It is pretty amazing to think about all the people who have touched and influenced our lives in some way over the years. I am quite certain that most of us do not realize that by telling stories about our lives and our travels, sharing photos and by simply having day to day conversations with people, we are in some way enriching their lives.
Working for Wells Gray Tours is more than just providing travel for our customers. Every day in our office is a different and exciting experience and it is because of everyone involved; our customers, our fellow staff members, and even people we speak to on the phone or meet for the first time.
It is always fun listening to people talk about their travels; the landscape, the food, the local people and especially the culture they experience while they are away is always fascinating to me. It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you have been, it is always nice to share what you saw and were a part of on your adventures. Many of our clients will make a special trip or phone call to our office to share their stories with us which we can then pass on to others who are curious and we haven’t even had to leave the office to do it!
Photos are a wonderful way to share travel stories with other people. To be able to see exactly what someone is describing to us in colour, right away while they are telling their story is always exciting. Photos can often ignite that travel spark in us that for one reason or another may have been hidden away or put on the back burner. With technology being as advanced as it is, but in many ways quite simple to use, we are able to see photos easily and instantly which makes us feel like we have been transported and are right there in the moment with whoever is sharing them with us.
Our tour directors are very diligent about sending photos and comments to us to share with you on our Facebook page while they are still away on tour which is almost like being right there with them! We even have a regular Wells Gray Tours traveller who, after every tour he takes with us sends in a beautiful collage-style placemat of his photos with a detailed legend and explanation of every single picture!
Remember the good old days before iPhones and digital cameras, when we had to pack a ridiculous number of rolls of film with us and wait until the vacation was over to have our photos developed? In the meantime, we were hoping and praying that the majority of the pictures turned out! I remember when I was a kid, my parents would go on Windjammer cruises with a few other couples they were and still are friends with. After they got back and had their slides developed, they would all get together in someone’s basement for the slide show and laugh for hours telling stories of their cruising adventures. They still talk about these vacations to this day and I suppose they always will!
Here are some of the benefits of travelling for you to think about:
- Break Out Of Your Shell
- Learn a lot about yourself
- Gives you new perspectives
- Gets you out of your comfort zone
- Embrace New Cultures
- Learn about new cultures
- Learn appreciation for these cultures instead of criticizing their differences
- Enjoy Life Like You Never Have
- Travel can be a form of escape
- Wide range of experience
- Just go for it!
- Satisfy Your Cravings
- Enjoy the local food fare
- Try renowned dishes
- Learn A New Language
- Get your brain working
- Meet New People
- Shy people often come alive when they travel
- Make new lifelong friends
- Admire Your Surroundings
- Satisfy your passion
- Gaze at the sunsets
- Take in museums and galleries
- Enjoy the architecture and history
Travel is an incredible thing for those of us who are willing to and lucky enough to be able to experience it. Even if you think you have seen and done it all, maybe you should think again! There will always be something new and fabulous out there for you to discover!
Written by: Terri Wirtz
