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.
I absolutely LOVE this story!! Sometimes I feel like travel days can start to blend together, so to remember the meal with vivid detail is so special. Thank you for sharing the story and I'm so glad that you were able to have that experience:)
"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. 💃🏻
Yes! This was mostly a reminder to myself as I will oftentimes (subconsciously) try to curate the perfect aesthetic experience which can be familiar and vibey but also completely miss the point of traveling somewhere near.
Envious of your travels to Japan and so happy you loved your time there
I’m biased but I truly think that Prague is a great city for an uncurated trip. The whole city feels like a hidden gem and there’s a mix of overwhelming beauty and day-to-day imperfections that makes it feel real. For those who haven’t been here yet, I highly recommend to add to your bucket list - just avoid the summer season!
Thank you for this!! For less ‘common’ recommendations, and if i’m staying in a hotel, I ask the staff and sometimes they have good spots.
I’d like to add that when you’re staying in a different country and solo traveling, it can be a bit anxiety-inducing to try less-reviewed places.
And on the other side of it, I live in a very touristic city and always see the tourists do the exact same things / have the same itinerary. Nothing wrong with that (except when my fave cafe gets suddenly swarmed by groups of people on a random tuesday when it should be empty), but… don’t people wanna discover by themselves? I’m guilty of it too and also want to see the landmarks / take aesthetic pics, but then you cannot feel the soul of the place and what it has more to offer (although mass tourism also plays a role here but that’s sth else).
my take is the best thing one can do when visiting a city, or anywhere really, is to spend hours just walking around exploring. I spent a few days in paris in october, and I left my phone in the uber on the way to my airbnb. I think it made my trip way better because I had no way to curate the experience, distract myself, or do anything for social media. I spent the entire time walking around and peoplewatching at cafes it was so beautiful, definitely one of my favorite travel experiences. I think that was the point I decided I need to get rid of my smartphone for good lol
I loved this piece on traveling ! It is so difficult to let go of what you see on social media and wanting to try it when you have little time in a place, but I think it's the same when you spend a long time somewhere : last summer I spent a month in NY, a rather long time in a city you might think, but NY is so big and wide, it felt like i would never have the time to try everything, and NY, like Paris, is really expensive, so I felt like I had to be wise on where I put my money. I'm not financially flexible enough to spend without thinking.
Also having all these places I wanted to try or visit, made me walk around. I realized that without having a place to go to, I was walking but with a little less motivation and found myself constantly wondering where to go. It's nice sometimes to do that, when you know a place, but when you don't really, a city is so full of streets, which one should you take ? I know it's exactly the point, but I found myself discovering more cool spots while having a goal, than when i was completely going without intention.
So mixing all these things together and you might end up with a map a little too full, but also many opportunities to come accross great places you might never I've come accross otherwise.
I guess like you said, the important thing is not to go after a preconceived image of a location and let yourself be surprised !
I could not agree more. As an obsessive planner, I've filled out entire Excel sheets of restaurants and activities I've discovered online when organizing a trip - only for the best memories of the trip to be the unplanned, unexpected ones. This piece has reminded me that I want to be more open and offline when I travel!
Hi hi. Loved this. I found it very interesting as I was just having my hair done last weekend, and during our usual vent sesh, my hairdresser mentioned how her trip to Dallas, Texas wasn't all that. We're in Toronto, btw, for context. She had this romanticized film playing in her mind of what the city would be like. Trips to get cool cowboy boots, line dancing and cool restaurants with amazing people, neon lights and all that shit. Anyway. She said it was just another city, somewhere else. The same H&M on the corner, the same boughie hyped up menus, the same tourist traps, and all in U.S. dollar which sucked ass. (because our dollar is so bad, so a $8 drink in USD is like $12 CAD) She said it was nice to get away, sure, but she didn't have an 'adventure', and I think many of us can relate to that experience. Personally, I've been to Paris twice and, unfortunately, had terrible experiences both times with the company I was with for a portion of each trip LOL. The city itself was beautiful though, like the most beautiful city EVER, and the second time around, I didn't even care to see the Eiffel Tower, I just wanted to walk and walk and take it all in whilst also avoid being robbed, so there's that. I hope you have a great trip and connect with yourself at both a google'd destination or a random corner your path takes you.
This was before our current social media landscape (back in 2009) but when I went to Italy as a teenager, the first city we visited was Venice. I had of course only seen the city in artwork & photos. I thought it was going to be my favorite place & this super romantic, beautiful city but the reality involved dirty water & feeling claustrophobic when away from the water. I also hate that I wasn’t able to fully appreciate it for what it is (still a beautiful, historic city) because of how I’d built it up in my mind.
I recently stayed in London for quite some time and also questioned why the experience was so similar to my day to day in the US and how weirdly “expected” it was… I realized that the only invariant thing was me myself. It was me intentionally seeking out the things I have experienced, imagined, or seen online to do - curating the trip to maximize my time there. I do find traveling with other people v different from myself helps as I get to see things in a different light although it might be curated by them.
Lived in Amsterdam for my studies, the tourist lines have become crazy there. Many places I used to visit are now only for those willing and being able to spend their time standing in line. Amsterdam is beautiful but I'd recommend also going to more local cafés and the typical 'brown' bars, maybe they aren't pinterest cute but they are unique and beautiful. Also live in berlin now and I just laugh at every video romantasizing this place.. like babe I regularly see homeless people poop in the street, shooting up drugs in the metra stations, filth on the street everywhere.. yes the city has cool sides but sadly a lot of bad sides too
this is what i've been feeling leading up to my first solo traveling abroad next week. i'm so anxious, fearing that i won't make the visit counts. thank you for the reminder of staying uncurated and grounded
Hi! Loved this article. Have you written about your month in Paris before? I’m interested in nearly the exact same experience you spoke about (spending a month in Europe working east coast hours) and would love to hear how you did it!
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.
I absolutely LOVE this story!! Sometimes I feel like travel days can start to blend together, so to remember the meal with vivid detail is so special. Thank you for sharing the story and I'm so glad that you were able to have that experience:)
"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. 💃🏻
Yes! This was mostly a reminder to myself as I will oftentimes (subconsciously) try to curate the perfect aesthetic experience which can be familiar and vibey but also completely miss the point of traveling somewhere near.
Envious of your travels to Japan and so happy you loved your time there
I’m biased but I truly think that Prague is a great city for an uncurated trip. The whole city feels like a hidden gem and there’s a mix of overwhelming beauty and day-to-day imperfections that makes it feel real. For those who haven’t been here yet, I highly recommend to add to your bucket list - just avoid the summer season!
Thank you for this!! For less ‘common’ recommendations, and if i’m staying in a hotel, I ask the staff and sometimes they have good spots.
I’d like to add that when you’re staying in a different country and solo traveling, it can be a bit anxiety-inducing to try less-reviewed places.
And on the other side of it, I live in a very touristic city and always see the tourists do the exact same things / have the same itinerary. Nothing wrong with that (except when my fave cafe gets suddenly swarmed by groups of people on a random tuesday when it should be empty), but… don’t people wanna discover by themselves? I’m guilty of it too and also want to see the landmarks / take aesthetic pics, but then you cannot feel the soul of the place and what it has more to offer (although mass tourism also plays a role here but that’s sth else).
my take is the best thing one can do when visiting a city, or anywhere really, is to spend hours just walking around exploring. I spent a few days in paris in october, and I left my phone in the uber on the way to my airbnb. I think it made my trip way better because I had no way to curate the experience, distract myself, or do anything for social media. I spent the entire time walking around and peoplewatching at cafes it was so beautiful, definitely one of my favorite travel experiences. I think that was the point I decided I need to get rid of my smartphone for good lol
I loved this piece on traveling ! It is so difficult to let go of what you see on social media and wanting to try it when you have little time in a place, but I think it's the same when you spend a long time somewhere : last summer I spent a month in NY, a rather long time in a city you might think, but NY is so big and wide, it felt like i would never have the time to try everything, and NY, like Paris, is really expensive, so I felt like I had to be wise on where I put my money. I'm not financially flexible enough to spend without thinking.
Also having all these places I wanted to try or visit, made me walk around. I realized that without having a place to go to, I was walking but with a little less motivation and found myself constantly wondering where to go. It's nice sometimes to do that, when you know a place, but when you don't really, a city is so full of streets, which one should you take ? I know it's exactly the point, but I found myself discovering more cool spots while having a goal, than when i was completely going without intention.
So mixing all these things together and you might end up with a map a little too full, but also many opportunities to come accross great places you might never I've come accross otherwise.
I guess like you said, the important thing is not to go after a preconceived image of a location and let yourself be surprised !
I could not agree more. As an obsessive planner, I've filled out entire Excel sheets of restaurants and activities I've discovered online when organizing a trip - only for the best memories of the trip to be the unplanned, unexpected ones. This piece has reminded me that I want to be more open and offline when I travel!
Hi hi. Loved this. I found it very interesting as I was just having my hair done last weekend, and during our usual vent sesh, my hairdresser mentioned how her trip to Dallas, Texas wasn't all that. We're in Toronto, btw, for context. She had this romanticized film playing in her mind of what the city would be like. Trips to get cool cowboy boots, line dancing and cool restaurants with amazing people, neon lights and all that shit. Anyway. She said it was just another city, somewhere else. The same H&M on the corner, the same boughie hyped up menus, the same tourist traps, and all in U.S. dollar which sucked ass. (because our dollar is so bad, so a $8 drink in USD is like $12 CAD) She said it was nice to get away, sure, but she didn't have an 'adventure', and I think many of us can relate to that experience. Personally, I've been to Paris twice and, unfortunately, had terrible experiences both times with the company I was with for a portion of each trip LOL. The city itself was beautiful though, like the most beautiful city EVER, and the second time around, I didn't even care to see the Eiffel Tower, I just wanted to walk and walk and take it all in whilst also avoid being robbed, so there's that. I hope you have a great trip and connect with yourself at both a google'd destination or a random corner your path takes you.
This was before our current social media landscape (back in 2009) but when I went to Italy as a teenager, the first city we visited was Venice. I had of course only seen the city in artwork & photos. I thought it was going to be my favorite place & this super romantic, beautiful city but the reality involved dirty water & feeling claustrophobic when away from the water. I also hate that I wasn’t able to fully appreciate it for what it is (still a beautiful, historic city) because of how I’d built it up in my mind.
Khruangbin, men i trust, blood orange. you came for all my artists and it sucks to say, but I'm here for it. Thank you for this share.
these are my favorite artists so i'm coming for myself too lol
I recently stayed in London for quite some time and also questioned why the experience was so similar to my day to day in the US and how weirdly “expected” it was… I realized that the only invariant thing was me myself. It was me intentionally seeking out the things I have experienced, imagined, or seen online to do - curating the trip to maximize my time there. I do find traveling with other people v different from myself helps as I get to see things in a different light although it might be curated by them.
Lived in Amsterdam for my studies, the tourist lines have become crazy there. Many places I used to visit are now only for those willing and being able to spend their time standing in line. Amsterdam is beautiful but I'd recommend also going to more local cafés and the typical 'brown' bars, maybe they aren't pinterest cute but they are unique and beautiful. Also live in berlin now and I just laugh at every video romantasizing this place.. like babe I regularly see homeless people poop in the street, shooting up drugs in the metra stations, filth on the street everywhere.. yes the city has cool sides but sadly a lot of bad sides too
this is what i've been feeling leading up to my first solo traveling abroad next week. i'm so anxious, fearing that i won't make the visit counts. thank you for the reminder of staying uncurated and grounded
Very interesting 🫶🏾🫶🏾 btw, is Parc Güell :)
Really good
Hi! Loved this article. Have you written about your month in Paris before? I’m interested in nearly the exact same experience you spoke about (spending a month in Europe working east coast hours) and would love to hear how you did it!