‘Three Bays Over’ has become the official catch phrase for
my online identity. While ‘Three Bays Over’ encompasses the essence of what I
believe travel represents, it actually isn’t my story. The meaning behind it
was inspired by a friend and further elaborated by yours truly.
My story began in a beautiful town where tourists flooded the beach. Not a fan of crowds I decided to explore the local shops and eateries instead. While wandering the streets I met some locals just about my age. We exchanged greetings, had a few laughs, and before I knew it I made some fresh new friends. Even though I’m a tourist I started to grumble at the fact the beaches were swarmed. My new friend gave me a sly smile and said, “That beach… it’s for the tourists. Just go down the main road, take a right, travel ‘three bays over’ and that’s where you’ll find the real spot.”
‘Three Bays Over’ represents more than just a place, it
represents going off the beaten path and finding the essence of the culture. Traveling is a personal experience, where
every individual will discover something unique, and have his or her own
stories to tell. While smiling in front of a famous landmark is awesome in its
own right, traveling is more than the pictures you take. Just like life,
traveling impacts every person differently and it’s about that specific
subjective journey and moments of encounter that really stick.
When I was in high school, my older sister traveled around
the world with Semester at Sea and as much as I tried to imagine and live
through her experiences, I realized it was impossible. I couldn’t live through
her memories, travel blogs, or the pictures off Google images; I needed
memories of my own. That’s when I knew that no matter what happened, I was
going to see the world, breathe in the smells, and feel the moments for myself.
The most beautiful thing about traveling is the stories you bring back and as hard as you may try to imagine destinations far away, there is no other
experience more precious than when you finally get out there and see the world for
yourself. My best memories come from meeting new people who open up and share their
stories or show their secret places. This blog is
dedicated to my stories and is a way to share my personal experiences, but you
can’t live through my stories. I urge you to go out there and discover stories of your
own. Go off the beaten path and find your own version of ‘three bays over.’
