Traveling IRL: April Insights
My first monthly update in awhile, and lots to update! I’m not so good at writing while I’m actually traveling— it usually ends up being more reflection than real time thoughts but I think I still prefer it that way.
I just got home from a 5 week trip around Europe after losing my job due to the USAID shut down in the United States as a direct result of our new President.
For Americans, 5 weeks of travel is such a gift. It’s not normal for us to do something like this unless we have super flexible PTO or work for ourselves. I knew I wanted to make the most of the time—the ‘funemployment’ if you will—to do what I like to do best, travel and reflect and learn more about myself through the avenue of seeing and experiencing the world.
I have been trying to implement a slower travel mindset into my travels and while my itinerary wasn’t that slow, I’m proud of how I did slow down at times and proud of how my mindset was more focused on being intentional about seeing and doing things that I actually want to do and setting time aside to write and think and just be in the spaces.
In five weeks I visited Germany, France, Spain (Mallorca), and Portugal. I spent one week in most places, aside from France where I spent two weeks.
My version of slow(er) travel also included MUCH less planning. I didn’t plan much in advance other than my lodging, which left me with a lot of flexibility to sight see and book tours or excursions based on weather or how I was feeling.
I completely recognize that travel for me can be a way to escape my reality, to run away from my problems, and while this trip was definitely that—I also wanted to be sure to take the time to reflect on what kind of a life I want to build, and use the time to both distract myself but also to stare down the barrel of the hypothetical gun of what the heck am I going to do next.
The gift of the time and money to travel like this is not lost on me. As I get older I am able to recognize this more and more and appreciate the moments that give me more perspective, that make me feel more deeply, and that make me feel really grateful to be alive.
More on the actual travel later, but for now here are some of my favorite pictures from the last 5 weeks.
