There’s this article in Forbes that has made its way around in recent years about how science tells us that we’re happier when we spend our money on experiences and not things.
We may be preaching to the choir here, but as someone who has spent the last few decades traveling the world and collecting memories and experiences, I can say that I wholeheartedly agree with this. That isn’t to say that I don’t also buy things (especially when I’m traveling), but the memories I have are worth more to me than any souvenir I may bring home.
Here are just a few memories I have from this past year and the trips I took…
- We took an incredible cooking class in Portugal, and I can still remember how much my sides hurt because I was laughing so hard at our friends and tour guests who were doing Julia Child impersonations while they were cooking. I was crying I was laughing so hard! The whole night was wonderful and the group not only had a great time together, but cooked an incredible meal that we all enjoyed.
- We always plan to have amazing meals on our trips, but one night on our Carcassonne tour our dinner ended up being at a restaurant where the Chef has a Michelin star! We were expecting a good meal, but we ended up with a multi-course, gastronomic experience that we’ll never forget. You can bet that restaurant will be on every Carcassonne tour moving forward!
- Spending my birthday sipping wine at an outdoor cafe in Portugal with my good friend and tour leader Carla, and being so thankful that I get to travel with so many wonderful people.
I hope that next year you’ll be able to create new memories of your own! Join us on a trip or two and experience more of the world with us.
– Jean