Travel Treasures

I have had the great fortune to travel throughout the world. I have been able to tour 25 countries, all very different in economy, terrain, sights and culture. I’ve watched eels slither in a Shanghai market, snorkeled in Montego Bay, and searched for the monster in the black waters of Lochness. I’ve been blessed by the Pope outside the Vatican, cried over the graves of young Americans buried in Normandy, and been followed by armed guards in the streets of Morocco. My travels have included one adventure after another, and each memory is a true treasure.

I am always amazed at the unique beauty of each country I have visited. I thought the view from the highlands was the most breathtaking I’d ever seen until I reached the top of Mt. Pilatus in Switzerland, and that the waters were no more crystal than off the coast of the Cayman Islands until I experienced the sparkling blue that lapped the shores of Capri.

The fragrances are just as extraordinary. The tart lemons in Pompeii; the black and foamy coffee in Turkish cafes, and the woody wines of the Burgundy vineyards all scent the air and entice the visitor.

And the flowers—well; they paint the country side with color. Miles of golden sunflowers turn their heads to the sun, thousands of blue and pink hydrangea balls line the pathways down to the beach in Biarritz, and the red poppies dot the fields and pop from every crag and crevice.

Even the wildlife colludes in creating charm. Millions of butterflies flutter throughout Assisi, playful but determined sheep dogs herd tinkling goats up the mountainside, and hundreds of white swan mount the shoreline of Lake Lucerne to visit tourists who stand ready with aromatic bread.

The beauty is indeed pervasive, and it extends to the people. I have more often than not found that stereotypes about various peoples are wrong or at least exaggerated. The French can be really helpful; the Germans can sound soft and encouraging, and Middle Eastern men can treat their women with respect.

How is it then, with all this beauty, that prejudice and resentment can even exist, much less flourish? I once thought that only Americans were bashed abroad, but it turns out that it is far more common that foreign neighbors are highly critical of each other. In fact, one of my tour directors was sure that the best part of the European Union was that it prevented war that might not otherwise be inevitable.

There is such beauty in the world, and we seem to be able to figure out how to appreciate it. I wish we extended that ability to appreciating the beauty in other people who may seem different than us and may even look different from us, but who share the same need for love, respect and acceptance.