From the search for perfect travel plans to the unexpected

by Adelaide Pacheco Santos Costa (Brazil)

I didn't expect to find Brazil

Traveling is the opportunity for broading perspectives, getting to know new cultures and sharing experiences. However, doing this is usually not easy, whether you have short holidays or even if you face this depressing high-dollar value in my country. So, I Always thought the few trips I’ve done needed to be inspiring and memorable. I devoted great time researching and trying to draw up a great travel plan for my family and me: a well rated hotel, a good flight, ways of transport at the destination, recommended tours. Everything was planned to be unforgetable and not very expensive, of course, which is visibly difficult, the reader may nod. Althought it seems a boring obligation to some people, it sounds me enjoyable and rewarding making travel arrangements. Perhaps, it’s an urge to control over situations, however I've been praised for the way everything always runned as expected. After all, there were many days of insessant reasearch, right? Does it sound freak to lovingly keep a folder with all the details itineraries? As I had enjoyful moments at interesting local spots before, I thought it was the only really worthy way for traveling. It isn’t. To prove this, I'll tell about a two days traveling to Fortaleza, a busy lively town in the north-west of Brazil, last year with my mother. My aim was take part in a selective process at University of Fortaleza. I’ve never been there, but since I was focused on studying for the test and I would've had a short time to enjoy the city, I simply bought the plane tickets and booked a hotel room in the city center. I was excited to meet a huge university compared to mine, however who would say that I’d go out later with strangers I met in front of the test room? All of us came from other places with different life goals and dreams to share. My mother and I talked long with two girls: a psychologist who lived in Fortaleza and a pedagogue From Recife, other great city in north-west of Brazil. Before getting in to the room, they suggested we could have lunch together after the test. I agreed, even thinking: “We won’t finish at the same time, so we'll certainly give up on it!”. Anyway, I had planned to have lunch at the mall nearby, take a walk and than pack up to go back. When I finally left the exam room, I found out having lunch together was still the plan. The restaurant was indicated by the girl who lived in Fortaleza. It was a place attended by college studants. We passed time talking about the tests, our routines, professions and city life, especially in Fortaleza. Then, we decided to go to the University art museum. We saw a charming exhibition of leather goods and local art. And without my realizing, I was taking a taxi with them to somewhere I didn’t expect to go. We went to “Centro Dragão do Mar” (Sea Dragon Center), next to the beach, one of the larges cultural centers in the country. Inaugurated in 1999, its name is a reference to a historical character, symbol of the abolitionist movement in the state. It’s posible to find a range of activities in its museums with a rich collection, as well as the possibility of taking good photos on the bridge over the Rogaciano Leite Filho Space. There are still theaters, cinemas and cafes with a cozy relaxed atmosphere, where we finished our day. At the end, It felt somehow different from other trips. This experience made me open to the beauty of living the moment, discovering places outside the planned, meeting new people and immersing in local culture, apart from known routes, clichés or predictable questions to strangers. Planning is cautiousness and some may even like it, but I realized it’s not enough for a good experience. Occasionally, there are trips the leisure doesn't need to be scripted to the point of becoming arduous and less fun! Besides, it may be cheaper if that’s your concern. Or maybe not. It all depends on the unexpected you allow yourself to expect. I'm still learning that and making friends at the way.