"Sometimes We Don't Know Our Own Country" - Portugal

“Sometimes we don’t know our own country.” 

This is a phrase that I’ve heard a few times over the last few months as we’ve made our way through Iceland, the U.K., and Ireland, and a sentence I’ve thought a lot about. Locals have given me this response when asking about specific sights or nature surrounding an area we are visiting. Sometimes the tourists know more than the people who live there. 

Now let’s pause.

I was hesitant to start a blog like this, worried that I might sound rather pompous by implying that us tourists know more about a country or culture than the people whose families have been there for generations. Not at all. Quite the opposite really. Local knowledge is indispensable and can open up the door to many a place often overlooked. However, I think that the phrase “Sometimes we don’t know our own country” carries a lot of truth.

We met an Australian couple in Scotland who are currently living in Canada. Last year they completed a road trip around the United States, visiting national parks, cities, and monuments—north, south, east, and west. Bonnie and I have done some traveling in the U.S., but nowhere near the extent of a multi-month road trip through the heart of the country. Our Australian friends shared stories of experiences, places, and nooks & crannies that we had never even heard of in our 25 years living in the fifty nifty United States. What are we missing that’s been right in front of us all along?

Very thought provoking. This idea became even more relevant for us in a recent experience in southern Portugal. 

The Algarve coast is characterized by tropical wonders. From our accommodation in Armação de Pêra, we wanted to hike to the Benagil Cave, 5 miles along the coastline. We stopped in at a local cafe before heading out to ask locals where the trail might start. The woman at the cafe told us that there were no trails along the cliffs, and this was confirmed by a local man who was ordering a coffee. In disbelief we continued to the cliff head where we found not one, but many trails winding easily through the shrubbery. The trail stayed near the ocean, so were rewarded with views of the sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs, and mystical sea caves. It was one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever completed, yet the locals seemed unaware of this bounty of wonder, sitting just out of view.

This experience really has me thinking. 

Why haven’t we gone to that river, just miles from our house? What nature is there in Oregon that we’ve put off visiting for years? Have we sought out all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer? Do we know how people in the Southwest United States think and live on a daily basis?

Part of Bonnie and I’s decision to head to Europe this year was due to the fact that we wanted to get out of our comfort zone and explore more. As much as this trip has given us many memories and experiences abroad that have truly changed our lives, it also has inspired us to seek deeper experiences back home.

Sometimes you have to travel far to learn something close. 

Next Up: Alba-Medford, Sister Cities

Peace be the Journey,

Cody