Why write about travel during a global pandemic?

A bit of ancient inscription in a font we all know well. We're all in this together.

Dear Readers,

I hope this blog post finds you and yours well. You might have noticed that things have been rather quiet on my blog, Allora, Andiamo! Given the pandemic, I was torn about whether I should keep writing about what it means to travel Europe alone as a woman over 40. I didn't want to appear unaware of how much people, families, businesses, towns, and nations have suffered as a result of COVID-19. Widespread travel bans are not only keeping us all from the far-away people and places we long to see - they are also costing many of us our livelihoods. I had to ask myself if it was ethical to create posts about leisure travel while living in a world that is concerned with how we can get ourselves to and from the grocery store safely, effectively home-school our children, or get access to routine medical care.

But after many weeks of weaving my own way through this period of unprecedented disruption, I realized that one of the things that makes this a little easier to bear is the fact that we are all in the same location, no matter our proximity to one another: our home. The whole world being in the same place at the same time has helped me feel - connected! And it's very much the same sort of connection I feel during and after travel.

For me, traveling alone is about feeling connected to a wider world, while also living independently. It's given me greater confidence in all areas of my life by reminding me that I can manage myself well in unfamiliar circumstances, even when I'm not sure of the time zone or the meaning of most of the words that others are speaking. Traveling has never just been about escaping by physically moving through space. It's also been about honing my ability to sit still in radical acceptance of the swirling world around me. And deeply appreciating the beauty in that.

All of these skills and experiences are what I am leaning into right now to help me get through this. They keep me feeling connected and centered in a drastically shifting landscape. So, I decided to keep sharing some of my thoughts of what it means to travel, not in spite of the fact we can't do that right now - but because of it.

Thank you for your continued readership! And keep on the lookout for a new blog post, coming to a screen (very) near you.

Wishing you health and connection,

Kelly of Allora, Andiamo!