On Travel Fatigue
Kraków, Poland
I am new to long term travel. In the past, I've gone on short trips from whatever home base I'm in at the moment. A few times on the way to or from one of these home bases I've set off for a few weeks. Now I'm just setting off. And its a new thing entirely.
Even with those longer trips, but I suspect especially with one with no end date, time wears on you. I pack light considering these are the only things I own at the moment, but the kilos still count. Lugging my suitcases and bags from one destination to another and up and down flights of stairs is less of a workout than it is a stress test.
Taking in new sights, sounds, smells, tastes, is a total high. Having no idea what to expect from day to day brings fresh breath to my body, and I know I am totally living each day to the fullest. But such heightened awareness, wanting to embrace everything that is new, it is draining too. Learning basic words of new languages, walking the whole day, and the simple act of enjoying can leave you exhausted. And when that fatigue hits, you can't appreciate anything. You just need to rest.
I had that moment the other day: when you are in a new city, starving and tired with not a restaurant in sight. My friend and I were in desperate need of food, but we didn't want to settle with a touristy cafe with likely bad food at a high price. We walked an extra mile to find a small pierogi joint, which was good considering the number of pierogis we ate was definitely above the suggested serving size.
The next day, my friend went to an attraction I had been to before, and I spent the morning sitting on a comfy sofa in a bright cafe that serves you coffee and cake while you do your laundry. For the past few weeks I have been traveling and been so present in the moment that I haven't had time to spare to write, or scroll through social media, or watch videos. So I took that time to refresh, both myself and my clothes. I am finding that days like this are absolutely essential. That afternoon I was ready to venture out again, my mind open, my feet rested, and my stomach hungry.
love,
greer