So - today's the day! Apparently, I'm going to Barcelona. I sound so -
freaking - excited, don't I? To be honest, it still feels like it's 6
months away... just because it seems surreal that this day has actually
and finally come. In a few hours I will be sitting at the airport
awaiting my departure... and that seems kinda surreal.
I guess
I'm still kinda distracted by the fact that life, generally, at this
moment in time is pretty surreal. I've landed a new job as a Project
Manager (how freaking awesome is that?!). So... two days ago I quit my
job. And I think I'm just as stunned as my manager that I actually quit
(especially 2 days before such a huge vacation). This couldn't have come
at a better time. When I get back from this new adventure, I will be
starting a new chapter in my life... and damn, I am really looking
forward to a fresh start.
You can call me lucky, but... I'd like
to say that patience and perseverance is what really aligned the stars. I
deserve this very moment... and I am so excited to experience the new few weeks!
I don't want to make this moment about anyone else
but me... but I have to acknowledge that someone pushed me to make this
all happen. I'm a strong believer that decisions are inspired by who you
love, and who you find toxic. That's just how life works.
So thank you for inspiring me. I did
love you (and you were so extremely toxic for me). You taught me so much
about life and myself that I really can't resent you - I want to thank
you.
Thank you for pushing me to make my dreams a reality. You
always insisted that I deserve the very best. That I do. Sometimes I
feel that I don't but I know deep down that I deserve much better than
you. While you may not be the best for me, you did teach me to enjoy the
moment for what it is. And of course you taught me to push boundaries
to get what I want... So here I am - I wanted a new job so I found a new
one. I wanted to go to Spain - and today I'm finally pursuing what I've
dreamed of since I was a little girl.
It's time to focus on me
again. It's time for me to make my dreams come true. And it's time for
me to find the best life has to offer!
Cheers to an incredible adventure!
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Accommodations as a Solo Traveler
As if finding a place to stay while on vacation wasn't hard enough; there are so many factors to consider: price, location, cleanliness, reviews, security, atmosphere... and trying to find a nice home away from home as a single occupant is a rough ride. All the things you'd normally look for in a hotel are heightened, and sadly this comes with a price... usually doubled (this might be the only thing I think that sucks about being solo). But there are other options... hostels, AirBnB, bed and breakfasts... let's run through the pros and cons, shall we?
HOSTELS
I've never stayed in a hostel. Granted, not sure I've traveled any place where I would find one to be safe. But people, including my best friend, SWEAR by these places. In fact, the moment I mentioned a hotel I wanted to stay at in Barcelona, she gave me pretty much a confused-looking type of death stare which clearly read "umm, why on earth are you staying at a hotel?" So after some research, I found maybe 3 hostels that were worthy of my standards and they became options (great - but again, as if it wasn't hard enough to find a place to stay...). Here is what it comes down to:
Pros
- Communal (there are communal spaces for all travelers to eat, chill, do whatever... which result in a greater chance of meeting new friends)
- Cost efficient (staying in a 6 bed dorm can literally cost one sixth of the cost of a regular stay)
- Helpful staff (most reviews I've read emphasize how great staff were in helping travelers with plans, etc. I mean... it's a friendly atmosphere to begin with and there are a lot of solo travelers who do appreciate any help they can get)
- Solo travelers (more people just like me!)
- Excursions and activities (a couple places I found do evening activities, like pub crawls... that means even if I'm solo I can go bar hopping, get kinda tipsy... actually EXPERIENCE the wonderful nightlife and still make it back to my place safely as I'll be with familiar peeps)
Cons
- Shared spaces (I mean, sure I'll eat breakfast with peeps but I really don't want to share a room with others, and NO WAY will I share a bathroom)
- Privacy (again... shared space = no alone time)
- Noise (again... because you're sharing your room, people can come and go and interrupt your sleep)
- Security (again... shared space means really, anyone is in view of your stuff - providing it's not locked away)
So to wrap it up, there are more pros than cons, and really - there is only one con: shared space. Solution: single private room with ensuite bathroom.Which is exactly what I booked :) Of course it came with a price... but I truly believe it'll give me the hostel experience within my comfort zone.
At the end of the day, you need something comfortable. Nothing is as comfortable as my bed, especially as I lay here sick, sipping tea and writing this post... but you know what you need so trust your instincts and stay where you WANT to stay.
AirBnB? Bed and Breakfasts? I'll be looking into these options soon for Paris. Stay tuned!
HOSTELS
I've never stayed in a hostel. Granted, not sure I've traveled any place where I would find one to be safe. But people, including my best friend, SWEAR by these places. In fact, the moment I mentioned a hotel I wanted to stay at in Barcelona, she gave me pretty much a confused-looking type of death stare which clearly read "umm, why on earth are you staying at a hotel?" So after some research, I found maybe 3 hostels that were worthy of my standards and they became options (great - but again, as if it wasn't hard enough to find a place to stay...). Here is what it comes down to:
Pros
- Communal (there are communal spaces for all travelers to eat, chill, do whatever... which result in a greater chance of meeting new friends)
- Cost efficient (staying in a 6 bed dorm can literally cost one sixth of the cost of a regular stay)
- Helpful staff (most reviews I've read emphasize how great staff were in helping travelers with plans, etc. I mean... it's a friendly atmosphere to begin with and there are a lot of solo travelers who do appreciate any help they can get)
- Solo travelers (more people just like me!)
- Excursions and activities (a couple places I found do evening activities, like pub crawls... that means even if I'm solo I can go bar hopping, get kinda tipsy... actually EXPERIENCE the wonderful nightlife and still make it back to my place safely as I'll be with familiar peeps)
Cons
- Shared spaces (I mean, sure I'll eat breakfast with peeps but I really don't want to share a room with others, and NO WAY will I share a bathroom)
- Privacy (again... shared space = no alone time)
- Noise (again... because you're sharing your room, people can come and go and interrupt your sleep)
- Security (again... shared space means really, anyone is in view of your stuff - providing it's not locked away)
So to wrap it up, there are more pros than cons, and really - there is only one con: shared space. Solution: single private room with ensuite bathroom.Which is exactly what I booked :) Of course it came with a price... but I truly believe it'll give me the hostel experience within my comfort zone.
At the end of the day, you need something comfortable. Nothing is as comfortable as my bed, especially as I lay here sick, sipping tea and writing this post... but you know what you need so trust your instincts and stay where you WANT to stay.
AirBnB? Bed and Breakfasts? I'll be looking into these options soon for Paris. Stay tuned!
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Me, Myself y Yo.
So why am I going away for nearly 2 weeks alone to some foreign place where I don't know a single person? ... because I want to!
If you haven't know me for very long, you might be surprised to learn that I was once a very dependent person who wasn't comfortable doing anything, and I mean ANYTHING alone. But I suppose that's what a long, toxic, constrictive relationship does to you. When I had alone time I was bored, restless, often uncomfortable with my own silence and I would avoid it at all costs by calling family or going to bed early. I was so uncomfortable with myself. Why? I'm pretty awesome (granted I know that now, but back then I was in a relatively dark place). Maybe being alone meant I would actually think about life... think about what I wanted... my goals... how to get out of such a miserable place? Yup. That's what you do when you're by yourself.
Long story short - I ended my relationship, moved out on my own and was forced to swallow independence. The first month was tolerable... but I needed a pick-me-up. So one day I booked a flight to Orlando and decided to go to Disney World (my all-time favourite place). It didn't process until I called my mom and blurted out: "I'm going to Florida... ALONE!!". What the hell was I thinking? Yeah, I was sad, and I needed to get away... but seriously, the girl who can't stand 5 mins alone just threw herself into an entire week away from everyone.
With everything said and done, that trip was one of the best things I've EVER done for myself. I learned to enjoy my own company; I learned that at the end of the day, I'm in control of my life; and every now and then it's good to take risks (I went on a random date with a guy I had met the first night - umm, hello? Stranger danger).
A friend of mine suggested "why not save Barcelona for a special moment with a special person, like a honeymoon? It means so much to you." I could do that, but how much longer will I be waiting? Future opportunities are never guaranteed. But she's right that this means so much to me... and that's enough for me to make this happen now. So here I am... taking this risk. It's my dream trip.
_________
Flights are booked. Next step is booking my hotel, hostel, AirBnB... whatever it may be? Where would you stay and why? Stay tuned.
If you haven't know me for very long, you might be surprised to learn that I was once a very dependent person who wasn't comfortable doing anything, and I mean ANYTHING alone. But I suppose that's what a long, toxic, constrictive relationship does to you. When I had alone time I was bored, restless, often uncomfortable with my own silence and I would avoid it at all costs by calling family or going to bed early. I was so uncomfortable with myself. Why? I'm pretty awesome (granted I know that now, but back then I was in a relatively dark place). Maybe being alone meant I would actually think about life... think about what I wanted... my goals... how to get out of such a miserable place? Yup. That's what you do when you're by yourself.
Long story short - I ended my relationship, moved out on my own and was forced to swallow independence. The first month was tolerable... but I needed a pick-me-up. So one day I booked a flight to Orlando and decided to go to Disney World (my all-time favourite place). It didn't process until I called my mom and blurted out: "I'm going to Florida... ALONE!!". What the hell was I thinking? Yeah, I was sad, and I needed to get away... but seriously, the girl who can't stand 5 mins alone just threw herself into an entire week away from everyone.
With everything said and done, that trip was one of the best things I've EVER done for myself. I learned to enjoy my own company; I learned that at the end of the day, I'm in control of my life; and every now and then it's good to take risks (I went on a random date with a guy I had met the first night - umm, hello? Stranger danger).
A friend of mine suggested "why not save Barcelona for a special moment with a special person, like a honeymoon? It means so much to you." I could do that, but how much longer will I be waiting? Future opportunities are never guaranteed. But she's right that this means so much to me... and that's enough for me to make this happen now. So here I am... taking this risk. It's my dream trip.
_________
Flights are booked. Next step is booking my hotel, hostel, AirBnB... whatever it may be? Where would you stay and why? Stay tuned.
Monday, February 3, 2014
The start of something... Magical.
¡Bienvenido!
I am starting this blog to document the planning process of my (first ever!!) Eurotrip, to journal while I'm actually there and really just to have an outlet while things get crazy and surreal.
Remember, Ellie's Adventure Book in Disney/Pixar's UP? Well, being the crafty lady that I am, I actually made a real scrapbook based on the one in the movie. That was likely 3 years ago, and guess what? It's empty. Which is fine cause it's still labelled as "our" adventure book... I really should change that... anyways, it's not that I haven't travelled since then... I've been to Trinidad and Tobago, New York and Disney World in Florida (a good 3 times) but I feel like I've been waiting for something special to scrapbook in MY adventure book. Don't get me wrong, Disney World holds a special place in my heart and until 3 years ago... it was just a dream.
I also had another dream growing up. I would like to classify it as my "Paradise Falls". Barcelona. I'm not quite sure I remember what intrigued me about Spain... I mean, I don't know how I was exposed to anything Spanish at such a young age... Dora the Explorer wasn't born yet. My parents never travelled. No idea where this dream came from... but it came from somewhere and to this day I cannot wait until I step foot on Spanish land.
Why Barcelona? Why not Madrid, Valencia, Seville? Well, just saying "Bar-ce-lona" sounds magical. Add in the fairytale-esque architecture by Gaudi, the food, the beach... and hot Hispanic men speaking Spanish on the beach (Spanish is hands down the sexiest language on the planet)... and who wouldn't want to go to Barcelona?! And besides, every single person I know who has been lucky enough to visit has told me it's one of, if not, THE most beautiful city in the world.
Why now?! On my 25th birthday I made a bucket list of 25 things I want to do this year and on that list: Explore Barcelona and/or Paris. I knew I had to make it happen. Sometimes in life you just have to say yes and go from there. So... a couple weeks ago I booked a flight to Barcelona and a flight home from Paris. Notice I said "I"? Yeah, I'm going alone!!! (Not completely, I am meeting my best friend in Paris but that's 9 days into my trip and she'll only be around for 3 days... Womp. But more about that later.)
Stay tuned! The next post I'll discuss how I came to the crazy conclusion to travel alone.
I am starting this blog to document the planning process of my (first ever!!) Eurotrip, to journal while I'm actually there and really just to have an outlet while things get crazy and surreal.
Remember, Ellie's Adventure Book in Disney/Pixar's UP? Well, being the crafty lady that I am, I actually made a real scrapbook based on the one in the movie. That was likely 3 years ago, and guess what? It's empty. Which is fine cause it's still labelled as "our" adventure book... I really should change that... anyways, it's not that I haven't travelled since then... I've been to Trinidad and Tobago, New York and Disney World in Florida (a good 3 times) but I feel like I've been waiting for something special to scrapbook in MY adventure book. Don't get me wrong, Disney World holds a special place in my heart and until 3 years ago... it was just a dream.
I also had another dream growing up. I would like to classify it as my "Paradise Falls". Barcelona. I'm not quite sure I remember what intrigued me about Spain... I mean, I don't know how I was exposed to anything Spanish at such a young age... Dora the Explorer wasn't born yet. My parents never travelled. No idea where this dream came from... but it came from somewhere and to this day I cannot wait until I step foot on Spanish land.
Why Barcelona? Why not Madrid, Valencia, Seville? Well, just saying "Bar-ce-lona" sounds magical. Add in the fairytale-esque architecture by Gaudi, the food, the beach... and hot Hispanic men speaking Spanish on the beach (Spanish is hands down the sexiest language on the planet)... and who wouldn't want to go to Barcelona?! And besides, every single person I know who has been lucky enough to visit has told me it's one of, if not, THE most beautiful city in the world.
Why now?! On my 25th birthday I made a bucket list of 25 things I want to do this year and on that list: Explore Barcelona and/or Paris. I knew I had to make it happen. Sometimes in life you just have to say yes and go from there. So... a couple weeks ago I booked a flight to Barcelona and a flight home from Paris. Notice I said "I"? Yeah, I'm going alone!!! (Not completely, I am meeting my best friend in Paris but that's 9 days into my trip and she'll only be around for 3 days... Womp. But more about that later.)
Stay tuned! The next post I'll discuss how I came to the crazy conclusion to travel alone.
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