Travel isn’t always beautiful, but it’s always worth it
“Heureux qui, comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage“ —Joachim du Bellay
Roughly translated, this means “Happy is he who, like Ulysses, has made a beautiful voyage.” Ever since stumbling across this mosaic on Castle Hill, the quote has stuck with me. While I’ve forgotten much of what I learned during Greek mythology freshman year, I do remember Homer’s Odyssey wasn’t always romantic sunsets and smooth sailing. The 10-year return from Troy was marked by constant challenges and difficulties.
Travel isn’t always beautiful. It can be frustrating, lonely, tiring. There are times that I wonder if I’ve made the right decision, times when I’m on the verge of tears in the middle of the street because I’m overwhelmed and alone. But then I think about this quote, and I realize that it’s all worth it. Not every day is a postcard, but every day can be a story that you look back on with a smile.
