As I mentioned Monday, this weekend my program (about ~140 kids in all, including those studying in Cork and Galway), traveled to Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland. Like everyone else, I brought my shiny new digital camera that I had gotten before the trip for the sole purpose of documenting my travels. Well, I ended up taking a grand total of zero pictures. I didn’t lose my camera (though that may come as a surprise to those who know me) and its batteries didn’t run out–I simply don’t like taking pictures while traveling.

When you bring a camera, the mindset of the traveler turns from trying to take in as much as you can to trying to find a perfect photo opportunity. People taking pictures tend to experience their trip through the screen of the camera and retrospectively, through the pictures they took, instead of enjoying the scenery while they’re actually there. Photos are good for posing in front of famous monuments or buildings, but cameras become a burden when you feel like you need to take a picture of every pretty sight you see. I would rather leave my hands free and be able to stroll around observing everything with my own two eyes as it happens.

Sure, pictures are nice to look back on once the trip is over, but as long as you travel with someone else, the same pictures you would have taken are going to be on Facebook anyway.