It’s that time of year again in Canada; the middle of winter when we live for a glimpse of sunshine to brighten the day. Even those who don’t necessarily love traveling are yearning for an escape from the winter blues. For most of us, travelling is not an option right now, whether it be for a cultural experience, an adventure or an escape. However, dwelling on what we can’t do or where we can’t go won’t help, so let’s focus on what experiences we can have and make the most of them.
The online world has become flooded with virtual tours and experiences. It’s time to take advantage of what’s out there, if you haven’t already. Start learning about your next bucket list spots now. Of course, nothing will compare to walking up to the Colosseum or Taj Mahal and seeing it with your owns eyes for the first time. Why not explore from home for now? Amaze yourself with what you can see and learn from your couch, then impress yourself all over again with all the knowledge you’ve gained when you finally lay your eyes on that bucket list sweet spot.
One of my favourite discoveries so far has been the virtual tours from girltraveltours.com. These tours are free with the option to tip the tour director after. So far, I’ve been blown away with the wealth of knowledge and experience of the tour directors. You can sign up and watch the tours live or browse through the previously recorded tours. Lots of options, easy on the bank account and a quality experience that will help satisfy that travel urge.
Take this opportunity to discover what it is about travelling that you really love.
Is it the food? Take an online cooking class and try out new recipes from your next destination. Check out travelingspoon.com and gain a new appreciation for what goes into every dish before getting to taste the authentic meal while sitting in a local restaurant.
Is it the architecture? Try a virtual 360° tour and take your time focusing on the parts that really grab your interest. For example, check out Golestan Palace in Tehran, Iran, on 360cities.net.
Is it the culture? Hop on YouTube and learn the basic steps of the argentine tango or how to properly tie a sari.
I recently had the opportunity to enrol in a virtual experience which had me in a live zoom room with a genuine wine maker named Pierluigi in Tuscany, Italy. He shared stories about his vineyard, Tenuta Torciano, and about his family who have been making wine for 300 years. I was able to ask questions, laugh, learn how to properly taste wine, and pretend I was right there in Italy interacting with a local while sipping on my glass of Italian red.
Nothing will ever replace the real rush of exploring countries and culture in person, but we are fortunate enough to have many resources at our fingertips to continue exploring and learning virtually. This is from someone who is not a fan of technology or sitting in front of a screen but will do what I can to continue experiencing the world around me. Almost every point of interest in the world has a virtual option these days, it’s just a matter of finding what will temporarily satisfy your Fernweh.
Don’t feel like searching through all the virtual options out there? Contact me today and I’ll do all the searching for you.
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