Exploring Tradition: The Grand Tour{part 1}

The tradition of taking a trip across Europe to experience the world and its culture is one familiar to many people. Today it is often referred to as "gap year" travel which is a particular trend dating to about the 1960s. But, the tradition of traveling Europe as a means of gaining experience, education and culture dates much further, to the mid 17th century. Often it was expected young men from well to do families would finish their studies in university and set off from England towards Rome. Acquiring on the trip there and back many new stories, objects and ideas.

The Grand Tour began as an experience for the elite due to the high cost of traveling such a distance. However as transportation technology advanced, the means needed to undertake such a trip dropped. And today the practice is as popular as ever. Thousands of young men and women set off to "backpack" across Europe every year.

Tourists set off today for many of the same reasons they did centuries ago: exposure to culture and history, foreign language and custom and quite often, with ulterior hopes of adventure and love. But today, tradition plays a large part. We don't set off for new and unexplored lands but rather, to see as well those things and places so often referenced in our culture. The standard itinerary hasn't changed a whole lot over the years: England to France, through Switzerland to Italy. Return: Across the Alps to Austria, across Germany to Holland and back home. With a variation here and there it is the trip so many aspire for years to undertake. But while the route is the same the sights, sounds, conditions and challenges have all but completely changed. And often, as we follow our travels, looking for whatever we're looking for, we only see these foreign places in our memories and expectations as we stand there before them. The myth obscures the reality in real time. And yet, upon looking honestly the beauty is still there, genuine and unwavering.

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