Travel Memories - Ten Little Things I Want To Repeat
Despite only being a few days into the UK ‘Stay At Home Saves Lives’ regime I don’t think I am alone in letting my mind drift beyond the confines of my home to places further afield.
One of the amazing things about the human memory is it can conjure up those travel highlights and transport you there in an instant.
As I have been doing that this week, it’s not been the ‘high octane’ experiences which have come to the fore but the myriad of sensory based experiences which remind me of a memorable moment (often ones I’ve experienced many times) and which I’m looking forward to repeating when we emerge out of this ‘pause’.
Here is my top ten.
(1) The sound of a Boeing 747’s undercarriage as it is lowered on the approach to JFK. Despite living in Manhattan for 10 years and returning regularly, that sound signals the arrival into my favourite city. It’s a sound that never grows old and no matter how sleepy I am it instantly triggers a wave of eager anticipation.
(2) The smell of lavender knowing you are in Provence and heading away from the coast and into the Alpes-Maritime. They say smell is the most powerful of the senses and for me it’s lavender which is the most potent transporter.
(3) The sight of an Aperol Spritz being placed in front of me by an efficient Zurich waiter. Come the warmer weather there is no better place to sit in serried ranks all facing towards the street watching the world go about its business.
(4) The sound of the evening call to prayer in Karachi combined with the smell of cooking smoke and an evening light which doesn’t seem to be replicated anywhere else in the world. It’s a combination that makes you release that you are truly somewhere different and full of adventure.
(5) The taste of the first Negroni after a busy day of meetings in Milan. Ideally on your own watching the city wind down and transition from business into leisure.
(6) The sight of every face in Valletta, Malta wondering how many people I am related to as they scurry around narrow streets. Such a resilient little island with a population to match.
(7) The preciousness of time you feel when visiting Hong Kong. Every second in bed seems like a second wasted. With something to do around the clock it’s what I call a ‘three shower city’, using hot shower pit stops to restore you and get you back outside - people to meet, things to see, food to eat.
(8) The sound of the SNCF jingle when you emerge out of the Eurostar in Gare du Nord, Paris. If you are a certain age and remember travel before the Channel Tunnel there is something magical about that sound.
(9) The smell of Baltic Sea air as you walk around the Old Town of Tallinn, Estonia - if you’ve lived inland most of your life the smell of the sea is so distinctive but walking around this cities fortifications makes it all the better.
And (10) ? Well that’s an easy one. The feeling of your own house key as it turns in the lock and you get home after a trip. As much as it’s fun to travel it’s always good to get home we just need to get used to that home feeling for a little bit longer. Travel will wait.
Meanwhile stay home and save lives.
Mark Izatt is a brand consultant living in London and founder of Mission Critical, a highly focused and curated weekly briefing for time poor and information hungry decision makers and THE FIRST, a monthly briefing containing 31 inspirational insights. Mission Critical is a digital product delivered via his Estonian Consultancy business.
