More than a passport stamp: why I travel

If you look at my passport, you’ll see a collection of stamps that tells a story. But it’s not a story about places I’ve simply been; it’s a story about feelings I’ve collected, perspectives I’ve gained, and the vibrant, humming energy of our world that I’ve been lucky enough to absorb.

My journey has largely been a love letter to the sun-drenched rhythms of the Caribbean and Latin America, with a soul-stirring detour to the misty Highlands of Scotland. Each country has been a different verse in the same beautiful song about why I love to travel.

There’s a certain magic that hits you the moment you step off the plane. It’s the scent of sun-warmed earth and blooming bougainvillea in Costa Rica, a country that lives and breathes pura vida. It’s the irresistible pulse of salsa flowing from a Havana side street in Cuba, a place frozen in time yet bursting with life. It’s the sheer joy found in the reggae beats of Jamaica and the calm, turquoise embrace of the sea in Barbados.

I travel for these sensations. I travel for the taste of fresh ceviche on a Panamanian beach, the rich, dark coffee of Colombia’s lush hills, and the smoky warmth of a fine Scotch whisky in a cozy pub in Scotland, where the history feels as deep and ancient as the lochs.

But more than the sights and the flavors, I travel for the people. It’s in the resilient smiles of the Dominican Republic, the vibrant and colorful streets of Mexico, and the genuine warmth of a conversation with a stranger anywhere from Panama City to the Scottish Isles. These connections are a powerful reminder that despite our different cultures and customs, our core desires for connection, joy, and a good story are universal.

For me, travel is the best kind of education. It’s a lesson in history, in music, in geography, and, most importantly, in humility. It pulls you out of your bubble and places you squarely in the vast, beautiful, and complex tapestry of the human experience. It teaches you that there are a million ways to live a good life.

My map is dotted with incredible memories, but the world is still wide, and the list is still growing. The adventure is in the journey itself—in the constant, wonderful pursuit of finding a new corner of the world to fall in love with.

Where should my next stamp be from? The world is waiting.

Pauline McGinn