New York Visit

 Meanderings Abroad  No Responses »
Nov 152024
 

I may have left it too long for my memory to recall our/my latest trip to New York City. It was nearly a month ago now and it seems that despite my promises to update about the trip, I have only just now remembered. Guess that’s part of the brain fog era of life that I am in. Anyway, let me see what I recall.

First, the main reason for going was to attend a book writing retreat with the company I do some editing work for. Initially, I was going to teach a full session, but as it was my first time to meet everyone on the team and see what the work would require, I decided to just attend as a participant so I could get a sense of everyone first. This turned out to be a good idea.

When I decided that I was going, my mom and I thought it would be fun to combine a short mother-daughter trip to the City. So, we got to work on finding out what shows were on and getting our tickets.

We saw three shows: Oh Mary!, Six – the musical, and YellowFace. It was a mix of show types, and Oh Mary! was definitely my favorite. I enjoyed the others, but they just weren’t as entertaining.

During the days, we did a lot of walking in different areas of the city, taking in sights and enjoying some of the eats on offer. Although Mom probably would have liked to see more museum exhibits, we didn’t go to any…. Still, it was a good time.

Since M decided he didn’t want to spend time apart a few months ago, he joined the trip on the day that Mom went back home. He had to entertain himself for three of the days, but he seemed to have survived.

The retreat was good, interesting, and motivational in seeing how the company works, learning about people’s ideas for books, and reminding me why I love reading, writing, and editing. I’m amazed at how just saying YES got me there.

So, that is what the NYC trip entailed. Overall, I was reminded of my love of the crazy city that is truly an entity of its own. Despite the increased level of noise and scent of MaryJ everywhere, I fell into a comfortable groove walking around, interacting with Americans/New Yorkers, and just being a part of the pulse of the city. I had missed it, to be honest.

Hopefully, it won’t be another ten years before I return again. Next time, I’d like to see more shows and eat even more food! Haha!

~T 🔥🐉♋️

Hello from Paradise

 Going Mental, Meanderings Abroad  No Responses »
Dec 132023
 

My happy place has always been by the ocean. When I started to travel, I learned that there were warm beaches unlike the chillier one of the Oregon Coast, which I still love in many ways.

Still, when given a choice, I would prefer a warm beach, blue sea, and golden sand.

I’ve seen a number of beaches over the years that have come close to this ideal. But, this…this is something else.

We are spending 8 nights in the Bahamas on Paradise Island. Although the island is man-made, the name is appropriate for the water and sand that is all natural.

Although I am still sick, we are slightly jet lagged and the weather is as temperamental as my partner’s moods sometimes 😅, it is rather amazing to see the blue of the water and the glow of the sand when the sun ☀️ shines.

With that, time to get back to enjoying paradise. More to come.

~T 🔥🐉♋️

Traveling….

 Going Mental  No Responses »
Dec 062023
 

I’m still alive – a cough lingers in the chest even after almost two weeks, but not suffering. Nothing that a bit of time in the sun can’t cure in a few days.

In the meantime, we are in London for a few days. Will try to update on this part of our winter travels in a few days.

Until then, stay warm and healthy!

~T 🔥🐉♋️

Palma Majorca (Oct 28-31, 2023)

 General, Going Mental, Meanderings Abroad  No Responses »
Nov 062023
 

Ladies’ trip with the fabulous A.N. in Palma Majorca (Mallorca) is a wrap with wonderful memories, lots of laughs, much chit-chat, and as an overall amazing experience.

First, about Palma – the Spanish capital of the Balearic island of Mallorca (Majorca in English spelling). It’s an interesting city with a mix of flavors in architect and dishes that come from European and Moorish influences. Even good ol’ Gaudi has had his hand on some of the sights. It’s a smallish town that can be walked around in about an hour, but there’s enough to entertain for a short holiday whether a sightseeing history buff or one in need of some retail therapy.

A and I were keen to catch up and decided a little trip might be just the ideal opportunity to do just that with a bit of travel as well. The four days flew by really and we had a great time seeing Palma, taking the train and tram through the mountains to the northwest side where Soller (soyer) and the port are located, doing a bit of pampering at the Hammam and eating some delicious food – some local and some not.

Overall, I would go back again as we did skip going into some of the attractions as we weren’t so into hopping on or off, but if I never went back I wouldn’t feel as if I missed anything major either. It might be a nice little Spanish getaway for a long weekend and worth exploring the other side of the island another time, but … I’m glad I went and I enjoyed it fully, but don’t necessarily need to go again. 🤪

Here’s a link to all the photos and videos, if you’re interested: https://photos.app.goo.gl/cUtNU7iSA7382PTM6

~T 🔥🐉♋️

Mixed Emotions in Travel

 Going Mental  No Responses »
Nov 012023
 

There is a mixed feeling of awe and sadness when I look out the window of a plane as it takes off into the air leaving behind the ground below. 

The awe is amazement for the technology that makes flight possible in a big chunk of metal and a mass weighing hundreds of pounds somehow soaring in the atmosphere above. 

Thanks to this technological advancement that we often take for granted in today’s world, we are able to see different lands, experience new cultures and share in humanity with those we may never have known existed before. The expansion of our world views is awe-spiring. 

Then, there is the sadness. The land and constant world below continues to move and function even after I am no longer in amongst it. It is a reminder of my insignificance in the grand scheme of the universe. It is a realization that the connection of the moments and experiences in the space below is either cut or temporarily suspended. 

Somewhere deep inside is a well of sadness and confusion in this mix of emotions. 

Many years ago a similar chunk of metal lifted me into the skies and severed the unknown ties I had in an eventually forgotten world below. It would be twenty or more years before I would touch upon my native soil again. Yet, I will have taken many more flights that transported me from one place to another in those years increasing my awe and further burying the sadness within. 

It is the understanding that I am able to return someday and a willful naivety that allows me to say that I will be back again – but probably won’t. 

Emotions swirl between excitement for a possible return and a sad knowledge that the likelihood is slim. 

Yet, there are some places that do draw me back. 

Despite having seen a significant amount of Japan, I keep returning. Even with a mixed relationship with my birth country, I go back as a visitor but never as a countrywoman. Obviously, I see my loved ones in the country that I identify most with although I have no intention of ever returning to it full time.

In these cases, familiarity does not breed complacency, but complexity. 

Perhaps this is the way of life – finding acceptance in the in-between of these conflicting emotions that remind us of our insignificant humanity in an amazing world. 

~T 🔥🐉♋️

PS – pics and updates on my trip to come…

Warming Up for Traveling Days

 Going Mental  No Responses »
Oct 282023
 

It’s been a bit busy this week with final electrical work being done on the kitchen, changing of seasonal clothes around in the closet, yoga and tennis, plus preparing for my long weekend ladies’ trip to Palma Mallorca.

I haven’t been to Spain for a proper visit in quite some time, so it is nice to explore a different part of the country on the Balearic Island of Majorca. Also, I love that I can speak a bit of Spanish to brush up my language skills.

This is the beginning of our traveling period as I’ll be here for four days, then back for a week before we head to Japan for two weeks and then back for a couple of days before we go to Florence for a couple of days and return again for another week or so. Then, it’s the big troop to the Bahamas, Christmas in Oregon, and back to the Bahamas for the new year. It’s gonna be a whirlwind! But, soooo much fun – we are both very excited.

With all that, I feel grateful to have a day to myself before my friend arrives. While I am super excited to have some ladies’ time, I am also happy to have time to myself as M and I have been together quite a lot lately and the travels will be a lot of togetherness and with others too. So, a little quite time is always good for me to recharge and store up!

Anyway, I’ll post pics of the trip when I get back!

Until then,

~T 🔥🐉♋️

A Bit of Holiday in Western France

 Going Mental, Meanderings Abroad  No Responses »
Aug 082023
 

Although our lives are admittedly in the realm of “every day is a holiday”, we did take a week to really be on holiday. M has always wanted to surf in the Atlantic, so we headed that direction from our place in the Var, France.

To break up the journey a bit, we revisited a few places that we had been to before when we first got together and M brought me to France for the first time to see if I would like it here. Remember, this was always meant to be our “final destination” – that was before Italy hit our radar. So, we stopped for a night in Carcassonne, which is a wonderful medieval town. We stayed within the castle walls this time as well, which was rather amazing.

From there, we headed for our almost week-long stay in Biarritz. This is a well-known seaside town for surfing and seafood. It was a great town even if the weather did not cooperate for the entire time. We still got a few days of surfing 🏄‍♂️ (for M) and beach bumming (for me) in before a storm came through with wind and rain that made the waves 🌊 too big for those who care about their lives. 🤪 We probably could have stayed one or two fewer nights there, but it did give us a chance to explore around a bit more.

One day, we drove into Spain to visit San Sebastián. It was a bit too grey to fully appreciate, but it was still a cute seaside town as well. Of course, us being as fickle as we are briefly considered whether or not it was somewhere we could live. Fortunately, neither of us were overly enamored with that particular place, so we said no. 😅 However, it was nice to hear some Spanish and feel the flair for a couple of hours.

On our way back, we stopped in a town called Espelette – famous for its pimentos 🌶️ . Apparently, it’s one of the only places that these can grow in France due to its particular climate at the bottom of the Pyrenees mountains 🏔️ . So, we explored the town and, of course, bought some pepper products. 😬

I’ll try to get some more pictures posted soon, but am still editing at the moment as my vacation-mode has not yet fully turned off. 😜

~T 🔥🐉♋️

A Peripatetic Lifestyle

 Going Mental  2 Responses »
Oct 312022
 

The other day one of our friends told me as I was recounting our movements for the next few weeks that we were living a peripatetic lifestyle. I had never heard this word before, so they explained it to me. It’s true.

Beyond just our travels, we tend to live this kind of life because neither of us are cut out for “settling down” somewhere. I blame my early formative years on having a feeling of angst if I stay in one place for too long. I can stay within the same country for ages, but living in one place is strange. Also, I blame my parents (or father, really) for passing on the need for changing something whether it is a house or a car/truck. To be fair, they didn’t move around much once I joined the family until I had already left home. 🤪

Similarly, M has his ADHD tendencies along with his general inclination to always be looking for the next “big” thing.

While I generally like stability, I also enjoy a sense of refreshment and the excitement that comes with the new. However, these days I think that my tolerance is lowering as along with the anticipation usually comes anxiety. It seems that middle-age for women also brings increased levels of anxiousness, which I really don’t need.

A former therapist introduced me to the concept of chronic anxiety disorder and how it can get absorbed into the body. I know that I probably suffered from it quite a bit when I was younger. I have developed reasonable and effective coping mechanisms to not let it overtake my life, but recently I have noticed that my “buttons” are more easily pushed so that the levels go up rather quickly. Sometimes it is just from driving in the small towns. Sometimes it is my husband’s temperamental mood swings. Sometimes it is not knowing where the pups are. Sometimes rational, sometimes not.

All this to say that my comfort with this peripatetic lifestyle may have a limited expiry date, but for the meantime, we have just returned from a great time in the UK. We are off this week to France and then to Milan just before I head State-side to see my family for the first time in far toooooo long!

I will try to keep updated here, but I make no promises. 😁

~T 🔥🐉♋️

Adriatic Getaway

 Going Mental  2 Responses »
Aug 072022
 

We finally made some time to get away for a few days.

Friends of ours agreed to housesit for us to take care of the cats and pups. Although we could have taken the puppies, it was easier to and nicer to have them safe at home with people we know.

Based on recommendations, we decided to try the other side of the country with beaches on the Adriatic Seaside. Italian beaches are generally fine rock sand or big rocks, much like the “beach” in Nice. Therefore, the northern part of the country is not so popular for seaside visits. Still, since we had not yet visited the other side of Italy yet, we decided to try out the area of Cattolica, which was north of the recommended area of Fano or Senigallia, and south of the more popular and well-known one of Rimini.

While the sleepy seaside town was actually pretty busy, we did not necessarily love the area. However, we/I did love getting away.

For the first time since getting the puppies, I was able to sleep 8 hours of solid sleep! I read most of the day on a bed, dipping into the warm sea now and then. It was very relaxing for me. Though Matt did work and didn’t sit out on the beach as much, we both renewed our need for regular getaways.

So, for just about three hours drive, it was a much needed and enjoyed holiday!

~T 🔥🐉♋️

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