What is Travel and Why do it?

After writing "To Benin and Back," I thought a lot about what travel is. The common definition is experiencing a new place. It should always be done with an open mind and a sense of adventure to get the most out of it. The appeal of travel for me is all the new things that I experience and learn about in a very short period of time. I realize now that one can travel without going very far at all. You can talk to people that you don't normally talk to. You can visit a near by place that you've overlooked. You can revisit familiar places with a desire to learn more. You can change your daily routine and try activities you haven't done before. In short, travel is a state of mind! If you can't go far because you don't have the time, money or freedom, then break out of your routines and comfort zones in order to learn something new. It's the next best thing to getting on a plane and traveling abroad for weeks at a time.