Travel Quote Tuesday | Judith Schalansky

It’s easy to become an armchair traveller, living vicariously through books and magazines, through the wonders of film and television, and yes, the joy of looking at maps.

For some, there is good reason that such activities replace the act of travel – perhaps poor health doesn’t allow them to travel, or maybe they have commitments at work or to family, and for many it’s simply a matter of cost, especially in this time of economic hardship for so many – not everyone can afford to travel the world.

And there is something very special about a map. Not only are maps beautiful artworks in their own right…

Looking at a map evokes so much – an appreciation of the long long story of mankind and how our species spread around the whole world; the sheer variety of peoples and cultures that have arisen over millennia and all that we have built, destroyed and built again; the beauty of so many different landscapes and habitats and all the wonders within; the way that history is written into the very borders of the nations that we divide and merge ourselves into…

So many memories of places are triggered by a glance at that spot upon a map.

And there are dreams of places still to visit… fingers tracing over unfamiliar territories as though just by touching their visual representation, we bring ourselves closer to visiting the real place…

Do you feel this love for maps too?

Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) and Gentoo Penguin

A beautiful day on Saunders Island, in the Falkland Islands… A fierce wind whipped up the sand as these five penguins made their way back from an outing to sea, towards their colony just inland of the shore.

More Kavey Eats Travel Quotes.

You are welcome to save or share this via Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram provided you do not alter the image or crop out the attribution text.

Save

Save

Please leave a comment - I love hearing from you!
50 Comments to "Travel Quote Tuesday | Judith Schalansky"

  1. Jane M

    When I was a kid, I was fascinated by maps and would look at them for hours on end, following the roads and reading the exotic-sounding names. Now that I’m a full-time traveller, I still love watching the map, on my iPhone, and seeing myself move across the map as I move!

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    I love online mapping technology and use it a lot, but even today, I still have a very soft spot for a printed map, whether in a book, on the wall or a more portable affair!

    Reply
  2. Susan R

    I do find maps fascinating to look at. It’s all too easy just to consult them online instead but there’s something very exotic about seeking places out on a proper paper map!

    Reply
  3. Karla

    I agree, definitely no more poetic book! I like maps! i love maps and I do enjoy learning about the different places, cultures and all that— there’s a lot you can learn from reading a map.

    Reply
  4. kaveyeats

    We have a large map waiting to go up on one wall too, for ages, must get it done!

    Reply
  5. katherine

    I love using maps over technology when you travel. Not only gives a break from travelling but a learning experience. Afterwards, it’s a great momento 🙂

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    We try to always have a paper map with us too, especially within cities where it’s often easier to reference than finding wifi for google maps!

    Reply
  6. Gingey Bites

    Yes this is how I feel about maps too! Once we have our own place I want to get one for the wall so that we can pin where we’re going and where we’ve been. Such a nice record to have.

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    We did that with a mid size map in our study, backed it onto a cork board and used pins and flagpins to mark where we’d been and were going to go, but the pins kept falling out so we took them all out!

    Reply
  7. Kaila Yu

    I definitely want to hang a world map on my wall but I am totally clueless about using and reading them in real life, thank god for GPS!

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    Aah it’s probably a generational thing. I adored maps from childhood and the first decade or more of my adult life, online maps hadn’t happened yet, or at least, not in the useful and portable format they are in today.

    Reply
  8. Sangeeta

    I love maps, lovely printed ones that I can refer to while traveling. Google Maps is there but nothing can replace the feel of the one in hand

    Reply
  9. Mel and Marcus

    There is something special about looking at an old printed map, we love looking at these old maps and seeing how much the landscape has changed.

    Reply
  10. Barb

    Lovely quote. I do think it is better to travel through other people’s experiences than not travel at all. You are lucky to have been to the Falkland Islands. It must have been an awesome experience.

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    Agree totally, and there are people I know who have to do that and really make it work for them in terms of feeling joy through learning and seeing, even if second hand.

    Reply
  11. Jenna

    Great quote and photo! We love maps too. There’s something special about having a paper map to follow, especially when it’s an old map 🙂 The Falkland Islands look beautiful too!

    Reply
  12. Kirstie

    I love this, and I guess it helps explain my fascination with maps! Once I settle down after all this travel, I’d love to decorate my room with a massive, beautiful world map!

    Reply
  13. kaveyeats

    Me too, my wish list grows faster than I can tick things off it, partly because when I find somewhere I love I do like to go back and see more!

    Reply
  14. Danielle

    I love maps! I’ve got globes and maps all over my home. When I look at them it just lets me dream about all those wonderful places. But also reminds me that I need to get out there!

    Reply
  15. Manjiri Chitnis

    Am mildly obsessed with the atlas and collecting maps too. And I do agree that during times of austerity it really does transport you to that tiny spot almost instantly ….and it inspires me to go one of the many wonderful places there are in the world and stare again at my list of places that I HAVE to go to!

    Reply
  16. Victoria

    I love maps and travel quotes so this was perfect! I love to read them when I’m feeling down as they remind me why I love travel!

    Reply
  17. Carol G

    Maps to not diminish travel for me- they absolutely enhance. I have a beautiful world atlas and use it to inspire myself to visit new places.

    Reply
  18. Red Nomad OZ (Marion Halliday)

    Call me a travel dinosaur, but I still prefer my paper maps! The main reason, apart from the memories they evoke, is the context. Rather than following the bouncing ball, I’d MUCH rather have the bigger picture of where I am in relation to where I’m going. And sometimes, I’ve looked a bit further afield on the map and discovered a more interesting detour or point of interest. People often ask how I’ve discovered a lot of the places I write about on my blog – generally the answer involves seeing it on a map!

    Reply
  19. Punita Malhotra

    The quote adequately sums up the difference between a spontaneous and a planned traveler. Spontaneity is a luxury we all indulge in…in varying measures. Its true, all the best times of our lives are those we haven’t predicted.

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    I’m not sure I agree… many of my best times were certainly planned, even if the exact emotional reaction was not predicted. Spontaneity can be marvellous but it can also lead to missing out on some of the best experiences purely from lack of knowing what was there to be seen and done. And in the same way, overly strong adherence to planning can also lead to missing out if one can’t adapt to and take advantage of unexpected opportunities. As always, a mix of the two is often the best path.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to kaveyeats Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *