After a year of anticipation, planning, and countless daydreams, my holiday has finally come and gone. Twelve months of looking forward to new places, new faces, and a break from the everyday rhythm. And now that I’m back, everything feels a little… untethered. I’ve returned with memories, photos, and stories, but also with a sense of restlessness. There’s a question that keeps surfacing in the quieter moments: What do I do next?
Travelling isn’t just about ticking landmarks off a list. It’s about immersing yourself in the histories and cultures you’ve only read about, meeting people from all walks of life, and realising there are so many ways to experience the world. This trip took me through places I’d never seen and opened doors to perspectives I hadn’t yet considered. Every conversation, every shared meal, every twist of history, offered a piece of wisdom or a reminder of life’s simple joys.
One of the most meaningful parts of my journey was the time I spent with two remarkable guides who shared their countries with me in ways I could never have experienced on my own. In Spain, there was Alex, and in Malta, Philippe. Each brought their passion, knowledge, and unique perspective to my travels, making each country feel alive and deeply understood.
Alex’s story was unexpected. He isn’t native to Spain—he moved there to be with his Spanish partner—but you’d never know it. His knowledge of the country’s history, its nuances, and his way of navigating Spanish culture made it feel like he’d lived there all his life. With Alex, every site was a story, every conversation a deeper dive into Spain’s layered past and present. He showed me Spain in a way that only someone who’s taken the time to truly embrace it can.
Alex brings a lively energy to every corner of the journey, effortlessly blending laughter with local knowledge, as if he’s lived in Spain all his life. He has an extraordinary talent for making history feel like it’s happening in the moment, adding layers of fun to every story.
In Malta, Philippe’s enthusiasm was infectious. With a genuine love for his home, he turned every corner into a story, every ruin into a piece of living history. His tales of ancient temples, Malta’s wartime resilience, and its modern-day evolution were a reminder of the strength that comes from preserving heritage. Philippe showed me the pride of small places, the beauty of tradition mixed with progress, and made me appreciate that even the smallest corner of the world holds its own richness, waiting to be explored.
Philippe, exudes a quiet passion that’s rooted deeply in both his work and his family. Living with his father and close to his brother and sister, he finds purpose in sharing Malta’s history with others. His depth and dedication as a guide leave you feeling that his love for Malta is as much a part of him as his own family.
Now that I’m home, I’m reflecting on the lessons these journeys and people have given me. I went on holiday to learn about other places, but somehow, I’ve returned with questions about my own. How can I use what I’ve learned to make a difference here? How can I bring that same curiosity, that same respect for history and culture, to my own backyard? And how do I hold onto the sense of purpose and discovery I felt while I was away?
Over the coming weeks and months, I’ll be sharing stories from my travels, introducing you to the people I met, and reflecting on what this journey has meant to me. Starting with Alex and Philippe, the guides who opened my eyes to so much more than I expected. This isn’t just a recap of a holiday; it’s an exploration of what travel teaches us and how it changes us. So here’s to looking back, and to figuring out what comes next.
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