I remember a time from before the EU when travelling abroad was a huge privilege and even getting out of the country was a challenge for some. Everyone had an allocated annual $50 spending money, which even in the 1980s wasn’t a lot. I made a commitment then to collect as many stamps in my passport as I can. Every stamp I got felt like a political statement at the time, the Adriatic sea was the most striking location that made me feel like the queen of the world, and little objects like seashells I collected on the beach were proof that I managed to get out, even if only for a limited time. Such tiny mementos, but nonetheless important in shaping my view of the world, and making me want to see more of it. Granted, the stamp-collecting effort was somewhat thwarted by the opening of the borders within the EU as nobody bothers with stamps anymore. But the commitment still stands, I just don’t count the achievements in stamps anymore. Maybe even seashell are less exotic now, but I still keep and collect them to remind me of the days of the past and what’s yet to come.

This post is in response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: Tiny.
For more pictures visit my gallery here.