TOURIST EXPERIENCES IN YOUR OWN CITY

When I ask people what their biggest challenge is in traveling more, two answers are unanimous: money and time.

True, traveling isn't cheap and often takes time. No matter how many strategies you have, you'll still incur a financial expense.

And we usually don't have enough free time to take a long trip: we have vacations once a year and a few long weekends. At most, a weekend.

I was frustrated by this too! Because I eventually made the money, but I couldn't quit my job to travel.

And that's when it hit me: what do I do when I travel? I explore the landmarks, cuisine, and history of the places I visit!

And why not do this where I live?

This opened up a whole range of amazing options!

We always think, "Oh, but there's nothing to do where I live..." Is that really true? Or is it that we don't go to places in our city because they're always there for us, and so we don't value them?

Let me be honest: I live in São Paulo! Guys, how come I spent the whole weekend saying I had nothing to do?

When I flipped that switch inside me, São Paulo became immense! So immense that today, there aren't enough days to do everything I want in my city!

So much so that I occasionally take advantage of my lunch break to check out something: a restaurant, a tourist attraction, or just take a stroll! Exactly what I would do if I were traveling to another city, state, or country.

Because traveling is more than just taking a plane, a car, or a bus! It's about having experiences!

So much so that people always ask me: how do you manage to travel so much?

Because I'm having rewarding experiences in my daily life, in my own city. So, it really feels like I'm always traveling, both for others and for myself!

And the great thing: without spending so much money and needing so much time!

A great tip: take a free walking tour in your city. It's a "free" guided tour. You choose how much you want to pay the guide at the end. It's an affordable way to learn more about the history of your own city!

In São Paulo, there are several companies that offer free walking tours! Even the city's Tourism Department has recognized the importance of this and has started offering several free guided tours (you don't even have to tip the guide afterward) through the Vai de Roteiro program.

And having this vision made me start writing and talking about São Paulo! And I fell more and more in love with the city where I live!

What about you? Have you stopped to get to know your city?