"Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.” Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister and Novelist (1804-1881)
Kudos to Johann Zahn! He built the first camera that was small and portable enough to be practical for photography. Without his invention and its subsequent improvements, we all may have a difficult time remembering what we’ve seen throughout our travels. It’s nice to go back and peruse those photos. They remind us of sites we’ve indeed visited but might fail to remember.
Beyond the sites, it is the sounds, the smells, and recollections of the people who live in those places, their culture and history that remain fresh and vibrant. Like the time I visited a Masai village in Africa. I’ll never forget how happy those tribes people were, living such a frugal existence in huts made of sticks and cow dung, walking miles for fresh water. Yet, they were so full of life, tradition and purpose. Might I take a lesson in values from them?
On a trip to Costa Rica, I sat alone on the bow of the ship in the late evening while others in the group packed for the journey home. It was a darker night than I’ve ever experienced, but the stars overhead shone so brightly I swear I could see the Milky Way! I felt so small.
The story of Pompeii in Western Italy still moves me today. Once a vibrant, bustling city where trade flourished, it met its demise on August 24, 79 A.D. when Mt. Vesuvius erupted, leaving a layer of ash more than 30 feet thick. I can picture so clearly the townspeople grabbing their beasts of burden and attempting to flee while others chose to wait until the streets were clear of the panicked masses. Others sealed themselves up in rooms, supposing the ashes and poisonous gasses wouldn’t harm them there. Not so.
Travel indeed affords us a lifetime of learning and discovery. Explorations of the world’s myriad architectural and artistic jewels, culture and history, and abundant natural treasures are truly rewarding. Yet oftentimes the memories that last are those conjured not from photos but from the magic a particular destination creates deep in our hearts and souls.
Join other Buckeye alumni and travel the world together. Enjoy the camaraderie while creating your own memories. See more than you remember, and remember more than you have seen!
For Ohio State,
Patti H. Cattey Director, Alumni Tours
cattey@ohiostatealumni.org
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