Eachtraíochta, dànachd, and more antur!

The Ancient Celts were, without a doubt, avid travelers. Commonly believed to have originated in Western Europe, the Celts spread out and settled in places ranging from Turkey westward to the British Isles. It is theorized that they travelled, in part, for commerce - seeking out source materials for their superior iron craft, and trading goods that they manufactured.

Perhaps more pertinently, the Celtic world expanded thanks to the prevailing Celtic spirit of wanderlust. To this day, many of their place names survive – by way of example, Dundee, from the Celtic term dunum, meaning fort - providing vital clues as to where the Celts trekked and eventually settled down.

Even now, after many centuries of domesticity, the thrill of discovering new places remains firmly rooted in our Celtic DNA.

There is nothing quite as delightful as poring over an old map and planning a new adventure - especially when we are enticed and encouraged to learn the history and points of interest at a chosen destination.

In the Spring of 2018, my family planned such a vacation - celebratory in nature - for a very special person, my sister Michele. Touching down at France's Charles De Gaulle airport, we enjoyed a whirlwind week in Paris - truly one of the greatest cities in the world. It is easy to see why the Celtic Parisii tribe nested on the Île de la Cité.

Travel has the amazing ability to gently nudge (or jolt!) us out of our comfort zone, requiring us to learn new skills and urging us to be a little less rigid and a bit more resilient. It is a gift - one that, years later, will evoke a memory through a sight, sound, aroma, or taste. Travel presents us with souvenirs that last a lifetime.

To a certain extent, we tend to take travel for granted, thinking - until recently that only limited economics or time might restrict our plans. Little did we anticipate that travel would virtually grind to a halt. So, it is with renewed enthusiasm that the coming year will see us once again pulling out maps, borrowing guidebooks, and navigating online travel sites.

In 2022, Celtic Life International will resume exploring the Celtic Nations once again as we return to travel. We are excited to share our January/February 2022 issue, with its focus upon sustainable and environmental tourism. Whether from an armchair, online, or on site - discovering the rugged coastlines of the Celtic routes of western Wales and eastern Ireland - we invite you to join us for the journey.