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Meg Bird's avatar

I want to say YES 100x. Traveling memories for me are usually only the things that occur completely spontaneously. I was traveling on the coast of France a few years ago, in the smaller village Rouan. I had mapped the whole day, including the restaurant with (of course) stellar reviews. We got lost in the meandering streets for quite a while but I tried not to stress, tried to be present. Finally we found the little cafe on my itinerary, or so I thought. It was the best meal of my life—one I can still recount in such detail. I can even see the menu with the dish I ordered, Poulet à la Normande. But I wasn't surprised, this place had great reviews! When we left, so full and so happy, we turned the corner and ran into a line of people. Waiting at a different cafe. The cafe we had been looking for. You put into words the sentiment I felt that day and have since felt. Internet vibes can only take you so far, but an uncurated, serendipitous experience 🤌 perfection.

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Cynthia Girardin's avatar

"We should be careful when we come to a city to not be trying to chase “an aesthetic vibe” — my fear is falling into the trap of the chronically online version of boomer “resort” travel." - This is staying with me! Thank for writing this piece Tina 🧡 When we came back from Japan two months ago after being there for 3 weeks, I realized we hadn't done most of the aesthetic or chronically online things you are "supposed to do" when you are there, and I can't say how much I loved my time there!!! There's a certain freedom in not giving a flying turd about curating your travel experience and it's addictive. 💃🏻

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