My girlfriend and I are about 100 days away from departing for our big overseas trip and the excitement is slowly starting to build at home. Plans are being drawn up and lists are getting compiled; the focus on detail makes this whole thing so much more real than when it was nothing more than an idea earlier this year. The bulk of our conversations are now beginning to turn to travel-related issues no matter what they start off being about, and I can tell that friends are going to start getting sick of us crapping on about it at the pub.

Even our dreams are turning to travel. I leave for work before Spykey’s even awake so this morning I sent her this text message while on the tram:

Dreamt about travelling last night. We’d just arrived in Turkey but there was Arabic writing everywhere. Awesome dream.

Spykey replied:

I dreamt about that initial feeling of excitement at the start of a long journey.

The fact that we seem to be dreaming in unison is a bit of a worry, but our conversation got me thinking about those first days at the start of an adventure when you’ve arrived in a foreign country and you’re bursting with anticipation, excitement, anxiety, sleep deprivation and all the rest. Every nerve in your body seems to tingle, all your senses are overloaded, and you feel so alive. The truckload of challenges you face like language barriers and cultural differences make you feel simultaneously nervous and elated.

I’ve travelled to over 20 countries but have felt like this on only two occasions.

In 2001 I arrived into Athens from London at 3:45am, alone and on my first ever visit to a non-English speaking country. I had no idea where I wanted to go, where I wanted to stay, or what I wanted to do. I hadn’t slept in nearly 24 hours but I’d never felt more awake. I wrangled a taxi into the city and then walked around aimlessly for a while, senses buzzing. Eventually I climbed up the Acropolis, sat on a rock overlooking the city and the Mediterranean to the south, and watched the sunrise. Absolutely magic.

In 2002 I arrived into Tangier, Morocco for my first ever visit to an Islamic and/or African country. During the course of the day my travelling companions and I made our way to Fez by bus and negotiated the medina by the setting sun looking for accommodation. Here’s what I wrote in my journal that night:

Big day of travel. Arriving in Tangier was a truly unforgettable experience. The overwhelming in-your-face atmosphere is choking, yet strangely exciting. I’m still buzzing despite being desperately tired. I’m loving this shit. Morocco is an absolute feast for the senses. I cannot wait for tomorrow.

(I seem to have liked the odd underline for emphasis back then.)

What amazing first days travel experiences have you guys had?