I don't know about the rest of you, but sometimes when you're revisiting somewhere you've been before, do you feel a bit blase? The sense of excitement you get about someplace new isn't there?
I fully understand! I hate to admit it, but for this current cruise I'm on, the Celebrity Mercury to Alaska, I had a hard time getting pumped up in anticipation. I grew up in Alaska, had been to these ports many times many over the years, and I had a "been there, done that" jaded disinterest. Big mistake!
I discovered something interesting this cruise. I found a new excitement once I arrived in port, BECAUSE I was going back to my history. And that excitement ended up to be contagious. Let me explain.
Since I'd been to these ports before, I decided to take excursions I'd recommended, but never taken personally. In Ketchikan, that meant the Duck Tour (which, by the way, was a lot of fun). Afterwards, while waiting for a favorite local restaurant to open to get some fresh halibut fish & chips, I visited a locally-owned store. I wandered the store aimlessly, just seeing what was there. Suddenly, there was a pin in front of me which changed the focus of my time ashore. I saw a beaded "ice worm" pin. That triggered a wonderful childhood memory of the "ice worm" toy I had as a child. A simple piece of fur, with eyes and a tongue,
which when you petted down the pelt, it arched its back and "inched" along. Very basic, but one of those things from childhood which just make you smile.
So I asked if they had any. Immediately, the clerk's eyes lit up, she made a motion with her hand of petting the worm, and said "I remember those from a long time ago!" While they didn't have any, she sent me down the street to a fur shop. Same thing happened there. The long-time Alaskans who ran the store got excited,
remembered what they were, made the same "petting" hand movement, but didn't have any, and couldn't think of anyplace in Ketchikan with them. No problem, I had Juneau next.
In Juneau after the excursion, I started my quest. Going into Alaskan-owned stores and fur shops, I again and again encountered local shop keepers who smiled and lit up, remembering their own ice worms from the past. But no one had any (and many wondered why). Finally, in a smaller fur shop, the owner said he didn't have
any, but he was sure his uncle had some in his store and directed me to another area of town. On the way, I asked a hotelier for further directions, and when he found out my quest, he got excited and involved, and requested I return if I was successful.
Finally, I found the small shop which crafted fur items. Lo and behold, they had one on the register (obviously their own, well-loved worm). I asked if they had others, and the owner said he'd be happy to make me some. So, while I waited just a few minutes, he crafted brand new ice worms. We talked about them, the lore (there are actually worms in glaciers, though not furred, and many stories about them from Robert Service poems to other fiction and lore), and how popular they once were. I walked out with 3 of them.
Stopped back by the hotel and showed the owner the worms. He said that as soon as he was relieved later in the day, he was heading up to the shop to have some made for his children. When I left, he thanked me for making his day happy.
Why this long story? It may give you an idea of your own when visiting a familiar port. Do try new things, but if there's something about the location which gives you true joy, go in search of it, and share that search with others. Seek out stores which may have items from your childhood or younger years which you can bring
back into your life. Bring adventure and treasured memories into your travel while you're making new memories at the same time. We so often focus on the new side of travel - what will I see that's new,
what new experiences will I have, what new destination can I visit? Don't be afraid to also revisit favorite locations or go in search of fond remembrances to bring back that sense of joy and discoveries you had the first time you visited or at another point in your life. It can bring an entirely new dimension to your travel.
My ice worm will have a prominent location in my office (most likely draped over one of my awards from this Conference) to remind me never to become too jaded, and to know there is adventure everywhere.
