Travel inspiration- culture, history, literature, word of mouth?

We gather inspiration for our travels from books we read, history, events (like an opera at the Verona arena) and our own interests. We mainly travel to hike, and that has taken us to some wonderful places. My husband’s interest in rowing has taken us to Lake Bled, where he joined a Masters’ competition, and to Henley-on -Thames, where he rowed the famous course, as part of a lesson that included a tour of the famous Leander Club.

One warning for you about Guernica—- I could not keep myself from weeping when I stood in front of that painting. Take tissues.

@lola
I understand. I was actually thinking the same thing. Such a monumental piece. To see it in person in situ would bring on such emotions. For me too- staring at it up on my wall -the poster -for 3 years trying to understand and look at every single detail. Every single detail. Then to actually see it in person. To me- it’s like going to a concert with The Rolling Stones or U2 but so so so much more significant. I don’t want to be disrespectful but just trying to explain from me. This is my experience. It’s really a superstar moment for me I believe.
Thanks so much for your response. I love that you were able to do very personal things on your trip that resonated and meant so much!

I get a lot of travel inspiration from music. A group I sang with did a program of 17th century Portuguese music, I wrote the program notes, and I later found myself in Portugal tracking down places important to the composers involved. Another example is when I visited Monteverdi’s grave in the Frari church in Venice - he’s one of my favorite composers. Many people had left flowers, someone had left a note, and there was a music stand with the Bass part of a Monteverdi Mass I had helped sing. I got plenty misty-eyed.

Curiosity plays a large part as do “word of mouth” reports from friends and family. I speak Spanish well enough to get around so Spain was always high on “my list.” We have traveled to most of the countries in Europe and also have traveled in Asia, Africa and South America. I have strong desires to return to Asia and Europe ; we haven’t traveled internationally since COVID began.
I first saw Guernica when it was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY City for many years to protect it. Picasso wanted it at The Met until Spain re established a Democratic Republic.
Guernica returned to Spain in 1981. I have since seen it at Reina Sofia. The first time we saw it in Spain there was a political demonstration in front of it.
Certain places we have visited tugged at my heartstrings and we have returned to them.
Santiago de Compostela is one of those.

@amann I wish Cleveland was still a hub! So happy you get great flights!

@inbsig that is so interesting… thinking about Lisbon for 3 nights next year. Your experience is so fun and such an amazing experience. You are very accomplished and I hope you have an amazing time!

@suki
Thanks for your update. I’ve read lots of your posts on here and thankful for your advice! Thank you.

Maps. Yes, maps.

Love it David! I always do that first, too!

Different things inspire. I worked in a public school office and part of my job was to help the staff and parents. We had a new teacher one September of Polish descent. We became friendly and she would tell me about Poland. Then we had a few families from Poland register and we would talk. Such lovely people. Next thing I knew I was telling my husband our next trip would be Poland. It was a wonderful 3 week trip. Before I retired we hired a woman for the office and she is from Sevilla. Talking, talking, etc, next trip in October is Spain.

I am drawn to mountains, not beaches. Years ago, I was on a mission trip to Guatemala and one of the people in our group was a world-class long distance trail runner. His specialty was crazy races - like 100km at high elevation. He was itching to run up the volcanos in the area, but it was not allowed. We started talking about his travels. He’s been everywhere. When I asked him his about his favorites, he said “Lake Bled, Slovenia.” I’d never heard of it, so I started researching. The next year, we ended up spending 3 weeks in Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Italy. The whole trip was spurred by my desire to see this wonderous Lake Bled. And we fell in love with Slovenia.

I’ve always found myself back in Austria, Bavaria and the Dolomites. I just watched RS Scotland three part videos and must go now.

Interesting question, and I’m thinking back over my last five trips to see if I can explain my brain - LOL! I know it isn’t literature or history (except when we went to see Normandy) or word of mouth.

Sometimes it begins with a country that we haven’t visited, yet. That was the case in 2017 when we went to Spain. And yes, Guernica is sobering to see in person! I read the history of it when I was researching the trip, so it was important to see it while we were in Madrid. By the way, we loved our time in Spain!

In my mind I usually have a few itineraries rattling around, waiting for the right year to do them. I may work on an itinerary for a month, and it just doesn’t “feel right”. I set it aside, switch to another country, and that one clicks in my mind, and we go with it. I know it was that way for Spain and also for eastern France. Both of those itineraries worked perfectly for later trips.

Sometimes my husband travels with me and sometimes I travel solo. If it’s a solo trip, I will be searching for classical music experiences, festivals and usually cooking classes or food tours. So, maybe I could summarize that as hobbies - the senses of hearing & tasting and cultural experiences drive my inspiration. I absolutely love going to the smaller cities off the main tourist route - the adventure of trying out a language I have been studying and being in what I call authentic settings!

If my husband is coming with me, we both enjoy scenic places, so those will be more lakes/mountains and a mix of city sizes but more of the mainstream ones. Those trips are more inspired by what we will see and share together.

I’m fortunate to have almost two different types of travel inspiration drivers depending on who is going on the trip.

If a band we likes is doing a Europe Tour we might say "Hey so and so is playing in Barcelona.. wanna go?" and use that as our inspiration. Also our heritage, Husband is Scott/Irish and I am Spanish/Basque so Spain, Basque, Ireland and Scotland are on our lists.

Natural beauty - Southern France and Villefranche sur Mer on the Mediteranean Sea, Sorrento, Italy and the Amalfi coast, Santorini, Greece
History - London, Paris, Rome, Pompeii, Athens
Music - Mozart in Salzburg and Vienna, Vivaldi in Venice
Religious sites and churches - the Duomo in Florence, St Mark's in Venice, the Duomo in Milan, Notre Dame
Family history - the Cornwall coast in England, Amsterdam - the Netherlands
Food - French cuisine, chocolate in Switzerland, Italian and Greek food

Thank you posters! I loved all of your responses.

Thanks, I hope that each of you are enjoying this thread as much as I am. Such fun to read!

Lisa (your travel bud) ; )

I focus presently and in the past primarily and overwhelmingly on France, North Germany, as well eastern Germany since 2009, and Austria, particularly Vienna. The inspiration : French and German culture, music, language, history, literature , and the food as reasons see the churches, museums, memorials, and the singular sites, etc.

This means always returning to Berlin and Paris. Going to Poland and Budapest provide further incentive, let alone reasons, for returning.

Bottom line is there is a ton to see if just in France and Germany.

https://www.barcelona-life.com/barcelona/shadow-of-the-wind

I just happened to see this- a Barcelona literature tour for “The Shadow of the Wind” tour for the amazing Barcelona based book that was written by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I’m taking it! How exciting to see it come to life. Literature inspiration.

I love art! Art Inspiration. I will go to the Picasso and Miro museums and all of the Gaudi! Oh Antoni can’t wait to see your La Sagrada Familia. Park Guell and also Casa Vinces, Casa Mila, Casa Batlo etc.

I’m also stuck for days deciding either (solo travel no driving) the Dali day tour to Museum and Cadanques OR Monserrat. I unfortunate have to decide one or the other I don’t want to take too much time away from Barcelona.
But how could I not see the whole Dali day! I love Dali and his crazy bohemian mind.

How could I not miss Montserrat? No offense to anyone, I’m a lapsed Catholic but l love love love the Christian churches and the holy sites. So so important.

Wow I think I may have taken this off track, sorry!

Just my $0.2

Please stick to the original topic unless you have some good thoughts about this?
Thanks so much for your responses!

Since I was a young child I have always wanted to travel and to see the world. I will go just about anywhere, as long as it's safe. I love just about everything: history, culture, art museums, history museums, coastal scenery, mountain scenery, big cities, small villages. One of my primary interests and loves is Europe; I live in MA so getting to Europe is easier than many other places, except for the US and Canada. And I am of Polish and Ukrainian descent. I wanted to see the big cities first, so I've been to London, Paris, Rome, Madrid and others. Visited Prague and Barcelona when our daughter studied there for a semester. Visited Poland when we were in Prague because of my Polish heritage.

Other reasons I choose a destination: Just recently returned from Greece. Why Greece? I was there in 1972 and only saw Athens and Delphi. And ever since I have wanted to see more of Greece. My husband had never been there. In May we visited Santorini, Naxos, Nafplio and Athens. Greece has so much to offer: islands, beaches, history, ruins, delicious food, fresh fish, etc. The list is endless.

Visited Montana last year to attend a family wedding, and we included enough time to visit Glacier National Park. Wow!!! The scenery is spectacular!

Hoping to visit Scotland in 2023. Why Scotland? We have never been there, and we are going primarily for the beautiful scenery, castles, and history. Hope to visit Budapest this fall. Why? Never been there but it looks beautiful and so interesting.

We have been to China several times. Why? My husband is Chinese and was born in China. The culture and history and scenery is amazing and so very different from Europe. The most exotic and unique place I have visited is Xinjiang Province, especially Kashgar and the Karokorum Highway.

So, I guess in a nutshell, I want to visit places I have never been as long as they are safe. Sometimes I am intrigued by other people's trip reports and photos. That may help me put certain places at the top of my list. I have a very loooong list!

PS. Picasso's Guernica is amazing! We saw it at the Reina Sofia in Madrid in 2017.