Unless you’re living under a rock you likely at least saw this week’s solar eclipse on TV. I thought it was interesting to hear people’s reactions to the eclipse. Ann and I went, along with our families over to Norfolk to see the event. Glasses ran out long before the actual event started, but luckily we had one pair between the 5 of us and others were very willing to share.
It was an amazing site when viewing the eclipse with the glasses. Otherwise, it really did seem like a normal day here in Coastal Virginia, even with 88% coverage. It made me realize that without the proper planning two people can have entirely different experiences in the same situation. We run across this a lot when planning vacations for our clients.
I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard a client say that “all the Caribbean islands look the same” after returning from a cruise. When I ask more questions I find out that instead of taking a tour of the island to learn more about the culture, the history and meet the people that they simply walked around the tourist shops on the pier and then went back to the ship for lunch. Of course they all look the same! I encourage you to get out and meet the people who live there, ask the shop workers where they go to lunch and then go try it! You’ll most likely find yourself a few blocks off the main tourist drag enjoying a authentic local food rather than ordering from a tourist menu.
What about the family that travels to Rome and spends the day walking around the city, but not wanting to take the time to wait in line for entry to the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum or Pantheon. They will likely return home unimpressed with Rome and all it has to offer. Compare that to the experience the family has who allows us to customize their itinerary to the interests of the family members. We arrange a private guide to meet them at their hotel early in the morning and walk them through the neighborhoods as they begin to open the markets for the day, they visit the market and it’s merchants, gather items to make a wonderful fresh meal with a local chef and finish off the day by sitting around the table enjoying both the company and the meal. They are then treated to a private tour of the local sites and enjoying the Sistine Chapel after the crowds have gone for the day. Those two families are going to have completely different experiences and stories to tell when they return home.
If you take the time to learn about the places you wish to visit before you are actually there you’ll appreciate the sites around you and actually know a bit about what there is to see. While I agree that there should be some time to wander with no schedule, if you’re not prepared you’ll end up returning home not having noticed the beauty and awe inspiring moments that you missed. Similar to those who wandered outside for a few minutes Monday afternoon without solar glasses and didn’t think the eclipse lived up to the hype.
The point is really to get out and immerse yoursef in the diverse cultures that abound. Opportunity is out there, but you need to take the first step and set up a complimentary consultation to get started. Click here now and finally turn “someday” into today.
Want to read more content like this? Sign up here: