During the last week or so, we have, once again, been shown that nature’s the one who’s in charge. The volcano eruption on Iceland has made us here in Sweden, in northern Europe, as well as other parts of the world, realize how dependent we are on the flight industry. Sure, if you want to travel around the world it’s obvious that you need to do some extra thinking if the possibility of flying isn’t there. But not only if you want to travel far away for that matter. Our daughter Aurora was supposed to fly to the UK today to visit her sister who’s spending some time there. To their great disappointment, they both had to adjust to the reality that there are no planes neither leaving Sweden nor landing in the UK at the moment.
One of our trips by train. Not around the world though, but across the US.
But the traveling is of course just a small part of it. We were talking about what would happen if this ash cloud (or some other reason for that matter) would be of a more permanent nature. What if there wouldn’t be any jet flights available in northern Europe for the whole of next year? Just asked around in our local shop yesterday if they were affected in any way and of course, already there were fruits and vegetables they didn’t have because of this. Interesting! Not that I think it’s essential, or even recommendable, to fly all kinds of food around the world (besides our Swedish strawberries are by far the tastiest and best ones! They’re of course only available during the summer, and the local ones are of course the very best whereas those from the Canary Island or Israel I could certainly do without).
So this is a big catastrophe, not only for the flight industry but for people in many different areas that are affected. Maybe not that bad for buses, boats and trains though
. As always, with the bad comes also something good. And one of the good things is that we now get a chance to see how vulnerable we really are and how important it is to look into flight alternatives as well as alternatives to how we live our lives in general.
Regarding traveling, we ourselves have traveled a lot without flying throughout the years. The reasons were many and my fear of flying was one of them. We’ve traveled many times through Europe with car, campervan and car with a trailer. We’ve used boats and ferries to take us to different places and we’ve traveled by train. Especially in the US we love going with their (slow
) trains which take days and where you meet all kinds of interesting people.
You can read more about different ways to take yourself around the world, as well as a bit about our personal experiences here.
So the situation being as it is at the moment, I thought I’d share a few links where you can find more information about how to travel around the world without flying. The first one is www.lowcarbontravel.com a blog crated by Ed who traveled around the world a whole year 2007-2008, using all kinds of transportations, except flying. A while ago we did an interview with Ed that we will put up here soon for you to listen to.
Then there’s “The man in seat 61”: www.seat61.comprobably the no 1 site for people interested in traveling around the world without using a plane. As they say themselves “The man in seat 61 will tell you how to travel comfortably & affordably overland where you think air was now the only option”.
I also found this short informative and interesting article from www.worldinslowmotion.com who traveled the world for 10 months without flying. Here they share some great ideas you can have use for if you consider traveling in this way.
And finally, I just have to share this imagination stimulating article by Alain de Botton philosopher and author of many books, “The Art of Travel” being one of them (which I really can recommend). I just can’t resist quoting from this article because this part so very much resonates with what we often talk about here at Extended World Travel:
“If one of our key motives for traveling is to try to put the past behind us, then we often need something very large and time-consuming, like the experience of a month long journey across an ocean or a hike over a mountain range, to establish a sufficient sense of distance”.
Couldn’t have said it better myself
So, you see, if you want to travel around the world without flying, either by your own free choice or if forced by Mother Nature, there’s always a way to go!
Happy Slow Travels!
Great Article! I also visit the website seat61 and found the website is very informative regarding rail travel. The website is really nice for those who want to travel without flying.
Yes, you can really get lots of information as well as inspiration to travel slow there. When I visit their site, I always start dreaming about taking different trains around the world (and a few ships) Soon…….
Sometimes the best idea is to go by bike!!!
We have some friends who traveled around Europe for 6 months, a family of 6. I was really inspired to do this myself. Sometimes when we have traveled with our campervan we have experienced it to go too fast and have talked about ways to travel more slowly. Biking would be great.
Excellent posts & Nice site….
Took a ferry recently between Ireland and the UK due to the ash cloud problem. Had forgotten how nice it is to travel by boat and looking forward to doing this again – found it much more relaxing
Hey great work indeed and great article too. I love reading personal experiences of traveling or visiting different places. And you would be glad to know that this is the best blog among all of my previously visited ones.
Never knew that it could be such a great experience to travel around the world without flying. Cool blog and good experience. Thanks for sharing the deed.
Hey cool experience. I can understand the emotions I mean the enjoyment and pleasure you had gone through because of this trip.
I would love to have the leisure to travel in this manner, alas, having a J O B that ties me to a certain spot for a specified number of hours prohibits being able to do this. But I do love taking trains and ferries, and I think a road trip is the absolute best!
Retta@Dunas Maspalomas´s last blog ..Playa del Ingles
Yes, that’s usually what prevents most people from going for their dream trip – the JOB. As always, it’s a matter of prioritizing I believe, and of looking into how you want to live your life. At times, being in one place and having a steady income may be the first priority. At other times, the freedom of just leaving everything and going out into the world to experience new things and get a perspective can be number one. Only you can know when it’s time for one or the other. And if you feel it’s time to leave and decide to do so, solutions will always appear.
yo buddy… i just wanted to say that my opera is exploding when I click on the pics… are you using some javascript or something?
Love it yes….!!!
Great ideas and thank you for the list of blogs. I personally think we should treat everything in life as sustainable and not concentrate on just carbon, it is only one factor in maintaining the life styles we enjoy.
Traveling without flying is hard , but when You are afraid of flying You can use only cars and ships. Like me.
I have been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or weblog posts in this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this site. Studying this information So i am happy to show that I have an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed. I so much definitely will make certain to do not omit this website and give it a look on a continuing basis.
Interesting fact, we often ignore our food etc when we think about our footprint that we are leaving behind. I have to agree – local is best by far!!
I’m curious to find out what blog platform you have been using? I’m having some small security issues with my latest website and I’d like to find something more safe. Do you have any suggestions?
Hello! This post could not be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of
my good old room mate! He always kept chatting
about this. I will forward this post to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read.
Thank you for sharing!
A person necessarily lend a hand to make severely posts I would state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and to this point? I surprised with the analysis you made to make this actual post extraordinary. Magnificent activity!
We’re a gaggle of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our community. Your website provided us with useful info to work on. You have performed an impressive activity and our entire community shall be thankful to you.
This sounds like a lot of fun Maria. We also know that travelling is not in arriving at the destination. Travelling is about getting to a destination. And when you fly it may be fun. But what are you missing out on?
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this, like you wrote
the book in it or something. I think that you could do with a few pics to drive
the message home a little bit, but instead of that, this is fantastic blog.
An excellent read. I will definitely be back.
Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your weblog. You have some really great posts and I believe I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d love to write some material for
your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please blast me an
e-mail if interested. Many thanks!
hey there and thank you for your information I have definitely picked up something new from right here.
I did however expertise some technical issues using this web site,
as I experienced to reload the site a lot of times
previous to I could get it to load properly.
I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and can damage your high quality score
if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for much more of your respective intriguing content. Make sure you update this again soon.
Hello there, just was alert to your blog through Google, and located that
it is truly informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful in the
event you proceed this in future. Numerous people will probably be benefited out of your writing.
Cheers!
When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and
now each time a comment is added I get four e-mails with the same comment.
Is there any way you can remove me from that service?
Many thanks!
Ahaa, its good conversation about this paragraph at this
place at this web site, I have read all that, so at this time
me also commenting here.
You’ve made some decent points there. I looked on the net for more information about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this website.
Appreciating the time and energy you put into your blog and detailed information you offer.
It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same old rehashed information.
Great read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your
RSS feeds to my Google account.
Such a great idea! You are bound to see far more of the planet instead of simply flying over it
Hi there, of course this paragraph is in fact nice and I
have learned lot of things from it on the topic of blogging.
thanks.
I was curious if you ever thought of changing the structure of
your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better.
Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two
pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?
Great idea, thanks for sharing this wonderful piece of information with us.
By the way, the upper banner doesn’t load well on Firefox, check it out :S
Regards
Excellent blog here! Also your web site loads
up very fast! What web host are you using?
Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish
my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
thanks for the tips, very useful of information, regards
Hello, I enjoy reading through your article. I wanted to write
a little comment to support you.
Bruno b. campelo wasn’t to be denied.
I like the valuable information you provide in your articles.
I’ll bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly. I’m quite certain I’ll learn lots of new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! By the way, how can we communicate?
I’m impressed, I must say. Seldom do I encounter a blog that’s equally educative and entertaining,
and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is an issue that too few folks are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy I came across this in my hunt for something concerning this.
We are a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in
our community. Your web site offered us with valuable information to work on.
You’ve done an impressive job and our whole community will be thankful to you.
Piece of writing writing is also a fun, if you be acquainted with afterward you can write
if not it is complex to write.
Nice respond in return of this question with solid arguments and explaining everything regarding that.
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several e-mails with the
same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service?
Bless you!
Today, I went to the beachfront with my children.
I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and
said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She
placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell someone!
A great article that is written from experience with really useful information. Longing for atrain trip. It’s been meny yeras since I had one. About time!
I am sure this paragraph has touched all the internet people, its really really pleasant article
on building up new blog.
Hi there, just wanted to mention, I enjoyed this post.
It was inspiring. Keep on posting!
It is perfect time to make some plans for the longer term
and it’s time to be happy. I’ve read this submit and if I may I wish to recommend you
some attention-grabbing things or tips. Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article.
I desire to learn even more issues about it!
Hi! I could have sworn I’ve been to your blog before but after going through a few of the articles I realized it’s new to me.
Anyhow, I’m definitely delighted I discovered it and I’ll be bookmarking it and
checking back frequently!
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find
this matter to be really something which I think I would never understand.
It seems too complicated and extremely broad for
me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!