Traveling as someone who can’t see all that’s happening around you, makes travelling a different experience. I often get asked how I enjoy holidays to new destinations if I cannot see all the surrounding architecture or natural beauty. The simple truth of the matter is that I don’t see all of that, but I take a look at travelling from a different perspective. It’s all in the smell and taste. The concept may all different foods, you can take in the culture and sounds and smells on a much deeper level than the average person.

I have noticed by the conversations I have with the people I travel with, that they don’t focus on the same aspects of the surrounds as I do. I feel slightly more connected and grounded to places when you get to experience them from different perspectives. I like zoning in on the different accents around us and listen to the types of phrases they say or all the things that they have experienced in the same area. Listening to the different types of music that is playing in different restaurants or walkways. Focusing on the smell of each new place we enter. Foods and aromas of what is being sold or eaten.

Talking of eating, this trip, I have made sure that I could taste different food from different cultures. Again, this gives a full experience of the places you visit. Giving a sneak peak to the life of people of other cultures and traditions, expanding knowledge and experiences of the world.

I have decided that I might just become a vegetarian when I get back, as all I feel that I have done on this trip is eat. Since my other senses have compensated for the lose in my sight, it makes the experience of tasting, smelling and hearing way too easy. This makes trying new foods, a little too good. It is actually really dangerous.

I have one life rule which I have often spoken about and referred to. This being that I will live with no regrets, so make sure not to miss out on different experiences. This definitely includes trying new and interesting foods. We tried Thai food, traditional pastries, well known cakes and ice creams and obviously other traditional food in the places we passed by.

No matter how much I eat, somehow the amount and variety of new food and experiences keep coming. I swear I have put on an extra seventy kg’s but we won’t focus on that. Instead, I would convince you to take a look at the photos of some of the food we have tried.  I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that before you leave for the next trip, do some research of the traditional experiences or food that you can get where ever you go. You don’t want to say, ‘I should have’ once you have reached the end of the holiday. Make sure that you take it all in.  Not only what you see but focus on the sounds around you and smell what is in the air. It makes the trip feel so much more worth it when you can take in as much as possible. I purposely tried staying off social media for the most of the trip. This makes it feel like you can really be in the present moment of the holiday, not missing a second because of being worried about a few texts or status updates. Don’t have any regrets, especially when you might not be able to experience those things for a long while again.

“Once destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller…

Delicious Thai Curry at “Spicey” the Algarve Marina

Lasagne at Italian Republic in Algarve…

Pasteis Nata we had in Fatima, Lisbon after visting Our Lady of Fatima Church where many pilgrims visit…

A traditional sandwich “Francesinha” from Porto… delicious….

In Porto we tried some Port and Pastel de Bacalhau at the Casa Portuguesa do Pastel De Bacalhau…