Some days, I just can’t do the tourist thing. Travelling is tiring and it really takes it our of you – it’s only taken me about 7 years of regular travel to realise this of course. Sometimes, I’m just not up for the traipsing about and taking in new and interesting things. Shameful I know. But I’ve learnt not to always push and sometimes give in to what my body is asking me for…. Rest!
I spent 3-4 days in Germany on this particular visit and had 2 nights at my cousins’ house in Erlangen. They are a family of 4 with 2 teenage girls who are attending the International School. It’s a busy time in the lead up to Christmas so they didn’t have a lot of time in the days but we could spend the time together at night.
My cousin kindly pointed out some lovely nearby towns and some great ways to kill time by myself during the day and see some beautiful locations, Bamberg and Forccheim. She gave me maps, train directions, even tickets for the train to get to where I was going. However, when it came to it …. I just couldn’t be bothered.
I woke up at 8am on the Tuesday morning and felt truly run down. My head ached, my lips are extremely dry from the European Winter and my nose was running like a tap. I just rolled over, turned off the alarm and went back to sleep. My intention was then to catch a train about 1pm, giving me a good 3 hours in Bamberg to explore – a solid day out still. However, when the time came – I just couldn’t snap out of the headache and the low feeling. My younger cousin was home and gave me instruction for the trains again and I then had the intention to leave at 3ish, giving me time to see a little of the place and read my book on the ½ hour train there and back, also so I would make it in time to go out with the family that night.
But, I walked out of the house and I really couldn’t bring myself to do it. I walked around the pretty Erlangen, visited the Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas markets) and had some yummy mushrooms. Come 5pm when I returned to the house I was feeling even more tired- I guess sometimes the weary traveler needs a rest!
My cousin said no shame in resting some times. I’m travelling for 6 weeks, I guess I’m going to need a down day or 4! We planned instead then to go and see something the next morning as she had half day off and we could go to Forccheim. However, come 8am when I said goodbye to everyone else in the family –I simply wanted to return to my bed and stare out the window at the dreary sky we were presented with this day – my only solace in that as I was otherwise being a very lame traveler indeed.
Back to bed until 12.30! Really, I must be exhausted as this is not the Traveller Em that is usually out and about- with age comes wisdom I guess, and on this occasion it was wiser to stay in bed and rest.
Remember when you’re exploring the world – it’s a big place, and there are many things to see. Most of them will be there another day – so don’t beat yourself up if you have a day where you lay in your bed and watch the sky. Rest and relaxation is also part of travel and there is always, another day.
Lovelly Travels 