By: Jovany Barba
Travel has been a part of my life since I was a little kid and I feel humbled and honored to have had so many fun and memorable experiences. As I grew older, traveling has remained as one of my major passions. One of my goals in life is to travel at least once per year and fill every page of my passport.
You may be asking yourself, “Why would a blind person travel? What would they look at or enjoy doing?” It is important to note that, first of all, there are varying degrees of blindness, ranging from seeing nothing to colors and even reading print and recognizing faces. My visual impairment falls somewhere in the middle. I do not have enough to see great detail or read signs from a distance, nor do I have peripheral, but I have enough where I can appreciate the grandeur of a building, the majesty of the countryside or vista. With that said, there are some differences in the way that I travel as opposed to the sighted world.
Before a trip, I need to make sure that I have ample supply of eye drops to last me for the duration of the trip. In addition, I must remember to pack a spare cane because for some reason, my canes have always broken on me when I am traveling.
On my most recent trip to Mexico, I noticed a couple of things as I traversed through the streets of Guadalajara. All of the skills and knowledge I learned for using my cane were definitely put to the test. I found the streets to be difficult to navigate; with random holes, steps, slanted poles and even an electrical wire to maneuver around was no easy feat. Despite this, I found that I felt proud in the fact that I was walking down these streets. The sights, sounds, and smells added to the sense of adventure and excitement of being in a different country. One thing is for sure, I felt incredibly privileged to be living in the United States. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for those not only with visual impairments to live there, but people in wheelchairs as well. The sidewalks had random steps that came out of nowhere and the accessible ramps were well…not that accessible. The width was too narrow and the grades were quite steep. I also noticed two blind people singing for money on a bench in the plaza. This is not to say that we don’t see this in the states, but traveling to places like this makes me realize and appreciate the opportunities that I have grown up with.
Now let’s move on to more uplifting stories. Why do I love traveling so much? As we may know, tourist attractions are often designed to be seen. As a person who is blind, however, the way in which I appreciate a work of art or monument is different. Of course, it helps tremendously if I am with someone who can describe in detail what it is we are looking at. With that, I can imagine what the monument, painting, or building with all its details may look like. Even so, whether I am with someone or by myself, the aspect I most enjoy is simply being present. Take for example three years ago when I was visiting the ruins and Pyramid of Chichen Itza. While most tourists stood and marveled at the details in the pyramid, for me, I was thrilled to be standing on the site where the ancient Mayans used to live. It is such an incredible feeling to know that I stood on the soil of a place I read about in history books. The tremendous heat, humidity and aromas added to the experience.
It is not only the grand sights I visit that give me joy; the small subtleties do as well. Take the scent of a hotel lobby, discovering a small box of chocolates against the pillowtop, or relaxing in the hotel beds that always seem to be a million times more comfortable than the one at home. To this day, whenever I smell a mix of green tea and sunblock lotion, it always takes me back to the hotel lobby in Cancun. These subtle nuances sometimes have the longest lasting effect on memories of trips.
The things that make a trip memorable to me are not the architectures of buildings or fine paintings in galleries, but rather the people I spend time with and the places we spend it. While I have some capability of seeing art, people, and views and do enjoy looking around, the parts I remember more revolve around conversation and food. Some of the most vivid memories I take away from any trip are of eating at a local restaurant, testing my palate with new and exotic cuisine and laughing with family or new and old friends. When I am in a new country or city, one of my favorite times are sitting down at a restaurant or square, slowing down, and taking it all in. I take a moment to look around, then close my eyes and listen, breathe in, breathe out, notice all the aromas filling my nostrils, listening to the kids playing in the distance, the chatter of people in a language I may not understand, the sound of a musician playing in the distance and the water falling from a fountain in the middle. Perhaps the bells of a cathedral ring and people begin to scurry. Taking a moment to talk with my travel buddies on the days adventures and where we are headed next, laugh at something funny from the day and most importantly, marvel and appreciate the fact that we are sitting on a bench, or in a favorite restaurant of a local. We are guests in their hometown and what an honor it is to, for a brief time of our lives, fall witness to the way in which the local people live their every day lives. That, my friends, is why I truly love and have a passion for travel.
I hope my story has inspired you to get out there and not just see the world, but experience it. Take time to get off the cell phone, put the camera down and stop for a moment. Take a minute to sit and let all your senses be filled with the sights, smells, sounds, feelings, and tastes of the country or city you are visiting. Remember that for a short time of your life, you are sitting, walking, and breathing the air of a local community that may be geographically distant yet humanly close. As one of my dear friends once said, “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” Get out there and enjoy life!
Originally Posted: 7 July 2020