Thanks to Inspiring Travellers, I have been nominated to participate in TripBase’s “My 7 Links Project”. The goal of this endeavor is to bring to light travel bloggers’ lessons and travel stories that might have been long forgotten in blog archives.
I found myself re-reading old posts I too had long since forgotten. In case you haven’t been following this site as long as I have, I hope you can give my seven links a read or re-read if you are a devoted fan (I’m talking to you, Mom).
My Most Beautiful Post
Locorotondo, Italy Wishes You Were Here
I love to find little towns of understated beauty. Locorotondo in the Puglia region of Italy carries the title of one of the “borghi piú belli d’Italia”. In other words, it has been deemed one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The photographs I share here truly capture the beauty of a town completely adorned in white.
My Most Popular Post
Curing The Solo Travel Loneliness Monster
This is the first post I remember writing early on in my blog’s history that actually received quite a bit of attention. As I looked up to see what my most popular post was to date, I was surprised this is still it. I guess loneliness and solo travel are something travelers all face. Here I share my tips on how to fight those feelings of loneliness on the road.
Travel benches with open seating
My Most Controversial Post
Is Travel An Excuse?
I think this post received the most opposition, perhaps for my word usage of “excuse”. I explored whether travel is just an excuse for something else such as to escape a life back home, to socialize more with strangers or for getting out of a bad relationship. I was motivated to classify travel as an excuse as it seemed I kept reading articles on how to quit the job you hate to travel or how someone left their boyfriend and decided to travel as a result.
Where are we, honey?
My Most Helpful Post
How You Can Spend Three Months in Europe and Not Go Broke
In this piece, I outline the ways I made living in Western Europe for three months possible, without breaking the bank. It seemed helpful to those skeptical of traveling in a country like Italy for an extended period of time with little cash.
I even had enough change to throw in the Trevi Fountain before heading home.
A Post Whose Success Surprised Me
Coffee with Strangers: The Importance of Travel Conversations
A story about a woman from Kosovo who randomly invited me to coffee as we waited on the same delayed train to Graz, Austria received much more attention than I thought it would. I didn’t think such a simple story would resonate with so many other travelers.
A Post I Feel Didn’t Get The Attention It Deserved
When Humanity Takes Flight
Maybe I feel this post didn’t get enough attention as I just wrote it last week, but I was surprised more people didn’t connect with my story of witnessing a 6 year old’s first time flying. Perhaps everyone hates flying too much to find the childish innocence and wonder in this form of travel.
The Post That I Am Most Proud Of
Travel Lessons From a 5,000 Year Old Iceman
When I met Ötzi in Bolzano, Italy, the incredibly preserved 5,000-year-old Iceman found in between Italy and Austria in the 1990s, I had no idea how powerful that meeting would be for me. I found all of these connections between a traveler back in 3300 B.C. and modern day globetrotters, one you can’t find just anywhere.
Ötzi, The Iceman
I love this project – what a great way to reminisce and re-share old posts! I love the travel conversations and how not to go broke posts (especially tip #4 – don’t shop). That tip alone saved me while living in Spain. I’d love to be nominated to participate, but no pressure!
Hi Suzy, this is such a great initiative! I would love to be nominated so I can share my seven links!
Hi Suzy,
What a cool project idea! Your post on lonliness on the road completely rings a bell – solo travel is so beautiful but I’ve found myself feeling like I am missing out on an experience when there isn’t anyone around to share it. I have sat on countless benches to people-watch too….and it always makes me smile 🙂
I’d love to be nominated for the 7 Links project so I can share some of my most memorable posts as well!
Thank you 🙂
This project is a fantastic idea. We all have good old posts that don’t get the attention that they should. I totally enjoyed Coffee with Strangers. Those chance encounters, to me are a large part of the reason thatI travel. If you have an extra invite, I would love to participate in this!
A nice collection of your work. I enjoyed the conquering loneliness monster post the most. I’ve done three big backpacking trips solo & as much as I wouldn’t like to admit it – feel lonely at times. I find though that these moments pass quite quickly. When I find it particularly difficult is when I have a horrible day (robbed, miss transport, feeling sick, etc) with nobody to ask for help or assistance.
Great to see everyone getting into this project. It was a brilliant idea. Thanks for sharing your posts.
Great 7 links! Especially loving the not going broke in Europe one. I’ll be leaving in a few months and it was extremely helpful!
I just stumbled across your blog for the first time. I’d love to participate in the 7 links project!
I particularly can identify with your posts about loneliness while traveling solo, and coffee with strangers. I’ve spent plenty of time alone in faraway places, sharing coffee (and tea, and other beverages) with strangers.
Happy travels to you!