This post is
happening because usually this time of year we are blissfully planning a trip
overseas to some new-to-us location. We are using Trip Advisor to help us find
non-sketchy places to stay, fun places to explore, and places to find the best
(and worst for you) desserts local cuisine known to man. This year, we
are not blissfully planning an actual trip, but we are planning for the
adventure of our lives. We are planning for our first-born child to arrive in
somewhere near 4 weeks!
While the unknowns
with having a baby and traveling to a foreign country are seemingly familiar, the
anxiety and excitement factor are much higher when planning for a new baby.
We are aware that
having a baby does not mean we will never travel again, but it is bittersweet
that we are hanging up our traveling hats and tucking our suitcases away for a
little while. But all of this has had me thinking for a few weeks that getting
out and booking a trip to foreign locations was one of the best things we have
ever done. In our entire lives. Period.
My first trip
outside of the US, Mexico, and Canada was to Spain. Looking back, it was so
random. Most people go to some well-known city like London or Paris for their
first trip to Europe. Not I- nope I hit the ground running with my hubby and
in-laws (cousins and all) in a random country and city after city after city.
We arrived in Madrid and I felt like I was already in over my head. I didn’t
speak Spanish- what the h*ll was I thinking?! Turns out it was fine, and
amazing, and I absolutely LOVED Spain. We went to Madrid, Segovia, Granada,
Seville, Barcelona, and so many places in between. We ate SO much ham we
thought we would never touch it again, and when we finally found a chicken
based food (donor kabobs) you would have thought we struck gold! We got in
trouble with our tour company for drinking more than our share of wine one
night, and we got completely and utterly lost in a walled city when I was in
charge of the map.
Turns out,
traveling is much like the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series… if you let an
Abby travel, she is going to want to do it again and again. So we weren’t home
but 2 days and I was already planning my next get away. So we sat down and
booked a trip (just hubby and I) to London, Paris, and Amsterdam the spring of
the following year. It started by me saying:
“Paris, I have to
go to Paris! I want to eat a baguette under the Eiffel Tower, drink wine
outside, wander through the Louvre, people watch, and eat the best macrons
possible!”
But I also had to
go to London. Everyone talked about London- and it’s British. I had to hear the
British accent in it’s homeland. Then hubby chimed in and had to go to
Amsterdam because he had a lay over there awhile ago and thought the city
looked awesome from above with all of it’s canals and such. Great! Let’s go! I
like water and boats, plus tulips come from Holland. I was sold.
So spring arrived
and off we went. London. OH. MY. GOSH. To this day I cannot get enough of
London. If it so much as resembles the British flag I own it. I want
need to go back. I dream of London, and I’ve asked my husband repeatedly if he
would ask his company to transfer him to their London office- to no avail.
Amsterdam was equally amazing. No, we did not go enjoy their ‘coffee shops’ but
we had a pretty awesome time. We got upgraded in our already fabulous hotel,
and we almost never left. Free booze in the lobby! Free espresso in the room!
Free food at breakfast! We were scavengers and are not afraid to admit it. We
wandered through the Red Light District and loved it. We got the munchies
without even going to the ‘coffee shops’ and ordered fries in a cone with mayo
and ketchup. You just have to… when in Amsterdam. We had the most delicious and
decadent treat in a local outdoor market- a warm, gooey stroopwafle. If you can
get your hands on one, do it- immediately!
And then we have
Ireland. We just went to Ireland last summer (2013) and spent two amazing weeks
traveling the entire country. This trip was enjoyed with my in-laws and my
husband. It was just a wonderful trip. I have so many memories that will last a
lifetime and I would never trade those memories for anything. We drove on the
wrong side of the road, five of us were crammed in a small car (van we
requested wasn’t available), and we had more luggage than anyone could really
need for a two week trip. We laughed over a pint (or 2, 3, 4, or 5) of Guinness
and Smithwick’s. I am so thankful for my family and travel.
Long story short,
just travel. Get out and do it. No matter your age or your financial status,
just book a trip and go. Think of it not only as an investment in your time,
but think of it as an investment in your life. Get out with the ones you love
and see places you have only dreamed of.
Life is short –
grab on and embrace it while you can!
