For A Birthday

Travel is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves.

Have you ever traveled for your birthday?

If not, I highly recommend trying it. Travel itself is already a wonderful gift. And ahead of you are new experiences, new connections, and new memories.

I love traveling for my birthday.

One of my favorite ways to spend it is by the ocean. For example, in Peniche, Portugal.

Peniche, Portugal

If you enjoy small, cozy towns where you can walk around in shorts and flip-flops, drink coffee while watching surfers, listen to the sound of the waves, eat fresh seafood, sip wine by the ocean, and watch the sunset, then you will most likely fall in love with this place just as I did.

Peniche is located on the Atlantic coast near the westernmost point of mainland Europe. You can truly feel the power of the ocean here, and when you look at the horizon, it seems as if there is nothing ahead but water and America somewhere far away.

Peniche is a place where the ocean is part of everyday life. People wake up to the sound of the waves, check the surf forecast, meet for coffee, and live to the rhythm of the ocean.

I have returned here many times and still find myself coming back in my thoughts. Perhaps it is time to visit again. In Peniche, it is easy to forget about rushing and simply enjoy the moment.

It was in Peniche that I celebrated my first birthday while traveling. On the beach by the ocean, during a surf lesson, surrounded by girls and guys from the surf camp and the instructors.

Sometimes the best gifts are not things. They are new places, new connections, new stories, and memories that stay with us much longer. Maybe that is why I love traveling for my birthday so much.

I celebrated another birthday during a solo trip to Montenegro.

Kotor, Montenegro

Kotor captivated me from the very first moment. I never expected it to be so beautiful. Massive mountains rising straight from the water, old stone buildings, narrow streets of the Old Town, and a bay that looks like a fjord create a truly unique atmosphere.

I enjoyed going for morning runs, wandering without a plan, discovering hidden courtyards, sitting in cafés, and watching the life of the town unfold around me.

It was my first birthday celebrated completely on my own. And I loved it.

In the evening, I went to a café and mentioned that it was my birthday. They brought me a piece of cake and sang a birthday song. It felt a little unusual, but also incredibly warm and joyful.

That was when I realized that there are many ways to celebrate a birthday. Sometimes the best way is simply to find yourself in a new place and let adventures happen.

I spent another birthday on my way to Canada.

On a Plane to Another Continent

According to Kyiv time, I was already celebrating my birthday while flying high above the Atlantic Ocean. Then, after landing in Vancouver, I found myself back on May 31 because of the time difference.

As a result, my birthday became a little longer than usual.

I once dreamed of celebrating my birthday on a plane. And somehow, without even noticing, that dream quietly came true somewhere between continents, more than 12,000 meters above the ground.

I have also celebrated birthdays in hotels in Kyiv.

In Hotels in Kyiv

Sometimes you do not need to travel far to feel like you are on a journey. A change of scenery, a night in a new place, a slow breakfast, and the chance to feel like a tourist in your own city can be enough.

So choose whatever feels right to you: the ocean in Portugal, the historic streets of Kotor, a flight between continents, or a cozy hotel in your own city. The most important thing is to give yourself new experiences.

Travel is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves.

Thank you for reading!