All that remained was a packaged hazelnut cookie. From another trip it was five cans of sardines, smelly and tasty. There was a small hand-painted bowl from the Chateau region of France and a ceramic mini-platter from Tuscany. A bottle of Spanish olive oil safely packed in our luggage and savored for months once home. … Read more
Travel is disruptive. When we travel we intentionally disrupt our lives! In a foreign land we’re unaccustomed to cultural norm. Not in our own bed, sleep isn’t fit. Food is foreign to our bodies. In an unfamiliar place, we’re slightly on edge. Routines do not resemble daily lives. Thus, whether for business or pleasure trips, … Read more
There’s nothing like being picked up at the airport. Knowing a friend or family member will welcome you safely back home is a lovely, affirming experience. You’re home! No sign is required. A friend knows what you look like. No schlepping luggage on and off the parking garage bus. What a relief! “People watching” at … Read more
The last one on the plane, ugh, is an unenviable position. The only seat available is surprisingly in the front row, the Bulk Head middle seat. All the other passengers have walked by and as the very last passenger boarding the plane, the only choice was that smooshed seat. Arms stretched straight by my side. Other … Read more
As much as we might poke fun at our default conversational topic, The Weather, it’s a logical “Go To”. We live in a natural world and as a friend recently suggested, it’s almost instinctual to check the daily temperatures. With climate change creating havoc around the world, we’re also much more aware of the weather’s … Read more
Leaving home feels so different than returning. Both have challenges and rewards. There’s nothing normal about the day right before leaving or conversely the last day of a trip. Our minds begin to anticipate the change. Sleep is restless. Emotions are mixed. Caught unawares, we’re readying ourselves for a transition. Life is about to be … Read more
Yes, traveling can be exhausting. We want to figure out where to eat breakfast, how to get from the airport to the hotel and around the town, purchase tickets to the top sights, procure dinner reservations etc…lots of logistics.Then, it’s the little things, the small inconveniences that remind us we’re in a different country and … Read more
Remnants, little messes, of a trip sprinkle our home, inconvenient piles of receipts, phone chargers, small change, and sight seeing brochures. They represent small, grateful monuments to happy memories. After traveling to Spain and Portugal we’re just not ready to store our reminiscences away. What vignettes will stand out? What will we remember from this journey? … Read more
Much had changed. Packing for a recent trip felt different. Instead of three bags, there was one, a “Roll-Away” that fit in the overhead bin. No baggage fees! Check! Clothes worked for both daytime and evening activities. Check! The coat was helpful in light rain and windy conditions without being cumbersome or difficult to pack. … Read more
Thank goodness we’re not all the same. How refreshing not to laugh at the same jokes. One person’s laughter sounds different than another’s! We love hearing all types of giggles! Last week a sold-out crowd of mostly women enjoyed “Mental Pause” at The DTC Comedy Club. Some of us gathered earlier for Happy Hour and … Read more