Delightful summer traps

For some of us, our summer holidays have already wrapped up, for others they are just about to start. Others are right in the middle of that blissful, perfect balance between departing and returning... But for most of us, this time of year is all about indulgence, letting ourselves off the hook to “bend a few rules” and embracing those summer “clichés”. After a year of sensible decisions, tight schedules, looming deadlines and balancing the books, it’s almost our right to surrender to a spot of senseless (and lazy) folly. For example, how can you not fall for the charm of a seaside restaurant with a tourist menu flaunting rubbery mixed fried seafood and blatantly overpriced dishes? Or resist the allure of exotic souvenirs (tajines, apotropaic masks, batik fabrics and various trinkets) that will lose all practicality as soon as you get back home...

And yet, here we are. On holiday, we love to go with the flow, put our critical mind on stand-by, and give in to a few “tourist traps”.

Should we feel guilty about it? Not in the slightest!

“Semel in anno licet insanire”, as the ancients used to say, meaning “once a year it is permitted to go crazy”. As always, the trick is to give each experience the value it deserves, to piece together the puzzle of the choices we make and to smile at our own nonsense, while being aware of what we have truly gained from the journey.

So... go ahead and indulge a little! It’s summer after all!
Enjoy your holidays❤️