As we anxiously and hopefully await the day we can resume our travels I have spent much of my downtown thinking about why I travel. This article, although written a while ago, succinctly expresses how I feel about it, and why I cannot wait until its return.
We recently spent a day in Berlin Germany visiting as many non-sites as we could find. By non-sites I mean those locations that were important during the Second World War and the Cold War that followed but that no longer really exist. Hitler’s bunker is now a parking lot and the Berlin wall, although parts are still erect as a memorial, can only be imagined by following a marked path through the city. We ended our walking tour with a visit to the Brandenburg Gates and it was there that the day became memorable.
We arrived at the same time as a caravan of deafening motorcycles flanked by a local police escort. They were Russian, appeared more outlaw than recreational, dressed in black leather and old military uniforms and draped in the conspicuous orange and black of the ribbon of Saint George. They were descendants of the soldiers of the Red Army that conquered Germany in 1945, coming back as they usually do on the anniversary of that day, May 9th, to reflect, remember and possibly give the one finger salute to a country that caused them much loss and pain so many years ago.
We didn’t necessarily comprehend what we were seeing at the time, we just knew it was significant. A little research later helped to fill in the gaps of our understanding. When we talk about Berlin it is these few moments that remain foremost in our minds.
While in Copenhagen we paused on our way to Rosenburg Castle to watch a parade pass by. It was without a doubt, one of the most interesting parades I have ever been at. The gathering was in support of cannabis and its uses. Whether or not it cures cancer is debatable but since only medical use is legal in Denmark this parade extoled its curative benefits.
In Helsinki we stood on the steps of the Lutheran Cathedral to watch a peaceful demonstration about American interference in NATO. With the use of Google Translate we were able read the signs and better understand the message.
A square in Seville was crowded with over one hundred young people admonishing for climate change. Their chants and signs did not require translation as their passion relayed the message clearly.
While in the same city in Spain, on the same day, the streets were teeming with folks in town for a football match. Supporting their favourite team by proudly displaying their colours and logos these two warring factions competed with each other in song and chants. Fireworks competed with the exuberant shouts, jarring the touristy crowd without really unnerving them. It was all in good fun and the excitement was infectious.
It is moments like these that add a different dimension to your travel day. No matter how far from home you are there are universal issues impacting all of us. Respecting freedoms like speech and congregation may seem standard in Canada, but it may not be in other countries. Appreciating not only the history that influences other cultures but also their current climate makes for a richer travel experience.