Travel is about the people you meet

You won’t find these on Google Maps.

We came for the views — Venice, the Alps, the lakes.
But what stayed with us? The people.
The conversations. The unexpected sparks that reminded us we’re all human.

Travel isn’t about checking cities or sights off a list.
It’s about the small, quiet, unforgettable in-betweens.

Who We Met

🇭🇷 A couple from Croatia
On a slow ferry back from Burano (near Venice), sun bouncing off plastic seats, we met a fun couple who told us about their travels across Europe. He travels for work, she works remotely and tags along. Thirty minutes later, we were friends.

🇩🇪 Lunch in Grindelwald
Rösti on the table. Clouds spilling off cliffs. A retired couple from Cologne, Germany next to us — no rush, no kids, just stories and delicious cake. We didn’t take a photo. But we won’t forget it.

🇦🇷 An Argentine solo traveler
St. Mark’s Square. Waiting in a queue “To think,” she said when I asked what brought her here. We talked about our home countries, our travels, and favorite dishes we tried in Italy. She finally made a journey from Buenos Aires to Italy where her ancestors like many of mine came from.

📷 The strangers with cameras
A man from Saudi Arabia took our photo like he’d known us for years. Two women from Lithuania did the same near a waterfall. We returned the favor. No names exchanged — just small kindnesses that mattered. These are the people that I’ll remember. It excites to meet someone from a country for the first time. This is how I learn, not the news.

🇦🇺 The couple in Gimmelwald
He got down on one knee. She said yes. We took their photo, then sat and talked. Didn’t want to ruin their moment. We later went up to them and air dropped the pics I took. They were in Europe for 6 weeks. A long trip but pretty common for Aussies.

🧭 The Takeaway

• Travel is about people, not plans.

• Solitude abroad feels different than solitude at home.

• The best memories aren’t the ones you photograph. They are with the blinks of your eyes etched into your memory forever.

These people didn’t change our lives.
But they added color.
They reminded us that real travel lives in the margins — on benches, at borders, in quick conversations that feel like forever.

Want to make your next trip better?
Skip one must-see.
Sit still.

Go slower
Make eye contact.
Ask a question.

Learn.

🧭 If You Want to Go Deeper

• Why Travel is About People, Not Places

• The Compact Camera That Captured It All

• Gimmelwald: A Mountain Farming Village in the Alps

• What Espresso in Venice Actually Tastes Like

Next Week: I’ll discover my favorite city you’ve never heard of

💬 Your Turn

What unexpected connection have you had while traveling?
Hit reply — I read every story.

📬 Forward this to someone you met on a trip. Let them know they mattered.
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See you Thursday. Bring your curiosity.
—Jeff