Taking Spontaneity and Curiosity on your Travels through the Mediterranean…

Sometimes when we’re travelling, the richest experiences can often come when we allow ourselves to deviate from our chosen path and try taking spontaneity and curiosity.

We might have a plan in place, a rough idea of what kind of sites we want to see or places we wish to go. But it’s always important to allow your curiosity and better judgement to inspire the possibility of a change in direction. Get rid of the map or GPS and instead, be open to the idea of taking spontaneity and let your instincts guide you. Often they can present the most rewarding experiences.

church bells, Serifos…

Whenever I travel to Greece, I typically have a rough idea of where I want to go. There are exceptions, but my general rule is that I never visit the same place twice. I am hungry for new experiences and in recent years I’ve come to recognise a fundamental aspect to my character, I’m the type that thrives on the unpredictable and being outside my comfort zone. When I become too familiar with something, I quickly lose interest. It’s important for me to push myself into unfamiliar terrain. Whether it’s work or travel, I get the most out of my experiences through being uncomfortable.

dry herbs, Serifos…

Although these kinds of experiences can be had everywhere, the nature of the Greek islands lend themselves in offering a more effortless introduction to trying it out. If you’ve always been keen to venture off the beaten track but are a little apprehensive for fear of what lies ahead, the Mediterranean would have to be one of the greatest places in sampling this kind of experience for the first time. The humble nature of the people, the beauty of the surrounding landscape and its overall laid-back pace makes you feel a sense of ease in going with the flow from the moment you get there.

whitewashed, Serifos…

I had a rough plan during my time in Greece this year. There were some places that I knew I just had to get to. The rest I kind of made up as I went along. I filled in the gaps by allowing my curiosity to intervene and followed my instinct by trusting what my gut was telling me was the right thing to do.

rugged mountain ranges, Serifos…

When you pay attention and not succumb to feeling anxious, the outcome of what presents itself rewards you in the most unexpected ways. Allowing ourselves the flexibility to try taking spontaneity and curiosity, invites us to understand how much more impactful our travel experiences can be. Not everything went according to plan. I experienced a few bumps along the way – including almost going homeless for 1 night and blowing my tyre on the island of Nisyros. But these hiccups, enhanced and gave greater weight to my overall experience of the place because these hiccups allowed for a greater connection to happen between the locals (who helped me out) and the island I was travelling through, which imprinted the fondest memories that I will associate between the two forever.

wall detail, Serifos…

Set your path, but allow yourself to deviate. When we get caught up in having a strict agenda, we miss out on the magic that is awaiting to reveal itself and has the potential to heighten our overall experience. Go left instead of right, take the uphill path instead of the downhill one. Venture on the road that looks like it’ll lead you nowhere. Travel with a sense of curiosity and trust that the path you are taking is inviting you to broaden your horizon. All my wrong turns during my travels have led me to the most memorable experiences. From breathtaking scenery to heartfelt conversation in the most unexpected places, each decision resulted in uncovering something else about the island and all that I could have missed out on had I not been more willing to just let go…

Thinking of travelling to the Greek islands? Contact me HERE

Happy travels…Paula x