✈️ An unexpected joy found at airports (besides flying!)
Plus: Bank holidays, Nordic trolls, & Zanzibar inspiration
Airports belong to traveling like yule logs go with Christmas.
They’re deeply connected.
Without airports, we wouldn’t have the luxury of seeing most parts of the world.
Many people I’ve met have a strong dislike towards airports.
Yes, they can be crowded. Delays and canceled flights can be a nightmare.
But there are two reasons (besides flying) why I thoroughly enjoy airports.
There’s the thrill of anticipation
If you’re going to an airport to travel, the best feeling is when you’ve passed the security checkpoint.
You’ve put your shoes back on, your travel snacks are intact, and you can let the sense of “oh my gosh, I’m about to travel” sink in.
The weight of all your planning can finally get off your shoulders.
Getting to this point can sometimes require a lot of effort. It’s here, the moment you have everything, and ready to find your gate, where you get the first fruits of all your dedication.
For me, it’s always a feeling of joy, excitement, and wonder.
Airports are where you reconnect with humanity
At airports, you encounter people of all shapes and sizes. They’re one of the best places to people watch – but not stalk!
If you’re in a major airport like LAX, JFK, or London Gatwick, you’re in a melting pot of different cultures.
When you fly internationally, each gate can feel like a taste of a different country. In minutes, you can walk by Rome, Madrid, and Rio.
It’s incredible.
For me, the most powerful part of an airport isn’t at the gate – it’s in front of arrivals and departures.
Here, you see families, parents, husbands, wives, kids, cousins, and friends welcoming and saying bye to people they care about.
We’re in an era when it’s becoming easier to lose touch with the human side of things.
Every time I find myself in these parts of the airport, I get brought back to earth.
You see emotional hugs of “welcome home after all this time” and “good luck with your new life.”
It can make you want to cry for many different reasons, but it’s good to feel those emotions.
I personally love these sections of an airport because they remind me that deep down, we’re all alike.
I also remember to appreciate the people who choose to be in my life.
📚 Travelish quote of the week
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did.”
-Mark Twain
🤔 Did you know?
Nepal is the world leader in bank holidays.
According to Condé Nast Traveler, there are a staggering 39 bank holidays each year in this Himalayan country.
To put this into perspective, the United States has 8 bank holidays per year!
🎏 Culture corner
With Christmas right around the corner, I found an interesting Icelandic tradition:
putting a shoe on a windowsill for 13 nights.
For many, Christmastime in Iceland starts on December 12. According to folklore, each night until December 25, the children in Iceland are visited by a different Yule Lad.
Yule Lads are the sons of a Nordic troll named Grýla.
If you’ve behaved well, then they leave a gift in your shoe. If you misbehave, they leave you a rotting potato!
Families will leave a plate of crispy flatbread called Laufabrauð as a snack for the visiting Yule Lad.
🌍 Fun things to do in Zanzibar City
Zanzibar City is the capital of Unguja Island, a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania in East Africa.
It’s on the western shore of the island, sitting along the Indian Ocean. Most people know both the island and the city as Zanzibar. The city is a hub for international travelers.
According to Rome2Rio, the fastest flight to Zanzibar from San Francisco is about 20 hours with at least one layover.
The Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is where you’ll land.
Some facts about Zanzibar
It’s 22 miles off the coast of mainland Tanzania.
Zanzibar is part of a 50-island/islet archipelago
25% of the region’s economy comes from tourism
According to Wikipedia, the region is 98% Muslim, so it’s important to be aware of cultural norms.
Swahili, Arabic, and English are the primary languages.
The Swahili people are the primary ethnic group.
What to do in Zanzibar
🔹 Wander Stone Town:
Stone Town is the historic city center and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As the name implies, most of the buildings are made of stone.
It’s considered the last ancient town in East Africa.
Its history of spice, silk, and slave trade brought African, European, Arabian, and Indian influences to the city.
🔹 Spice it up:
Deeply rooted in the spice trade, the island has the nickname “Spice Island.”
Spice tours, cooking classes, spice markets, and other experiences are available.
You can visit a spice plantation to witness the harvesting process. Clove, nutmeg, cardamom, and turmeric are some of its signature spices.
🔹 Hit the beach(es):
Basking in the sun at an idyllic beach under a majestic palm tree is very doable in Zanzibar. Find some beach ideas here.
🔹 Explore in the water:
The coast off of Zanzibar is a major snorkel and diving hotspot. Surrounded by coral reefs and diverse marine life, you can experience a very unique side of Zanzibar.
Bawe Island and the Chumbe Island Coral Park are a couple (of many) places to go.
🔹 Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park:
Located 25 miles from Stone Town, this is Zanzibar’s only national park. On a guided tour you can discover 50 species of butterflies, 100 species of exotic birds, and the red colobus monkey (endangered and only found in Zanzibar).
Inspiration was taken from the travel blog Our Planet in My Lens.
Ok friend, that’s a wrap for today’s post.
Thanks for supporting my newsletter and for being here. I’m honored by your presence.
I hope you have a very happy holidays and see you next week for a fresh post.
Take care and chat soon.
Much love,
Daniel
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Daniel I've been looking for other Substackers who live in Latin America. Happy to have found you. I love airports for some reason. The anticipation of being in a brand new place in just a few hours has always been so exciting. Plus I love the thrill of takeoff.
I love airports. Got it from my mom who, if given the choice of one layover or two, would always choose two. Or three. More flights for my money, she would claim.
I used to fly from Mexico to the USA a couple times a year for work which usually included at least one event presentation. I found that choosing a long layover helped me transition from my work in Mexico to what lay ahead.
US airports always feel so modern, there would always be something new and (for me) unexpected. Like the bathrooms with their foamy soap and hot water. Spend six months in Mexico traveling and you'll know what I mean.
And of course, the people watching!
Fun article!