[Stories & Tips]

Yesterday I had a very interesting conversation with my friend. We had spent our first year of college together in England, and we were discussing our future interest in traveling. As I was rattling on about how I would rather visit India than China, how I’d like to visit Africa and South America at least once, he abruptly stated that he didn’t really care about traveling the world.
What.
“Everything I really want to see is in Canada and the USA,” he said. “I feel like most of the architecture and natural wonders and all that can be found on this continent.”
But what about the jungle? The rainforest? The Himalayas? The Great Wall of China?
“Well I’ve seen pictures and movies of all of those places. Honestly, when I was traveling around Europe seeing all these famous sites and landmarks and stuff, I wasn’t really struck by awe, it didn’t feel so different from looking at a picture of it.”
I sat in silence for a little bit.
“I dunno man, the Eiffel tower never gets old for me. I mean yeah, I have seen reputedly great things that turned out to be kind of normal in real life, but some things I’ve seen were totally cool. Like Delphi! That was the coolest place ever. You can’t recreate Delphi in a picture. And Stonehenge. I really, really liked being at Stonehenge and would like to go again,” I said.
“Yeah, I guess there are a few places but the Great Wall of China isn’t really on my list of things I’m dying to see. I just feel like I can get the same satisfaction out of most places that I can when I watch documentaries about them, of see pictures of them.”
“Well I also really like meeting people when I go to these places,” I said. He shrugged.
I was stumped.
“Well, what about the pyramids?”
“Yeah okay, those I want to see.”