Travel Without the Hassle…No Packing Required

Summer is upon us here in sunny Scotland. Except, it’s not always very sunny. There’s been a heatwave south of the border, but it hasn’t quite reached Scotland. We’ve had some really lovely sunny weather, but we’ve also had our fair share of cold, wet, and dreich days. I even switched on my electric blanket a couple of weeks ago! Perhaps it’s time to fly off to a warmer climate for a quick break. Travelling sounds wonderful, but when you’re in pain and spending more than half the day in bed, it’s not really practical. Thankfully, modern technology has made it possible to travel without the hassle and explore the world without even leaving home.

Travel Without the Hassle

Thanks to YouTube, travelling the world has never been easier. And with the help of AI, I can even have holiday snaps. Virtual travel is simple — there’s no hassle involved. No packing. No checking whether my passport is still in date. No changing currency. No jetlag. And the best part, no matter where I go, my little Kippy Girl can come with me. Oh, I nearly forgot — it’s also free.

Travelling Made Easy for Someone Who Lives With Pain

Okay, it might sound a little strange, but Ian and I regularly watch YouTube videos made by travel bloggers. We enjoy travelling anywhere in the world, without even leaving the house.

We’ve been everywhere from New Zealand to Japan, Switzerland to Italy, and dozens of places in between.

On one of our recent trips, we were wandering around a local market in Tuscany. I turned to Ian and said how much I wished we could go there for real. Ian joked, “You can barely walk to the toilet…no way could you walk round a market.” He wasn’t being cruel by saying that. He was joking — that’s one of our coping strategies. We laugh at life. But he was right…I couldn’t possibly cope with the travel, the walking and all the extra hassle that comes with going on holiday.

That’s when it struck me how lovely it is to be able to travel virtually anywhere in the world thanks to YouTube.

Create Your Own Atmosphere

I know there’s more to a holiday than just seeing the sights and getting a change of weather. It’s about experiencing the culture, the food and the atmosphere. But when holidays are impossible, virtual travel is a pretty nice way to spend a rainy afternoon. And as for the atmosphere, perhaps we can create our own.

During our Tuscany tour, I was telling Ian that Italy is one of the best countries for people who have coeliac disease. There are far more gluten-free choices available, and there are even dedicated gluten-free bakeries. And restaurant owners have so much knowledge about coeliac disease that people can eat there without any concerns.

Ian left me to wander about those market stalls while he disappeared into the kitchen to make dinner. Before I knew it, I could smell garlic and herbs drifting through from the kitchen. He had cooked the most delicious spaghetti bolognaise, along with some garlic bread. My house smelled like a genuine Italian restaurant…a gluten-free one!

A World Tour Made Easy

Ian has always wanted to visit New Zealand. I think we have travelled the length and breadth of that beautiful country virtually. We’ve been on a cruise along the Doubtful Sound, and we’ve even watched the Hoiho (Yellow-eyed penguins), which are the rarest penguins in the world. And I don’t know just how many virtual steak and cheese pies we have eaten! And since they’ve been virtual, they’ve also been free from gluten and calories.

We’ve admired the snow-capped Swiss Alps, seen the cherry blossom around Mount Fuji, and explored countless other places. Anywhere that takes our fancy, we simply search on YouTube and set off on another adventure.

Exploring Scotland From the Comfort of My Home

We don’t always travel abroad. Scotland has so many beautiful sights. I suppose I’m a wee bit biased, but we do have the most beautiful scenery in the world. I was fortunate to have seen much of it when I was more able to travel, but YouTube lets us revisit old favourites and discover places we’ve never been. We can go island hopping and even travel on the Jacobite steam train (also known as the Harry Potter train) across the Glenfinnan viaduct.

Of Course, I Would Love to Travel in Real Life

Virtual travel is amazing, but of course, I would love to travel in real life.

I would love to sit in an Italian café watching the world go by, or take in the floral scent of cherry blossom in Japan. I would love to see the sights from that Jacobite steam train. I would love to experience those things in person.

For now, though, watching other people’s videos lets me explore places that would otherwise be beyond my reach. It turns what could have been a rather ordinary afternoon into an adventure.

Where Next?

Sometimes I can’t decide where to visit next. Perhaps I should play a game of “Spin the Globe”, and wherever my finger lands becomes my next destination. Unless you can give me some recommendations. Have you travelled to a “must-see” location? Please tell me where, and I will add it to my list of places to visit.

If you were to do some virtual travelling, where would you like to visit?

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I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Please do drop a comment below.

Who needs air miles when you have AI?