People like to travel. Travelling is necessary to us all. It keeps us from growing stale and old; it stimulates our imagination, it gives us that movement and change which are necessary to our well-being. Some people travel in search of beauty, others to satisfy their curiosity, and many people consider travelling to be a very good form of rest. Every trip always involves thinking about so many things. We have to choose the most convenient means of transport, get information about the place we are going to. We are to make sure our trip is interesting and pleasant.
There are different means of travel. For example, we can travel by air, by rail, by sea, by road or on foot. Of course, travelling by air is the fastest and the most convenient way but it is the most expensive, too. Nothing can match airplanes for speed and comfort. There is none of the dust and dirt of a railway or car journey, none of the trouble of changing train to steamer and then to another train. There is no need to trouble about your suitcase. Being on board the plane you can read newspapers to kill the time. You are also served some drinks and food. Besides, flying is a thrilling thing. But it has some disadvantages. Your flight can be delayed because of the cloudy or foggy weather. It’s not always easy to get to the airport and buy tickets. Flying is too expensive and a plane is not a very safe means of transport. You can take too great risk not only to fall down and to get airsick. There is another inconvenience you have to be prepared for when travelling long distance by plane. It’s a difference between the time you are accustomed to and the new time. It will also take you some time to get used to the new climate and surroundings. And it’s not very interesting, because you can’t see anything but clouds while travelling.
For instance, travelling by train is slower than by plane but it has it advantages. You can see more interesting places of the country you are travelling through. Modern trains have very comfortable seats. With a train you have speed, comfort and pleasure combined. From the comfortable corner seat of a railway carriage you have a splendid view of the whole countryside. If you are hungry, you can have a meal in the dining-car; and if the journey is a long one you can have a wonderful bed in a sleeper. Besides, trains can afford great comfort especially for elderly people. And there is nothing more interesting than a big railway station. There is the movement, the excitement, the gaiety of people going away or waiting to meet friends. There are the shouts of the porters as they pull luggage along the platforms to the waiting trains, the crowd at the booking-office getting tickets, the hungry and thirsty ones hurrying to the refreshment rooms before the train starts. Nothing can really match trains for comfort and excitement.
Travelling by sea is popular mostly for pleasure trips. On board large ships and small river boats people can visit foreign countries and different places of interest within their own country. Some people love to feel the deck of the boat under their feet, to see the rise and fall of the waves, to feel the fresh sea wind blowing in their faces and hear the cry of the sea-gulls. And it’s great excitement for people to come into the harbour and see round them all the ships, steamers, cargo-ships, sailing ships and rowing boats. But some people don’t like travelling by sea because they are always sea-sick, especially when the sea is a little bit rough.
Many people prefer travelling by car. It is wonderful, when you can stop wherever you wish and spend at any place as much time as you like.
Nowadays travelling on foot has become very widespread. You can leave the dull broad highway and go along little winding lanes where cars can’t go. You take mountain paths through the heather, wander by the side of quiet lakes and through the shade of woods. You see the real country, the wild flowers, the young birds in their nests, the deer in the forest and feel the quietness and calm of nature. You can not only admire the nature but gain experience and knowledge during your walking hours. This form of travelling attracts a great number of young people and helps them to become strong and healthy both in mind and in character. But it depends on the weather, of course. And besides, you are saving your railway fare travelling on foot. No one can deny that walking is the cheapest method of travelling.
In fact, no matter which way of holiday-making or travelling you choose, it’ll give you great pleasure. Adventure is necessary for us all. But as they say “East or West home is best”, there is for the traveller the great joy of returning home. When his curiosity for new scenes is satisfied he turns his thoughts towards home where all the things are most familiar and he loves them. So the traveller, besides the delight of his trip, has the warmest feeling of coming home. And indeed, he comes back home full of gaily impressions after his trip and with a strong desire to go on a voyage again.
