Way back when, somewhere between the first and second time bell-bottom jeans became fashionable, I made a Bucket List. On that list, I put three places I wanted to reach before the age of 50. They were Alaska, Japan, and Norway. The list also says that I must learn to play a musical instrument or speak a new language.
At the age of 49, I had been to none of them, nor had I learned an instrument or a language.
But, I am not one to run from the mighty dictates of my bucket list and so I resolved to not be in this country for my fiftieth birthday. At first, I investigated doing an Alaskan cruise. Somehow I came to the conclusion that I could go anytime to Alaska. I also concluded that Japan was too far away. So Norway it was. Why Norway? No idea. Most likely I saw an advertisement and became enthralled.
Bryggen, Norway
I had a number of decisions before I even bought a ticket. Would I get on a tour bus, would I go by myself or try to persuade someone to go with me, suppose I got sick on the way?
I arrived in Norway on the 21st of July, three days before my 50th birthday. In the process. I scratched another thing off my Bucket List. Despite suffering a sickle-cell crisis on Sunday, 23rd July brought on by overexertion (almost worth it!!), I had the time of my life. Norway met and exceeded all of my expectations. I could try to describe it but, pictures are worth a thousand words. To see for yourself click the link under ‘Resources’.
Mountain shrouded in mist
Expectation vs. Reality
A trip of a lifetime is, exactly that. While I’d like to, it is unlikely that I will ever have the opportunity to travel to Norway again. All of my focus after the promotion exercise, money that I’d saved up, years of dreaming and hoping were all tied to this one trip.
A trip of a lifetime means that we want everything to be just as perfect as they are in the glossy travel magazine ads. Nevermind that we’re aware that the picture was taken at just the right time, in just the right weather and then Photoshopped. The reality is that it is unfair for any destination to carry such unrealistic expectations of perfection.
I remember 20 years ago standing under the eaves of a shop in downtown Nassau, looking out at the pouring rain and wondering if I’d be in trouble with my boss for staying out so late after lunch. An American tourist turned to me and asked, “Why is it raining?” (For reasons unknown, this is a common question) I shrugged and mumbled something about it being the rainy season. “Our travel agent said it never rains in The Bahamas!” she said as an accusation. This is why you shouldn’t take advice from anyone working on commission.
In short, we want a fairy tale. More accurately we want the fairy tale that the country we’re visiting sold us. Realizing that such a perfect place doesn’t exist is bad enough but to find out that the country is dirty, the people rude and the atmosphere threatening will guarantee a horrible vacation, no matter the scenery.
What I Learned
The Bahamas and Norway have consistently been listed as some of the most expensive countries to live/visit. While I’m not sure what visitors to Norway routinely say about the country, I do know that visitors to The Bahamas often complain about not getting value for money as it relates to service. For many of our visitors, The Bahamas is that “trip of a lifetime” and it is a duty to bring their stay as close to the perfection that they imagined and that we advertised.
Ancient Stave Church in Norway
Gold Key Tips: “When overseas you learn more about your own country than you do the place you’re visiting.” – Clint Borgen
“I have known a great many misfortunes but fortunately, most of them never happened.” Mark Twain
Stop putting the trip of a lifetime off. Plan it. Do it.
Resources:
How I traveled: Globus Journeys
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