Tim Prince and his wife Robin in front of the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela at the end of their Camino walk.
Catholic Tourists travel through life from unique and fascinating vantage points. Today’s “Faith on the Move” interviewee is Tim Prince, a Catholic physician and an avid traveler. I have loved getting to know Tim online over the years and always enjoy his insights on travel. I know you will too!
Name:
Tim Prince
Vocation:
Physician (nephrologist)
Location:
Orlando, FL
Social Media Links:
Tell us a bit about yourself:
Native of Atlanta, I didn’t board an airplane until I was about 17. I like train travel but don’t see the American system being competitive in my lifetime. I usually forget that I get very seasick until it is too late.
How often do you travel?
Major family trip (2-3 weeks long) every other year since 1998. I also just started an annual trip last year with my two best friends. My parents and siblings still live in Atlanta, so I get up there about twice a year. The rest of travel depends on where our children are at the time (college, study abroad, etc.).
Is the majority of your travel for business, pleasure, spiritual enrichment, or “all of the above”?
Almost all pleasure. I do go to a medical meeting every year or two. My wife and I walked the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in 2009.
Inside St. Benedict’s Painted Church (1899) on the Big Island in Hawaii.
Where are some of your favorite destinations?
Seattle and the San Juan Islands, the Camino, Galapagos Islands, Charlottesville VA, Washington DC, Boston, Kauai, San Francisco.
How is travel a spiritual experience for you? How do you turn any travel opportunity into a pilgrimage?
I try to go to Sunday Mass wherever I happen to be traveling. This has led to some interesting experiences (e.g., Mass in German in South Africa; trying to confess my sins in broken Spanish; open air, exuberant liturgy in Costa Rica). When in Europe, I try to explore the local churches and cathedrals, no matter the day.
Have you ever had a “travel nightmare”? How did your faith help you through the experience?
When my wife and I were starting our honeymoon, we were to fly from Atlanta to Brussels (remember Sabena Airlines?), pick up a car, and drive to Normandy. Our flight was delayed so long that we arrived in Brussels shortly before 5 p.m. on a Friday. I called the rental car place from the airport and, not realizing that the busy signal I heard was actually the European ring tone, I kept hanging up before they could answer. I finally got the picture, and the car dealer stayed open for us until we could get there. It would be self-promoting to say that my faith helped me through…I don’t actually remember my state of mind at the time. We are pretty calm travelers, though, and do trust that God is watching over us.
What advice would you give to a fellow Catholic tourist?
- Go to Mass, at least on Sundays and Holy Days, wherever you are, if possible. You will recognize the liturgy even if you do not understand the language.
- Plan ahead and look for Catholic churches and Mass schedules before you travel.
- Pack a rosary–especially in Europe–so you can pray with the little old ladies who keep the faith before Mass and keep a lot of these churches open.
- Always, always contribute at least a little bit to a church’s upkeep.
- Be considerate: Even if you just want to look inside, check to see if there is Mass or prayers going on and move quietly. Respect local customs as well. There are churches that might not let you in if you are wearing shorts. Some churches will have head coverings or skirts to lend.
What destination is on your “must see” list for the future?
I was briefly in Ireland this year and would like to see more of it. Rural England and Scotland. I would like to do a bicycle tour, perhaps the Netherlands or the Canadian Maritimes. New Zealand.
What are some of your favorite tourism related websites, apps and books?
Trip Advisor: I enjoy writing reviews and posting pictures. I often use it to find inns or B & B’s instead of staying at chain hotels. Rick Steves, Michelin and DK travel guides.
Do you have any additional comments you’d like to share with our readers?
I have a lot of experience traveling with spouse and children. My wife Robin has a philosophy that each person traveling gets to have a “10” on the trip. That is to say, you get to name one thing (or place) that you absolutely have to do or see, and everyone else has to go along with it. Everything else is negotiable. We also had a rule–until the kids reached adulthood anyway–that electronics can stay in their possession traveling at the beginning and end of the trip but must be surrendered on arrival to the first destination. Cut everybody a lot of slack for having jet lag and just plain travel fatigue.
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About Lisa M. Hendey
