OK… so I know it’s only for a couple of weeks and I know I’ll be as safe as houses BUT, I can’t help but have the same feelings of nervousness and excitement from when I was departing Australia over 12 months ago. In case you haven’t been keeping up with me on facebook and twitter, I’m off to Spain for a couple of weeks of leisure time.
Travelling again after having settled into London life is an exciting proposition, if only to escape the grey skies that pass for summer and soak up some real sun rays. What I never expected as the trip drew near was how I would feel about going. On the one hand I’ve successfully navigated some 14 countries in Europe and can’t wait to see more but on the other I’ve got butterflies as big as aeroplanes flying around in my stomach.
Why am I nervous? I’ve backpacked before and conquered my fears of travelling foreign countries. I’ve been lost, almost got kicked off a train and got caught up in a number of drunken adventures and still found my way home each night. Every fear I had before I began my travels has been conquered or re-shaped into a tiny ball that it no longer worries me. So am I just mistaking a case of the travel butterflies for the excitement of seeing a new country?
Honestly I can’t answer that until I arrive in Seville later tonight. Where I have to get myself from the airport to my hostel and order my first meal in yet another country I’ve never been.
What I do know however is that even after living abroad for so long and having travelled around Europe on my own, the thought of travel still leaves me with the same rush of feelings of a first time backpacker. I’m excited to explore Spain and meet up with some travel blogging friends along the way, I’m excited to be exploring another new country and admiring the culture and history of the place, I’m excited to meet other people at the hostel and once again start the roundabout of making new friends for a couple of days.
So while the travel butterflies perform advanced acrobatic maneuvers in my stomach causing me to doubt myself I know it’s a good thing. I’m pushing my boundaries again, breaking the mold and ever so slowly growing that bit more self-confident.
How about you, what is it like to travel again after putting down roots for a while. Do you get all excited and nervous like I am or are you such a seasoned traveller now that you take it in your stride and jump at the chance to be anywhere but home?
Photo Credit: Creative Commons 2.0 bobrayner
Travel butterflies are the best! Since returning from America 7 months ago, I have been living a mundane life that makes me want to stab myself in the eye with a fork.
As soon as I decided to do the big Euro trip next year, the butterflies came back, and gave me a sense of purpose and excitement back in my life.
Butterflies aren’t a bad thing, just anticipation reminding us to live a life true to our desires.
I always get travel butterflies before going to a new place. It’s great. It reminds us we’re alive! Can you imagine if we were all blase about travel? “Oh yes, going to another new country today. Ho-hum.” How awful would that be?
I love those sensations of trepidation and uncertainty that accompany travel to a new place. I love the rush, the giddy anticipation, the lightheaded euphoria of it all. I think they’re a natural part of travel. I totally agree with Gray: for those of us who love to travel, those “travel butterflies” remind us we have something to live for.
I have stopped to “rest” in Buenos Aires, and somehow I’ve been here for 3 months. 3 months! And when I think about starting to move around again and see the rest of Argentina, Chile, etc, etc, I get butterflies too. I’m excited to get moving again and have those moments where I am speechless from the natural beauty I am surrounded by. But there are definitely nerves mixed in there as well.
I used to get serious anxiety about travelling months out – before I went on my RTW, I had regular panic attacks. I so needed to get over myself! 😉
Am much more laid back about it now and the butterflies only kick in the day I have to fly, and I think that’s partly because I hate take-offs so much! It’s natural to get nervous whenever you’re going outside you’re comfort zone, even if it’s to do something you’ve done before because when it comes to travel, it’s always a bit of an unknown quantity 🙂
I don’t want to wish time away, but I am itching for June 28 when I touch down at Heathrow!! It’s the knowledge that I’m traveling again soon that’s keeping me going through this bumpy transition time O:-)
Enjoy Spain!
After college I am going to start planning my next trip. The thought of being able to travel again is enough to give me butterflies 😀
I’m exactly like you Chris. I feel like every time I travel I have to remind myself that I conquered my fears last time and that I need to do it again. Asia was a huge deal for me, like OZ to UK for you, and yet I’m already starting to get the ‘nervous fears’ for Africa in 2 months. From your tweets though, you sound like you’re enjoying yourself so congrats =)
ok. tell me the story about how you almost got kicked off a train please…
I still get butterflies too. Even while we are traveling. If we have settled down for a month or so somewhere and it is time to move on, the butterflies flare up again. I think that is why I never tire of travel. No matter how long you do it, you are still stepping into the unknown every time you move on. Have a great time in Spain. I hope your back to London in time to meet up before we drive away on the Mongol rally. Cheers
The day I DON’T get travel butterflies is the day I look for something to take its place! Isn’t it the double punch of excitement/terror what makes you realise you’re alive? And what makes the experience worthwhile??
A great, thought provoking post!
I get butterflies a lot before I travel even though I’m on the road constantly. I hope yours go away quickly! Have a great trip!
I love butterflies. They are really so cute and stunning. However, when it comes to travel butterflies, i don’t get that a lot since i’ve got no time to travel though i wish i had more time to do it. Thanks for sharing this one.
Dude, Im in España. I love it. After my luggage got stolen in Florence, I´ve decided against getting another UK working visa, and I think I will move to Spain and learn Spanish instead.
I´ve been in Madrid for over a week, and today I´m off to Run with the Bulls. If you wanna include me in your meetup/tweetup/drinkup just let me know when and where.
Great entry!
I think the day I stop feeling that nervous excitement is the day I give up travel for good. It’s a big part of the appeal.
I still get butterflies. If I didn’t, I think it’d be time to retire as traveler – what would be the point of adventure if it’s not exciting and a little scary anymore?
I definitely get the butterflies, especially after settling somewhere for a period of time. To me it means excitement and fear – something that I need to walk through….It is always an experience!