Travel, for me, is my very own (albeit rather muted) way of pretending I’m an adventurer. I love exploring new places, capturing the moment, getting lost in a new city (although, not whilst desperate for the toilet – it wasn’t my finest moment) and seeking that sense of adventure that previously, I have only experienced as a child, pretending to be somebody else for the day, in a little world of make believe.
Royal Caribbean are offering a very special prize to one extremely lucky (and wander lusting) blogger, inviting them on a month long holiday – exploring tonnes of exciting European destinations and capturing the experience in their own unique way. To be in with a chance, bloggers have to divulge their “most WOW travel experience…”.
Although narrowing my travel catalogue (which still has lots of places to be ticked off) down to just one story was no mean feat, without a doubt, my most memorable experience would have to be a trip to Paris last year (full post here), which ignited my love for exploring once again. Armed with little other than a overzealously packed suitcase and a terrible sense of direction, I set off with a girl I’d met only once before. We had arranged the trip on Twitter, after discovering that we both had an urge to visit the capital of France and although I was nervous to find out whether it would be an enjoyable trip – or at the least, if we’d get on, the weekend break was a resounding success.
Making a new friendship whilst discovering a new city is undoubtedly one of the most exhilarating experiences ever. We visited a shopping district called the Marais on our second day, sealing our friendship with a lock on the famous bridge, before dining at a four-seater restaurant with a stunning view of the Eiffel tower which we found lurking up a winding street. We discussed family (which at the time was a rather turbulent subject for us both), friends and life ambitions, all whilst climbing to the top of the Arc De Triomphe (not to be recommended after a heavy lunch) and stayed up until the early hours finding our way back to the hotel – where unbeknownst to us (until we were woken up by thousands of screaming girls), Justin Bieber was also staying at the same time.
The past two years have seen me travel to some amazing destinations, but there’s always more exploring to do. Whether it’s alone or with a friend, I am the biggest believer that travel is the best way to open your eyes, follow your dreams (as cliché as that sounds) and educate yourself about the world. I’ve never been on a cruise before, but I am excited to hopefully take on a new challenge – and blog live whilst doing so.