Does Distance Traveled Matter?
There are times when you need a change of scenery. It may not have been your day, your week, a month. You are tired of seeing the same faces and visiting the same places. You need a spark in your life, a stream of different thoughts and get out of your routine. Hopping on a plane, a train or a bus might be your best solution.
Amongst many people, travelling is often considered worthy of your "paid time off" days only if done "proper" way. Flying across the world to explore different cultures, taste different cuisines and party at rooftop bars. Is this the only way to explore? I thought about this one night on a hostel rooftop in Agra, India. I sat at the table with fellow travellers and a guy from Delhi said he aimed to visit every state of India before he explored the world. Every one of its states has something unique to offer.
What if I asked you how many provinces/regions/states of your home country have you visited? How many of your neighbouring countries have you been to? Sustainable travel is a trend nowadays - what's more sustainable than hitching a train ride to a place nearby?
In 2020/2021 - many of us had no choice but to travel domestically. At some point, the majority of the world was shut down and borders were effectively closed.
Many of us ended up exploring our own countries. I did so too. I rented a van with a friend and explored the Eastern part of Slovakia. Places I've never been to before. Including tracking wolves on horseback in the forests at Slovak/Polish/Ukrainian borders.
Traveling around your homeland can be fun too.
People often crave the feel of the unknown. Naturally, doing something adventurous means something out of your comfort zone. The thing you are not familiar with, ideally on the opposite side of the world. Sometimes we feel that we need a place that is the furthest from our home to find ourselves. It may be true. It may not. Sometimes we find pleasure in exploring places right behind the corner. You may hop on a train and visit a region of your country you have never been to. Or go to a city 3-hour drive from your home town.
Kraków - Bohemian Paradise
The catalyst for this newsletter has been last week, as I spent a few days in Kraków. Located in Poland, yes, but just 160km from my hometown. The first time I visited was in 2021. I have been coming back since. As I was walking around Kazimierz last week - I realized what a gem this place is.
You hear people talking up Eastern European cities like Prague & Budapest. They are both profoundly known for their picturesque city centres, quality food & partying culture. Yet Kraków gets somehow overlooked.
More than 11 million tourists visited Krakow in 2021, with 10.4 million being domestic. This stat makes me think that :
- Poles love travelling around their home country and Krakow holds historical significance.
- More international travellers should add this place to their lists!
Kazimierz district may be one of the most unique places you will ever see.
When I walked down the streets of the city centre and around the Kazimierz district, I realised how special this place is. You don't see the tall skyscrapers or newly renovated buildings. It keeps its historic charm but brings a novelty to it. The bars, clubs & restaurants are set in the hundreds of years old buildings. The old synagogues were turned into great venues. The food offering has great variety, bars come to life in the night-time, and the music options spectres from techno through blues to rock-n-roll. The Wisla River offers a fantastic place to go for your morning run or an afternoon coffee walk.
Easy to interact with locals and expats. Whichever group you prefer. Somehow - I never thought that a place so close to where I grew up could be so different and offer such a great getaway spot.
So this is your reminder to never stop exploring. Be it on a different continent or in the same country you were born in.
