Travel Therapy
The best and sometimes worst thing about traveling is you must take yourself wherever you go. Your recent joys and heartaches, your fears and your goals, your idiosyncrasies and your habits. Even traveling alone you are not completely alone, and there is solace in that; knowing that you can be your own best friend and companion is a powerful realization. Travel is also a fantastic opportunity to put your life into perspective. Being away from home allows you time and space to reflect and think freely and take a deep breath. Upon your return hopefully feeling a bit more grounded, a bit more sure of yourself, and more determined to follow your gut and tackle life head on.
Carnaval de Cadiz
I traveled to Spain to visit two dear college friends of mine who are currently living abroad teaching English. My trip coincided with Carnaval and we were thrust into a magnificently loud and colorful weekend. Carnaval is a festival centering around humor - specifically sarcasm, mockery, and irony which historically was commentary on the problems facing society and the Spanish people. Groups of performers in coordinated costumes sang songs on every street corner with multiple in the plazas, sometimes making it near impossible to get to your destination! The crowd was familiar with some of the songs and would jump in on the chorus and those who were unfamiliar laughed along as the performers sang their ironic songs!
Amid the crowds and an unfamiliar language I refined the functional Spanish that I knew and listened to the local accent. My friends, of course, were more familiar with the language and the cities but when I was without them I leaned into my own interpersonal, language, and travel skills to stay safe and get where I needed to be! There is always a moment when traveling alone where anxious butterflies take wing in my gut but I have learned and continue to take a deep breath, remind myself that I am strong and capable, and refocus on the task at hand. I also choose to see the best in people and have never been disappointed when asking a fellow traveler or person on the street for assistance. A friendly smile, broken Spanish, and some confidence can get you pretty far!
Sunlight on an iglesia in Murcia
I spent almost 2 weeks relaxing, journaling, and reading in southern Spain. While I didn’t fill my days with sightseeing or participate in a physical challenge, it was just the vacation that I needed. Leisurely wake up times, lots of wandering through old city streets with no true purpose, and afternoons sipping zumo de naranja in a cafe while journaling. I had all the time in the world to slow down and let my mind wander while I settled into a place of contentment.
Complete side note but prices for food and drink in southern Spain are incredibly cheap making it easy to not only eat healthy but to travel on a budget! The plane and train tickets were my biggest expense by far and being able to stay with friends also greatly cut down the cost of the trip. To keep the cost down in country I stayed in a hostel instead of hotel (cheap, easy, and like camp for traveling young adults!), didn’t shop for mementos, and cooked in with friends quite a bit. Even when eating out multiple times it didn’t break the bank as food is fairly cheap - 2 Euro for a classic breakfast of pan con tomate, or 35 Euro for a dinner for two!
Catedral de Murcia
Sometimes traveling gifts you with a reminder you didn’t know you needed. I grew up performing music in various capacities but since moving to Portland (and honestly since graduating high school) I have not so easily been able to make it part of my life. I attended a salsa and bachata class with my friend while in Murcia and was smacked in the face with the realization that I didn’t want dancing or singing to be activities of my past. Moving to music, dancing with strangers, and connecting with myself was medicine for my soul. I swear I glowed after that evening class and at my request my friend and I attended another class the following day and went to a social dancing club two nights after that! Traveling allowed me to reconnect with a part of myself while halfway across the world in a new city.
Jesucristo de Murcia
Adventurers, book the damn trip and get on that plane or reserve that wilderness pass and hike into the unknown. There you will find yourself waiting for you in all your complicated and messy and beautiful and imperfect glory. Take a journal and write about what you find, the memories you forgot, the parts of you that have been hidden, the things that deserve celebration and so much more. Remember, you’re never truly alone, and that is a superpower.