Have You Truly Visited the North Pole After Flying Over It?

Whether you've flown multiple times over the North Pole while traveling to the USA in a Boeing airplane, it's important to consider the distinction between visiting and overflying. While you can certainly add visits to Russia, Canada, Japan, and other countries to your travel resume, taking a closer look at your actual experiences may reveal a different story.

Global Journeys and Fun Facts

Have you ever felt the thrill of embarking on a journey that takes you eastward to places like Russia, Canada, and Japan, or westward to lands such as Greenland, Iceland, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, and France and beyond? While this might make for an impressive travel story, it's worth questioning whether all these locations truly make up an authentic visit.

Picture this: planning an itinerary that takes you from your door to an American airport, then over the North Pole, and back again. Is it the same as actually stepping foot in Russia, Canada, or Japan? Most people might point to these locations as being visited without giving much thought to the reality. So, let's dive into what truly constitutes a visit versus a mere overflight.

How to Verify Your Travel Experiences

When it comes to verifying whether you've visited a place, one effective method is to ask yourself several key questions:

What was the weather like? Did you witness the local climate or experience it secondhand? How did you get around? Were you walking, taking a train, or perhaps exploring by car or boat? Where did you stay? Did you stay at a hotel, dorm, or any type of accommodation? What did you mostly eat? Did you indulge in local cuisine or is it something you heard others enjoyed? Did you catch the same plane/taxi/boat in and out of the place?

By reflecting on these questions, you can determine whether you've genuinely experienced a place or if your memories are rooted more in the journey than the destination.

Applying the Quiz to the North Pole

Let's take the North Pole as an example. On a flight over it on CI12 a few months ago, did you experience the harsh Arctic climate, witness the unique landscape, or immerse yourself in local culture and cuisine? Or, were you merely overflying on your way to a different destination?

When you can answer all these questions with confidence, such as details about the weather, the method of traveling, where you stayed, and the types of food you enjoyed, it strengthens the argument that you've truly been there.

For the sake of argument, here's how the quiz stacks up for the North Pole:

What was the weather like? I don't know, but the plane was warmer than usual. How did you get around? You typically walked for places you've visited on holiday but not in locations you've lived. Where did you stay? You didn't stay anywhere. What did you mostly eat? You didn't eat anything. Did you catch the same plane/taxi/boat in and out of the place? Yes, you did the same thing going in and out.

According to my quiz, you can confidently say, "No, I haven't truly visited the North Pole." This conclusion is based on the lack of direct contact with the environment, local culture, and the absence of a memorable experience.

Conclusion

While traveling can be enriching and fulfilling, it's essential to distinguish between an overflight and a visit. In many cases, small details like the experience of local cuisine, the method of travel, and accommodations can make the difference between a fleeting experience and a memorable one.

So, the next time someone asks if you've visited the North Pole, you can confidently say if it aligns with your definition of a visit, completing your travel story with authenticity and accuracy.