Minimize Travel Expectations

I have traveled to places with high expectations in the past

Only to realize the reality is different, quite fast

After hours of travel and braving long lines

The most famed sites lackluster I would find

Inclement weather and jetlag would add fuel to fire

And suddenly for travel I would lose all desire

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Now I deliberately keep my expectations low

I avoid in-depth research on the places to which I go

I try to travel with a more open mind

So that I take at face value whatever I find

I hope to be pleasantly surprised by every new place

But be prepared for challenges that I might face

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This is harder than it appears, once my travel plans are finalized

Travel content for that place shows up on my social media accounts, I’ve realized

That it is hard to ignore content staring in your face

So I end up looking at the airbrushed photographs of that place

Unfortunately I end traveling with notions preconceived

And get disappointed when differences between reality and instagram I perceive…