be addressed…right now, I’ve been in Europe for a year and I love cobbled streets, old buildings and places full of “Olde Worlde” atmosphere.

I was in Spain and Portugal for about two months. Many many towns and villages there have fortifications and are built on the top of a hill. The castles and forts are spectacular and I’m constantly amazed at how they’ve been preserved and what they mean to the locals. However, many times I’ve ridden through small villages, seen a castle and thought – ho hum, it’s another castle on a hill, surrounded by a village, big deal. If we had just one of these in Australia, it would be a major attraction.

I had to keep reminding myself to appreciate where I am, what I’m doing and how lucky I am. I do that with my daily mantra and the inscription on my bike – “This Moment”.

I’m happiest when I’m riding and moving. Getting on the bike just fills me with a feeling of freedom and independence. It can be raining and windy but it doesn’t matter, I’m going somewhere new, interesting and different.

The only time we have is “This Moment”, and without this appreciation, my trip would have finished much earlier.

So when should I call time on this trip ? … When I’m sick of it and not a minute before. With so much thinking time, it’s a topic I’ve been through many times.

The complicating factor is that I have a lot to look forward to at home as well – setting up an apartment, seeing friends and family, seeing my “stuff” after nearly three years in storage, and becoming part of a community again.