I created this website before traveling to Portugal in early 2020.  After returning home, the world changed significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel was replaced with endless Zoom calls and home improvement projects. Fortunately, we’re learning to live with COVID, and travel is once again possible.

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My first post is about the Algarve, the stunning southern coastline of Portugal.  New destinations and blog posts will be added over time, so check back for updates or join my mailing list.

 

I'm passionate about travelling and exploring as much as possible. Southwestern, Ontario, where I now live and work as a virtual assistant/website designer, is a beautiful area and great for visiting small towns and nearby beaches.  In my previous life, while working full-time in downtown Toronto, I always made the most of my non-working time, and even took advantage of lunch breaks. Biking around the Toronto Islands or kayaking down the Humber River after work are just a few ways I used to “vacation” in the middle of the week.  

 

Basically, I don’t think you need to get on a plane to take a vacation.  Rather, it’s a state of mind.  A vacation can be anything that takes you away and soothes your soul. A significant amount of scientific research suggests that exploring a new place can do wonders for your mental and emotional health. It makes ours mind happy and healthy.  

Researcher Filep Sebastian says that “the purpose of travel is connected with building social relationships, opportunities to learn and grow, and commitment. It gives us the chance to be truly engaged in an activity, to develop new skills and to discover new cultures. It brings us closer to ourselves and others”.  In other words, all the things we need to increase our resilience!

 

Another clinical psychologist suggests that it’s beneficial to our mental health to hold on to aspects of a travel experience or vacation that was enjoyable.  If you liked the food in a particular country, for instance, you could learn how to make it at home in order to recreate some of the feelings you had while on vacation.  Remember peaceful moments you had on vacations and recreate them in your everyday life. I find this advice to be useful, so I always keep a journal when travelling – even if it’s to write a short synopsis of each day.  It’s always fun to go back and read old travel journals from time to time.

 

I’m re-experiencing past adventures by creating this website. I hope you enjoy it and find it useful.  Feel free to contact me if you have a question or would like to provide any feedback.

 

Thank you and safe travels!

 

Gena