Obviously, traveling during this time of Corona virus is both unwise and unwarranted.   However, that doesn’t mean you can’t take a virtual trip to your favorite place or even explore a new one.   If you are an avid or amateur photographer or just live to experience “the moment” you can enjoy a trip from your home. We live in a wonderful time, in spite of this corona virus outbreak. With Google Earth and the internet full of pictures you can explore about any place on the globe. As a kid there wasn’t an internet, no google earth and only limited pictures in the encyclopedias so much of my images of places in novels were only my own mental creation, knowing what the location actually looked like was one of the hardest things I missed when reading the books of Robert Ludlum and others where the action occurred at across the globe.  

I like to explore new travel opportunities or re-live my previous travels in four key ways:

Travel Videos

Travel videos are a good way of enjoying and experiencing travel when you can’t really travel!  I have enjoyed the Rick Steves videos he has many videos that cover much of Europe.   While obviously, a 24-minute video can’t really represent a full day of sightseeing, I think they do capture many highlights for people to put on their “must do” list.  Unfortunately, he hasn’t really updated much of the videos since he originally shot them.   Some are Blu-ray but they are not different segments than on the non-Blu-ray discs.

I also like some of the Amazon prime/Netflix travel videos where the narrators typically dive a bit deeper into a town or area when compared to the Rick Steve’s segments.    These videos often give you a better sense of living the experience and show interactions with the locals.   I must admit I enjoy the videos taken by “everyday people” like the Footloose series compared to the ones by semi-celebrities where they get to enjoy lifestyles of the rich and famous.  Most people don’t get to enjoy all the behind the scenes or simply can’t afford the one-off costs.   Great for them to have the experience but I feel like it is a bit showing off to and condescending allowing the masses to get the knowledge without being able to have the experience.

Lastly, I have enjoyed touring the cities by taking a virtual walk.   YouTube has several 4K videos where you can walk with them as they tour a city.   I usually do this when on the treadmill but can be forced (Yeah right) to sit and watch the world slowly go by.  

With these videos you can re-walk many of the places you have previously experienced or explore from a street level what you could see if touring to the location.   I often use Google Earth to get a bird’s eye view, but I really like these videos as I get a familiarity for the location if I “re” or “pre” walk at street level.   I might even see a shop or two that I want to explore or understand great paths to locations I want to see.  

Movies/TV shows

My daughters absolutely hate it when I stop a video and point out the locations where we have traveled and ask them questions, but I do enjoy seeing movie locations where I have traveled and reliving the experience if only briefly. That first moment in time when you see and are standing near the Eiffel Tower or Tower of London is magical for most travelers. So seeing characters on the movie zip past these same iconic locations can transport you back in time.

Movies and TV shows have also made me WANT to go to certain locations.   One of the best was when Everyone Loves Raymond went to Italy.   I fell in love with the Cinque Terre and still plan to go sometime when this is all over.  Cary Grant was also good in Rome in Charade or Nice and Monaco with Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief.  

More recent shows such as London has Fallen or Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible Fallout also have lots of scenes that show iconic places in London and Paris.  One of my wife’s favorite movies is Under the Tuscan Sun with lots of beautiful scenes of Tuscany.   So much so, she planned a side trip on our latest family trip to Rome.   These locations should hopefully gain your interest in a location to explore and at times like this when we can’t explore help us to relive the experience.

Photo Collection

Today with digital cameras on phones taking pictures has never been this easy or this inexpensive.   Of course, if you have the opportunity/ability to spend a bit more on camera equipment you likely will be able to have even more options when taking travel photos.   Unlike yester year when film photography was expensive, take more pictures than you think is necessary. Have fun with the camera taking the traditional photos, the silly and the unsuspected. I always find I never wish I had less photos of a vacations but always wish I had more.    Unfortunately, this drives my wife (and co-workers) a little crazy, I try to prep them that I likely will stop every so often to capture a photo or video.   Most people are understanding, especially if you share the pictures with them!  

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Most people have either photo albums or digital images on their PC or stored in the cloud.   I have tried to organize these by date and activity to allow for ease of retrieval.   I have found that my wife and I access the digital files much more often and enjoy looking back at key activities that we have done and seeing our kids as they grew through the years.

Regional Food and Recipes

As you can see from my photos, I am not scared of food.   Food is also a way to connect, relive and appreciate cultures during our travels.     Therefore, it isn’t a big surprise so many people take pictures of their food at restaurants locally and while traveling.  

My youngest daughter loved Nutella crepes in Paris, I love saltimbocca from Rome, all my family likes the breads of France and Italy.    Of course, for me I would also include drink as well.   I love a good pint of an English beer, a Cote du Rhone from France, Brunello from Italy, ginja from Portugal, and Schnapps from Germany.   All of these and more can transport me back to a special place and time or make me long for an upcoming trip.    

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So, while everyone is stuck inside during the Covid-19 lockdown, take a bit of time to treat yourself to a mental trip around the globe.   I hope you all are safe, and this blog might help lift your spirits during this difficult time.   Enjoy your travels whether in person or even if it is just a trip down memory lane! I enjoy any feedback so don’t be shy!