A recent trip of mine to Seville, Spain got off to a very shaky start.
After a flight delay in the UK, my wife and I touched down in the Spanish city around 9:30 on a Monday night.
After clearing customs and glancing down at our watches, it was obvious that finding a good place for dinner was going to be a challenge.
After a cab ride and a hurried hotel check-in, we logged online to find out if any restaurants we had put on our To-Eat-At list were still open. (Yes, we make lists of places to eat, and no, I will not apologize.)
The answer: none of them.
So, we made our way to the streets of Seville's Triana neighborhood at 11-something o'clock to find something (anything!) to eat. After walking past restaurants full of staff putting chairs on tables and being shooed away from a couple of other establishments, hope was fading fast.
Then, around a corner, we saw it: Akela.
A beacon in the night, this humble riverside bar was still open, had a few empty white plastic chairs out front, and was, rather remarkably, still serving food. As the clock approached midnight, we hustled over, sat down and then enjoyed a feast of croquettes, anchovies, olives and other regional snacks alongside a couple of cold local Cruzcampo beers.
The night was balmy, the tapas tasty, and the romantically-lit Triana Bridge was a brilliant backdrop. A true "pinch me, I'm in Spain" moment.
While we ended up having several sensational meals in the city—ones that featured more culinary pizzazz than the no-frills Akela—for me, nothing lived up to that first night.
Why? Because it was unexpected.
Eiffel Tower, France (Photo Credit: Photo; Air France)
Think back on your most recent trip. Which highlights immediately spring to mind and put a big smile on your face?
The visit to an A-list attraction known around the world? You know, the kind where you have to buy tickets well in advance, are surrounded by scores of other visitors, take plenty of pictures and perhaps make a stop at the gift shop on the way out.
Or was it an unplanned discovery that became the best part of your trip?
If you're anything like me, I'm betting the highlights you discover serendipitously end up being your most cherished trip memories.
Why is that?
Well, I've got a theory.
If you've planned a trip for months and set out a list of things you want to do and see, those things start accumulating expectations. And expectations can often lead to disappointment. Not all the time, but often, those experiences struggle to meet the lofty expectations because we have put on them.
On the other hand, serendipitous experiences come in with no expectations and retain a special power to surprise.
When it comes to crafting an itinerary for yourself or a client, these facts create a dilemma. Should we plan out everything ahead of time? Or should we just wing it?
These days, you do have to book some attractions and experiences ahead, so you can't completely wing it.
But for as much as you plan, you should try and leave just as much time and space in your trip for magical moments to find you. If you give them a chance, they almost always do.
Wander down a cobblestoned alley when you hear the din of dishes & laughter emanating from of a busy restaurant. Pop back into that funky little boutique or quirky museum you just walked past. Watch a local band or sports team play on a whim.
You might just end up with a memory to last a lifetime.
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