Travel Diaries
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New gate, same solo me
I made my way to the airport just like I have in the past eight years — on my own. All alone. And I’d make my way to my final destination the same way. In the beginning of everything, I would get dropped off and picked up. I had so many eyes on me. I felt so supported and protected. It went on for a good while. It’s not like I couldn’t take myself to the airport because I always did when I had to. That was one of the easiest parts after moving away from family and friends — being independent, getting myself to places. But on days when…
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Two Drinks and Five Hours of Patience
Hot but calm afternoon, clear sky; no signs of potential torrential rain, no canceled flights. As customary, when one is part of my family, I was running on a tight schedule. My mom was making dinner and hoped I’d eat before I left the house. “I won’t have time,” I said. But, in anticipation of the pitfalls of traveling, I fixed myself a quick bite so that I wouldn’t starve. My friend picked me up and we drove off. Although we were making good time, I’m always terrified of long checkpoint lines. At that moment, I wished I had left at least half an hour earlier or that the flight…
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Playing It Safe? Break Through
It’s either a nine-to-five with a 401(k) plan, be potentially set for life (but with a side of Sour Patch), OR swim against the current for an odd chance at doing what you really want. Our options seem so limited; break through that. I have not played it safe, and it’s come with consequences, but are we here to just ultimately show up to our funeral intact? That sounds like a sad purpose. As someone said, “Trust the still, small voice that says, ‘this might work and I’ll try it’.”
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That Time I Went to Oviedo
The year was 2012. I had planned to fly to Oviedo, in northwestern Spain, from Madrid. Two of the major economy airlines in Europe, Ryanair and EasyJet, often promoted low prices to that part of Spain — prices as low as 9.99€. Needless to say, flying would also be faster than taking the train or bus. We’re talking about potentially getting there in 45 minutes, as opposed to five hours by land. Ah, the beauty of European transportation… Before I go on with my travel adventure, let me tell you about the silly reason behind my trip. What really got me interested in visiting Oviedo was the movie Vicky Christina…
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Italy: an Adventure to Remember
In 2011, after years and years of buildup and much anticipation, I finally went to Italy for the first time. My then boyfriend had been captivated by the beauty of a small Tuscan town called San Gimignano. Naturally, I couldn’t wait to visit. He was right; San Gimi was simply beautiful. It is a lovely little town built within what looks like a medieval castle, up on the hills in Tuscany. As soon as I stepped in, I thought of two things: Christmas and a fairy tale. When you first see that town… It took my breath away. It looked like it was taken out of a Disney movie. I…
