Vicarious Travel Blog, Day 4: On this, the fourth day of travel, our fearless young globetrotters explored the area in and around Chester. Being with friends really makes all the difference.

My favourite way of traveling is visiting friends - and I was lucky enough to visit a lot of them in various countries. Having a friend as your tour guide who knows the area (or even calls it home), gives you access to the backstory of what you are being shown, and even the most mundane things become interesting. It’s because there is always a personal connection, a reason why your friend wants to show you a certain area or place. And when you are introduced to it, and learn your friend’s backstory about said place, then you too become connected to it and it turns into more than a mere tourist attraction. It becomes a meaningful memory.

Thomas and his girlfriend were taken to the horse races today. In all my 54 years I don’t think I’ve ever been to a horse race. How exciting! Would they have chosen for themselves to stop at the oldest horse racing facility in England to watch a race? I don’t think so. But I’m pretty certain that they are thrilled that they could experience it.

I certainly would be!