Happy New Year & lessons from 2023 đş
plus the Eiffel Tower, banished words, and a city that's 11,000 miles away
Hey, Itchy Feet friends!
Itâs Daniel Catena here again.
First-things-first. You rock! đ¸ This newsletter wouldnât exist without your support.
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Alright folks, letâs get to it.
The last edition focused on something very important about the holidays.
Todayâs post is officially the first of 2024! Happy New Year, my friends! đ
The first post of 2024 could go in many directions, but letâs start things off with some reflection from last year.
Hereâs what traveling taught me in 2023
Travel lighter than you expect:
2023 was my year for carry-on luggage. I realized you donât need seven pairs of underwear and three pairs of shoes to travel anymore.
Hence, I upgraded my travel experience by downgrading from checked bags to just a carry-on.
By bringing fewer items you travel lighter, save money, pack faster, and focus on essential travel packing items only.
Leave your comfort zone more:
Itâs easy to ignore people and listen to music when we fly, take the bus, or travel next to strangers.
However, you never know whoâll meet if you donât make an effort.
To be honest, talking to strangers makes me uncomfortable. Sitting next to them on a plane can be even more challenging.
However, last year I made some new friends on airplanes.
One was a man from Peru who was about to meet his Brazilian girlfriend for the very first time in person.
The other was a couple from El Salvador going to visit their sons in Santiago, Chile.
I learned about their countries, relationships, and about myself.
In the end, I discovered that no matter where someone is from, weâre still human beings. We all breathe the same air and want to be loved.
Next time you travel, maybe say hi to the person next to you and see what happens. đ
Bonus: Pack your own food:
If youâre flying domestically, chances are very good you can take delicious snacks with you. And probably TSA wonât throw them away. It beats overpaying in the airport.
In 2023, my best friend Jack sent me off with some slices of NY pizza after I visited him in the Big Apple during the summer.
They were the best send-off meal ever. (thanks Jack!)
I also learned that food was my favorite gift to give and receive in 2023.
Now itâs your turn!
What did travel teach you in 2023? Fill out the form, Iâd like to hear from you!
âď¸ Travel(ish) Quote of the Week
âI realized early on that success was tied to not giving up. If you simply didnât give up, you would outlast the people who came in on the bus with you.â
-Harrison Ford
đ§ Did you know?
7,000,000. That is how many visitors đŤđˇ Parisâ world-renowned Eiffel Tower receives each year. This is according to the Eiffel Towerâs official website.
It was built in 1889 by French civil engineer Gustave Eiffel. The monument took two years, two months, and five days to complete. Mr. Eiffel designed the famous tower for the Exposition Universelle to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution in 1786.
It was meant to remain standing for only 20 years, but it has since converted into a beautiful symbol for the country.
It was initially saved for science experiments: It served as a radio transmitter in 1898 with the Pantheon (2ish miles away). A permanent radio transmitter was installed in the tower and by 19808 it had a 3,700 mile range. Radio kept the tower from demolition.
If youâre not in the mood to wait in line at the Eiffel Tower, feer not.
Wikipedia says there are over 50 versions of the tower around the world!
If youâre in the US, then check out the monument in Las Vegas (NV), Mason (OH), Doswell (VA), or at the EPCOT theme park inside Walt Disney World (FL).
⊠Culture Corner
Language is one of the most notable aspects of a civilizationâs culture.
To start 2024 with some reflection, letâs take a cold hard look in the mirrorâŚ
Wait for itâŚ
âŚat the English language.
English is constantly evolving with new terms being added to the Oxford English Dictionary each year. Oxfardâs top words of 2023 were:
⢠parasocial (adj)
⢠heat dome (n)
⢠de-influencing (n)
⢠beige flag (n)
⢠Swiftie (n)
⢠situationship (n)
⢠prompt (n)
Word of the Year: Rizz (n): This is the middle part of the word âcharisma.â Itâs the ability to attract another person through style, charm, or attractiveness.
On a hilariously similar note, below is the Lake Superior University Banished Words List for 2024.
These are words that were overused, misused, and simply lost their meaning last year.
hack
impact
at the end of the day
rizz
slay
iconic
cringe-worthy
obsessed
side hustle
wait for it
đ City Showcase
Since this weekâs Culture Corner stayed close to home, letâs go extraordinarily far away for the City Showcase.
According to City Extremes, Vacoas-Pheonix in Mauritius is one of the farthest destinations from San Francisco (the city thatâs closest to my home).
Itâs 11,222 miles away and takes about 27 hours by plane to arrive.
Thatâs pretty darn far.
First of all, where is Mauritius?
The Republic of Mauritius is an East African island country located in the Indian Ocean. Itâs known for its gorgeous beaches, snorkeling, wildlife (flying foxes), and abundance of nature.
Its âneighborâ is Madagascar to the west, but even itâs 700 miles away.
Mauritius also has a reputation for being a luxury destination for travelers, so itâs geared for visitors with an inflated budget.
Its most common language is Mauritian Creole. 95% of the population is either Indian or Creole (African roots).
Vacoas-Phoenix has another name: Villes Jumelles. This means Twin Cities in French because at one point Vacaos and Phoenix were separate towns. As of 2017, its population was 106,183. Itâs only ten miles from Port Luis, Mauritiusâ capital.
The town is an oasis for hikers.
Nearby natural attractions include the cascading Tamarind Falls and Trou Aux Cerfs Volcano. The latter is dormant and offers incredible views of a tree-filled crater.
Within 30 minutes (by car) you can spend the whole day at Casela Nature Parks.
Itâs the biggest theme park in the country.
It features 1,800 animals in fun zones ranging from Pangea, Animal Kingdom, Walk with Predators, Thrill Mountain, and African safari.
Itâs great for families and adults.
Flic en Flac Beach is only minutes away from Casela Nature Parks. It features luxury hotels, white sand beaches, and a relaxing atmosphere for all sorts of travelers.
So, if you have the time and resources, consider Vacoas-Phoenix!
Alight my fellow Itchy Feeters, our newsletter is pulling over at the next gas station until next week. â˝ď¸ đ đ´
I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Chat again soon!
Sincerely,
Daniel
Come back to NY in 2024 and I'll send you off with much more than Pizza!! ....... KATZ