Ridin' Solo

One of the things I mentioned I'd do differently with 9 months off again was travel more. I know what you're thinking. More? We've traveled so much already! However, if I had the time again, I'd take more solo trips, because... why not? Once I traveled by myself one time, I realised (just realized I typed the alternate spelling!) that I could do it. And not only that -- I really enjoyed it. It was liberating!

After 4 months of Irish weather, I got tired of waiting around in the rain for my permit and decided it was time to take a break from Dublin and the non-existent summer. So, I booked a spur of the moment trip to San Sebastián, Spain & Biarritz, France, a couple beach towns in Basque country, to recharge with some much needed sunshine.

Playa de la Concha - San Sebastián

I had never traveled alone before. Sure, I've taken flights around the U.S. on my own, but that's peanuts compared to a week-long solo trip in foreign countries where I don't speak the language. Needless to say, I was nervous about it (and chose not to mention it to my parents until I arrived, because I knew they would worry and make me more nervous!). What is great about traveling solo is that it forces you to get over these nerves and out of your comfort zone. You have only yourself to rely on for directions, what to do, etc.

My first day was an excellent ice breaker for the rest of the trip. I flew to Biarritz, France, then figured out the bus to take from the airport to the train station, booked a ticket to Hendaye (a little French town on the border of Spain), transferred to a separate train station, booked a ticket to San Sebastián, then walked about a mile with my little suitcase (pretty sure this is where it broke) to the Airbnb apartment I reserved, to stay with a woman who didn't speak a word of English. I definitely had trouble reading train and bus schedules (not to mention that trains in France are often not on time!), and stumbled through communication, awkwardly blurting out 2-word sentences like, "Train... Hendaye?" 

 Once you get over the hiccups and feeling uncomfortable, the rest is amazing. I had intermittent lonely moments where I missed my husband, felt silly taking even a few pics of myself, or wanted to share my experience with someone (at least the beauty of modern technology means being able to share pictures, FB updates, Skype, etc. to make you feel more connected). Otherwise, it's great being on your own schedule -- you do what you want, where you want, when you want. You have total control over your vacation.

View of San Sebastián from Monte Urgull

I brought a few great books and spent my days running on the beach at sunrise, exploring the towns, people watching at cafes, chatting with my hosts and interesting fellow travelers, practicing Spanish, strolling the boardwalks and lounging in the sunshine. Just writing all that makes me want to do it all over again!

Cidra & White Asparagus - Basque cuisine

Sitting in Spain, looking across the harbor at France (right)

Best book to bring with you on a solo trip!

Evening routine - watching sunset at Playa de la Concha

I would absolutely recommend to anyone to challenge yourself to "ride solo" on a trip if the opportunity presents itself. It's an unforgettable experience and you'll be proud of yourself for it. I'll write a separate post with tips for women traveling solo (being a young woman, I know I certainly did a little research before taking off on my own). Next up though: I'll post about the San Sebastián and Biarritz trips themselves... stay tuned!!

9 Months

I have officially been working for over a month now... I can't believe it. My weeks are much busier now, hence the hiatus in blog writing (trying to remedy that now and get back on track!). In a short month's time, I've begun to settle into a routine and, amazingly, I find myself already returning to the TGIF mentality and looking forward to time off on the weekend. So soon we forget!

It's all too easy to say "the grass is greener on the other side," so I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my 9 months. First of all, the grass is indeed greener on the employed side. I'm thrilled to be working and by no means do I yearn for that stressful period of uncertainty. Looking back, however, there are things I would have done differently. 

Of course, hindsight is 20/20 and we had no way of knowing how long the road would be for me. Had I known, sure, I could've planned ahead and accomplished more, but I still have to be proud of my resiliency in the given situation. If I were to do it all over again though (and let's hope that never happens unless I want it to!)...


9 Things I'd do differently if I had 9 months off again:

1) Do it some place warm!

Ha! I've said many times that if I had all this time off near a beach, I wouldn't have minded so much :) A good friend of mine took a similar leap of faith and moved to Hawaii with her husband... that was a good call on the location. However, I know tropical paradise isn't always an option, so I would just travel to warm places more often!

2) Learn the basics that I need to feel like myself & be happy -- and DO them!

This sounds pretty straightforward, right? Well, it was a learning experience for me. It's so easy to get caught up in day-to-day life that you don't take a step back and ask yourself what you truly need to be happy. For instance, I learned something I already knew about myself -- that running greatly improves my mood/day -- but I realized even more how important it is in my overall happiness and how down I was when I fell out of my routine. So, I would be sure to take advantage of my time and work out like crazy!

3) Maintain PERSPECTIVE

As I alluded to in #2, I fell out of my running routine because, to be honest, I had many days where I felt sorry for myself and lost motivation. Then something would happen, or nothing would happen, and I'd snap back to reality and acknowledge everything I have to be thankful for. I have my health, I have healthy, loving family & friends, I have a roof over my head (and not just a roof - a 2 bedroom apartment in a nice part of town), I have this unique opportunity to live in another country and travel frequently, and I have my husband supporting me every step of the way. I would remind myself of this every single day!

Perspective => I LIVE here!

4) Treat myself more!

I pride myself on being a successful career woman, so the whole "our money" thing is something that I had to adjust to (and am still adjusting to). I used to love treating myself to a mani-pedi or a mini shopping spree after I'd closed a deal, but I feel guilty doing that when I'm not working, even when my husband encouraged me to do it! (another reason besides Botox that I wouldn't make a very good Real Housewife). If there was a next time, I'd keep perspective and realize I don't need it, but I'd treat myself every now and then :)

5) Take a page from AA / serenity prayer: 

"Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Simple as that. Accept that some things are out of my control, and do my best to manage what I can control.

6) Put 1 Thing on my To-Do List per day

A wise family friend who previously moved overseas gave me this piece of advice... I just wish I would've adhered to it more! By putting one thing on the list, no matter how small or how big, you feel a sense of accomplishment when you check it off. 

Special Thank You to my PIC (partner in crime) 

7) Say "Thank You" More

I would recognize that the ones who love you go through hard times when you go through hard times... and I would say "thank you" to these people more.

8) Do More of the Same

Ok, so I guess that's not technically doing anything "differently," but I would do more of everything that I did: write, read, sketch, photography, volunteer, run, travel/travel solo, learn a language, etc. I would continually try to learn more about myself, discover new interests, and find new intellectual challenges on a daily basis.

9) ENJOY IT!! 

If you're like me and your job is (or was) entwined with your identity, it can be difficult to distinguish between the two and enjoy prolonged time off work. I always thought I would be good at that...  not so much. Not that I didn't enjoy my time off -- I did, but I would try be more European and treat it like an extended holiday, as they all have told me to do!

What would you do with 9 months off?

Rome Itinerary

Rome is basically a massive outdoor museum, with a plethora of sites to see and ancient ruins popping up all over the city, so here are just a few tips/must-sees from our time in the Eternal City...

Where to Stay:

We stayed in Hotel Quattro Fontane (after Hotel La Fenice didn't have our reservation and called and made us another at their sister hotel!) near the Barberini/Fontana di Trevi Metro Stop. This was a good area - only a few minutes walk from Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, about 15-20 minutes from the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Termini train station. I would this suggest staying in that area, near Piazza Navona / Pantheon, or in Trastevere (Trastevere is a little farther away, but a cool neighborhood and, in my opinion, a must-see while in Rome).

Getting Around:

I would advise that, as with many Europeans cities, it would be best not to drive in Rome. The most convenient and cheapest way to get around would be the public transit system, not to mention that I'd personally be nervous to drive in Italy after our taxi driver told us that a "red light is just a suggestion." 

Metro tickets can be purchased at any Tabacchi (tobacco shop) and from vending machines at the train and metro stations. I'd recommend the BTI, a tourist ticket for €11 that is valid for unlimited bus and metro travel for 3 days.

**Also, even though Rome is more spread out than some cities, it is still very walkable and we did most travel on foot. So, transit tickets aren't essential if you like to walk! 

What to See:

Vatican City: Open 9 am - 6 pm, closed on Sunday - buy tickets in advance to avoid line - €15. Plan to spend at least a half day there. Highlights = 

• Sistine Chapel
• St. Peter's Square and Basilica - one of the largest churches in the world, spectacular interior, and contains tombs, relics, and Michelangelo's La Pieta statue (just make sure you cover your shoulders and legs to your knees - as you see in my pics, I had to use my husband's clothes to cover up! oops)
• Vatican Gardens
• Castel Sant Angelo (has underground passageway to Vatican)
• Raphael Rooms

 

Colosseum / Roman Forum / Palatine Hill:  MUST see - €12 admission for all 3 - spend a half day here - bypass long lines at the Colosseum by going to Palatine Hill first - go there, then the Forum, then the Colosseum and you'll wait in virtually no lines! 

Trevi Fountain: one of the most famous fountains in the world - there are lots of rules on how many coins to throw in for different outcomes, but toss in a coin to ensure your return to Rome!

 Pantheon: free admission, closes at 7:00 pm

Piazzas (not to be confused with pizza!): One of my favorite parts of Rome is relaxing in the Piazzas, having a glass of prosecco or enjoying a gelato, viewing the art and street performers, people-watching, etc. Most popular piazzas/squares in Rome (first 4 are my fav):

Piazza Navona                                                 Campo di'Fiori
Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps)                     Piazza del Popolo


Piazza Venezia                                                Piazza del Campidoglio
Piazza del Pantheon                                        Piazza Santa Maria (Trastevere)

Piazza Navona

Cuisine:

Well, Italian food is incredible.. plain and simple! Some Roman pasta specialties include Carbonara, Amatriciana, Cacio e pepe, and Gricia. There are loads of amazing restaurants (just do your research to avoid tourist traps!), so I'll just share one suggestion. As I mentioned in Part 2 of our Rome trip, I had the best pasta of my life at Hostaria La Botticella a Trastevere and would absolutely insist on going here!


Enjoy :)