Why you should let yourself get totally lost to supercharge a trip.
Taking a calculated risk can create the best memories
Hey everyone, before getting started, I want to give a loud shout-out to the 119 subscribers of this publication! You help Itchy Feet get off the ground. 🛫 Thank you!
In case you missed it, the last post was about sustainable travel. You can read about it here.
For this edition, let’s talk about something just as important…
Intentionally Getting Lost is One of The Best Travel Hacks
Nowadays we have every resource under the sun to help us travel better:
• Google Maps
• Rome2Rio
• TripAdvisor
• The list continues
Although they’re wonderful tools, each has the same flaw:
They take the adventure out of the, well, adventure.
If you’re like me, you want a trip full of amazing memories. You want stories to tell your friends, family, and kids one day.
Sure, these tools help you plan. But sometimes life is better when you don’t have any plans at all.
My friend Wagner said it perfectly:
Come without a plan and let the experiences come to you.
In other words, instead of forcing life experiences it’s best to save some room for uncertainty and chaos.
You never know who you’ll meet or what kind of experiences you’ll have.
In other words, this could be a goldmine for memorable experiences.
I tried this out in 2016.
One day I found myself with a one-day layover in Barcelona. As I walked out of the Passeig de Gràcia train station, I decided to play a game:
Find a hostel without using my phone.
I didn’t know where to go, so I was getting myself lost.
I could’ve tapped a few buttons on my screen, but this time I decided to do things the “old-school” way: I’d ask random people who walked by me on the street.
At first, I was extremely nervous. Soon it became fun.
Finally, I reached the top of a residential street after only thirty minutes of wandering.
A nonchalant sign hanging above the door of a two-story apartment read “Hostel One.”
I was overjoyed.
A burly front desk attendant was friendly and all the guests were passionate travelers from many walks of life. It was a gem of a find and I’m still fond of the discovery today.
How to get lost on purpose
Getting lost on purpose can take many forms. In my opinion, here are some general rules for the game:
• Know where you want to go. (I knew I needed a hostel)
• Do some research on the surrounding area. (I’d already been in La Gracia before so it was semi-comfortable) Or scan your surroundings.
• Pick a neighborhood with a lot of foot traffic and commerce.
• Don’t choose places that seem sketchy or where you feel unsafe.
• It’s daytime.
• Let loved ones know where you are first.
Back to you: How do you add excitement to your trips? Comment or respond to this email!
🚀 Travel Quote of the Week
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose."
- Dr. Seuss
🤲 Did You Know?
June 19th in the United States is considered by many as the country’s second Independence Day. Happy Juneteenth everyone!
It’s a day to remember the end of slavery in the country. It’s a moment to remember the horrible acts committed during slavery. This day also represents the ongoing fight for social justice and equal rights in our country.
On this important date in 1865, the Civil War was in its final days. On June 19, Union soldiers freed a quarter of a million slaves in Galveston Bay, Texas. This was the last Confederate stronghold of plantations that still used Black slave labor. Once these slaves were free, the war was all but over.
The following year, African American communities throughout the US began celebrating this extraordinary moment.
Juneteenth became a national holiday in the US in 2021.
🎏 Culture Corner
Nepal is famous for a slew of different reasons. It’s home to the tallest mountain on Earth (Mount Everast at 29,032 feet) and has an abundance of exotic animals like Bengal tigers.
However, perhaps the most exotic creature of all that lives in Nepal is famous in the country’s folklore.
For Nepalese, the yeti is a mythological creature that lives deep within the Himalayan mountains.
The term “yeti” is a combination of the Sherba word “yah” which means “rock or cliff” and “teh” which means “animal.”
Other names for the yeti in Nepal are “Ban Manchi” (man of the forest") or “Mirka” (wild man).
However, historians and people debate about what the animal looks like. There are depictions of the yeti as a sumo wrestler, a cuddly bear-like animal, or a white-haired ferocious ape.
In Nepalese folklore, the yeti is used in stories to teach kids good morals and give warnings for inappropriate behavior.
The yeti isn’t just known in Nepal. This storied figure is well-known in a half-dozen like Pakistan and Tibet.
🌆 Five Things to Do in Bucharest, Romania
Over the years, I’ve heard lots of great things about Bucharest but never knew much about the city.
Many people call the Romanian capital “Little Paris” or “Micul Paris” for different reasons. The cosmopolitan city is home to countless buildings with French-inspired architecture. There’s even a French-influenced Arcul de Triumf.
It’s the cultural and commercial hub of the country.
How to get to Bucharest from the US:
Rome2Rio says the fastest route from San Francisco to Bucharest takes approximately 17 hours. First, you fly to Istanbul then a second flight to Bucharest Otopeni – OTP airport. The airport is around 30 minutes from the city center.
Local Currency:
The leu (RON). One USD equals 4.65 RON.
Fun things to do in Bucharest
• A plenitude of parks: Throughout the city, you can take a break and recharge in nature. Examples include Parcul Izvor & Parcul Cismigiu. Casmigiu is the Bucharest’s version of Central Park.
• Wander Old Town: Dating back to the 16th century, Old Town is perfect for exploring on foot. You can find cafes, traditional Romanian restaurants, pubs, and many nightlife options here. You can also find Cortea Veche, the residence of Vlad the Impaler, who inspired Dracula.
Also: Dracula’s actual castle in Transylvania is a day trip away.
• Visit Parliament: The Palace of Parliament is the second-largest building on Earth! It’s 12 stories high and 3.9 million square feet in size. There are 23 sections to the massive building complex. Daily tours are available.
• Stavropoleos Monatesery: Explore one of Bucharest’s oldest historical sites built in 1724.
• Get lost in glorious books: Booklovers will regale in Carturesti Carusel or “Carousel of Light”. The three-story 10,000-square-foot foot building is a gem. Built by a wealthy Greek family, the former Communist government confiscated the building and converted it into a general store. After Communism fell, the building was abandoned but later returned to the grandson of the original owners, who then created the famed bookstore.
I haven’t been to Bucarest yet, but know how to research. Do you need help planning your next trip? Let’s work together!
Have a great week. Thanks for reading Itchy Feet. Stay tuned, I’ve got some fun interviews coming up!
Much love,
Daniel
P.S. If you really liked this post, please share it with friends or give it a like! It helps this publication grow. Thanks!
Those unplanned side trips can change the whole game!!
I love the idea of intentionally getting lost. I traveled in Europe a lot in the 80s and sometimes wonder how I got anywhere. Now I live here and turn on my navigating system to take a 3 hour drive, or even a 5 minute walk in a city I don't know. Of course, my family had no idea whatsover where I was on my trips in the 80s and 90s. How times have changed.