Am I the only one who thinks that things, people, places, cultures, or newest technologies can only be romantic as long as they are surrounded by mystery? It is strange, but I really had a different perception about traveling before I tried it.
I imagined that people who travel must be romantics with free souls. In reality, people who travel are just the same as the ones who don't - they have problems, good and bad times, weaknesses and strengths. Same goes to the exotic places.
I really thought that Guatemala with all the Mayans must be so different and extraordinary. I had so many romantic and pure thoughts about those exotic (at least to me) places. Don't get me wrong, I still loved Guatemala and I am coming back to it one day, but I realized that those people and their culture are not different or any better. There are many d-bags, thieves, or any other scums. People still cry and shout. When I saw it, all the romantic thoughts vanished. All the illusions vanished.
I believe that we have romantic thoughts about things we don't understand because other people make it look so much better than it actually is. I mean, just scroll through any of your social media platforms and see how everyone is perfect and every place is the most beautiful. This kind of positivity can be harmful to people who raise their expectations inadequately.
Same goes to our lovers. At first, we think that we met perfect people and we love them so much. But later we find out flaws. I mean, every person has some. That is when romance goes away. It doesn't mean we must stop loving or become pragmatics. It just means that whenever we see real life, it looks like real life. All the movie scenarios disappear. Well, maybe they don't disappear, but we also get a chance to live off the scenes and that is so often less interesting and filled with boring routine.
I would talk more, but I don't want you to understand me. I still want to look like a die-hard romantic.
P.S. I am a die-hard romantic.