Travel with an open mind.
Hi, gals of the world! Sorry I've been M.I.A for a while…I just got back from a nice long trip to Los Angeles. Were there a Gals' Guide for L.A., I might have to share some details about some of the restaurants and shops I visited, but instead, I'd like to share an insight about travel that this particular vacation brought to light.
As a Midwestern girl, I've had the urge to Go West, to bask in the sun, gaze at the ocean, and surround myself with palm trees. Southern California simply had to be seen, and yet it took me until last week to finally get there. I thought everyone shared my dream of heading to L.A. County, but I was gravely mistaken. For weeks before my trip, people expressed their doubts at my decision to head out there at all. Naysayers gaped in disbelief at my assertion that the trip was just or pleasure, that I wasn't being forced to go out there, and haters suggested I avoid the area altogether. But oddly enough, none of these people could really tell me why they were so down on the area.
So I chose to ignore them. I'm sure they had their reasons, but when it comes to travel, as with many things in life, I think it's best to see for yourself and make your own judgements.
Every time I started to compare Los Angeles with other places I've been, I reminded myself of how much fun I've had in cities like London and Munich, where I arrived with no expectations, with my only goal to see and experience new things. Traveling with an open mind and expecting this new city to be different and special in its own way made my whole journey that much better.
Just a thought.
For more on my fun in L.A., you can see my post on Popular Sentiment.
Marissa Flaxbart
Reader Comments (2)
Couldn't agree more! I used to travel solo quite a bit and folks would either ask a) why travel by yourself or b)why go xyz?
This world is so dang big and you can see Travel shows or look at pictures of places, but it's just not the same as being there in person and seeing things for yourself.
I bet most of the naysayers never eat WENT to LA. HA!:)
Traveling with an open mind is very very important - you are right !