Nick's Odyssey

If you told me 10 years ago I would be starting a blog about all of my journeys I would’ve thought you’re crazy. International travel was such a scary thought to me. It seemed daunting and most of all expensive. That was until everything in my world changed… I met my future wife Courtney. An avid adventurer who has a love for finding new destinations and trying once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

In early 2020 (we’re talking right before COVID-19 started), 3 months into dating, Courtney talked me into going to the United Kingdom for not 1, but 2 weeks. At first, I was apprehensive about going for multiple reasons. 

First, the flight would be the longest flight I’d ever taken. Plus I have a fear of heights, so flying is not my ideal form of transportation. Second, how would I act abroad? Are we English people just like me? I knew I’d understand the language, a big bonus for my first trip, but what if I made a fool of myself? Last, overall general anxiety about leaving America and my family. I hardly knew this girl. What if things went wrong or we didn’t work out? Am I crazy for even considering going?

Despite my reservations, I took a leap of faith and booked that flight. After landing in London, I quickly discovered that my preconceived notions were wrong. I instantly fell head over heels in love with international travel. From the culture to the various historical landmarks the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to travel. Here are my initial concerns and why they were misplaced:

Preconceived Notion 1: It’s too expensive so I shouldn’t even consider it.

Traveling abroad and in this case, Europe was too expensive for my budget. Upon researching our trip to London I discovered various websites like Skyscanner and Google Flights helped find flights that fit our budget. Thanks to Courtney’s airline miles we were able to configure an affordable round-trip flight from Pittsburgh to London. After that, we extensively planned out our days and created a budget spreadsheet to help keep track of expenses. It took a little bit of time and thinking but was well worth it in the end. A trip to London ended up being just as equal to a trip to California or Disney World.

Preconceived Notion 2: Cultural differences would make it difficult to blend in.

A fun fact about me is I love pubs. Specifically historical institutions with character so I was in luck because the UK has a copious amount of them. We decided to dedicate a portion of our time to trying to find historical pubs and get a pint at each of them we visited. The bar scene is very different compared to the United States; it is much more a community event especially when a football game is on. Pubs in London are an unbelievable experience and so much more than just drinking beer.

Preconceived Notion 3: Is the history in Europe that great?

Another thing that sold me on international travel was the rich history of Europe. We visited places like Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, Big Ben, Parliament, and Westminster Abbey to name a few. I could not believe I was stepping into these wonders. The whole trip felt like a dream. Considering myself somewhat of a history buff I couldn’t believe I was walking through the Churchill War Rooms. If you love history then Europe is for you because you will never run out of places to explore.

Preconceived Notion 4: Traveling within a foreign country is difficult.

For context, I took this trip in February, and for Christmas Courtney booked a day trip for us to check out Edinburgh, Scotland during our trip. To be honest I had mixed feelings about this. Wasn’t it enough that I was going to visit my first city outside the United States? No, she had to push me even further. I can’t explain how thankful I was for that push. I never knew I could love any place as much as I do Scotland. (Spoiler alert, this had a heavy influence on our destination wedding, but that is another story.) We boarded the train at the famous King’s Cross, looking at you Harry Potter fans – yes, it is THE King’s Cross station, and we headed from London to Edinburgh. We spent the day walking around the Royal Mile, touring Edinburgh Castle, tasting the best scotch I’ve ever had, and even tasting some haggis. After a busy but memorable day, we caught the train back to London shifting cultures and traditions in less than a day. It was mind-blowing to see how quickly you can travel from country to country in Europe.

Final Thoughts

My first trip to Europe opened my eyes to the world and changed me for the better. From the landscapes to the food and drink and lessons learned, it felt like London had become a temporary home. I’m so grateful to have had this experience and made many special memories. So, if you are like me and hesitant to leave the country please reconsider, you might just catch the travel bug too.