What It’s Really Like Traveling With Jen

Before meeting Jen, I hadn’t traveled much. I had been on a couple of cruises with a buddy—a buddy in his 70s—so international travel and carefully planned port adventures weren’t exactly part of my normal routine.

Then I met Jen on the Carnival Spirit.

Traveling with Jen is different from simply going on vacation. There is a plan. Then there is a backup plan. And there is probably a detailed itinerary explaining both plans, including where we need to be, how long it should take to get there, what we need to photograph, and exactly when we need to leave.

The first time I saw one of her itineraries, I laughed and thought, “I hope I can keep up.”

Traveling With an Expert

The best part of traveling with Jen is being with an experienced traveler. She knows how to research a destination, figure out what is worth seeing, and make the most of the limited time we have in each place.

If I were traveling on my own, I probably wouldn’t plan everything we could do after getting off the ship. Jen finds the interesting places, unusual experiences, animals, scenic views, and photo opportunities that I might never have known were there.

My role while she manages the itinerary is simple: I’m the “yes” man.

Trying Not to Make Jen Late

The most challenging part of traveling with Jen is doing my best not to make her late. She has calculated when we need to leave, how long transportation should take, and how much time we have before the next stop.

She also worries about getting back to the ship on time. It always seems to work out, but that doesn’t stop her from monitoring the clock and mentally calculating how far we are from the port.

I have managed to teach her one important travel lesson: sometimes it is okay to take a taxi.

We don’t always need to walk faster, find another train, or squeeze one more experience into the route. Occasionally, the best plan is to get into a car and let someone drive us directly where we need to go.

The Places That Surprise You

Warsaw, Poland, surprised me the most.

Before traveling with Jen, I used to think visiting other countries was dangerous. The unfamiliar languages, customs, and places made international travel feel intimidating. Now I’m seeing more of the world and learning that unfamiliar doesn’t automatically mean unsafe.

Sometimes the destinations you know the least about become the ones that surprise you most.

Traveling with Jen has made me more adventurous. I’m trying experiences—and riding crazy rides—that I probably wouldn’t have considered before. I’m learning that I don’t have to know everything about a place before going. I just need to be willing to experience it.

When the Plan Falls Apart

Even Jen’s detailed itineraries can’t control fog.

One of our most chaotic travel moments began when the ship was delayed because of fog, causing us to miss our flight. Our carefully planned route home—and our trip to see my family—was no longer possible.

“When life hands you lemons, go to another country!”

So we did. We went to Brussels.

That’s travel: sometimes the itinerary works perfectly, and sometimes the weather changes everything.

The important part is being able to adjust, find another route, and enjoy where the unexpected detour takes you. Apparently, it may take you to Belgium.

My Advice: Buckle Up

If you are traveling with an intense planner, my advice is simple:

Buckle up.

You may wake up earlier than expected. You may walk farther than planned. You may end up on a scooter, beside a camel, or halfway across a city trying to fit in one more stop.

But you will experience more than you thought possible.

The Only Thing I Really Need

I don’t need anything but Jen with me. No matter how long it takes to get from Point A to Point B, I’m happy because I get to spend that time with her.

Traveling with Jen means I get to travel with the love of my life and make memories I will always cherish.

Even if those memories begin with an extremely detailed itinerary and end with sore feet and lots of pictures.