Say Cheese

 As I wander in Ponta Delgada my first day, got to orient myself a bit.  Mosey, just to take it in.  I bopped into the next of the series of museums.  The natural history exhibit was filled with grinning subjects, posed for eternity…

Gratitude

 The gratitude I have to be here is immeasurable.  I fill up with gratitude so many times that it has to spill over.  The empty cup I arrived with is now filled to the brim, with life, beauty and appreciation.

 

I made it here.  It’s been a long time coming.  I’m tired.  So much of my emotional and physical energy has been sucked dry by work.  And now is my time to decompress, to regenerate and release what had built up over time.  

 

And I am so so thankful for this opportunity- to experience this beauty, this freedom, this change, this time.

 

My first day I moseyed and wandered Ponta Delgada in Sao Miguel, Azores Islands (Portugal).  Found the Museu Carlos Machado series of museum, the first being within a church, St. Sebastian.  Often times epic, sometimes one ancient European church just looks like the next.

 

Not this one.   The sanctuary of Church of St. Sebastian featured intricately carved wood, thousands of scrolled spirals chiseled delicately with gilding.  This felt like my welcome, my sign I’m supposed to be here.  Spirals draw me in.  

 

I slowly take it in.  Each time I gaze I see more.  

 

The beauty is overwhelming. I’m charmed at every each new angle, each glance I notice something new.    If I am to cry, it’s here in sanctitude.  Gratitude, so much gratitude.

Time

 That first cafe.  Stellar fresh meal at INTZ 48. Grown with herbs from his garden.  The sesame crusted goat cheese al horno was incredible. 

 

Slow food, connected, dynamic  service by the owner/ gardener.  Call me darling and pull me a triple shot of espresso.  I gave my profuse compliments to the chef, as we slid between English and Spanish. 

 

Waiting, eatingslowly , sipping slower, savoring.  This meal highlighted something precious I now have, time.   

 

Time previously ruled my days, driving my body to a new home, on the hour every hour for another session or  meeting.  Eating lunch in front of my computer, in my car, while driving… Driving in circles in NE Baltimore city and county.  With document due dates constantly looming, never enough time to type, but always spent too much time typing.  

 

I am no longer operating at maximal efficiency.  

Hanging for the First Week

 My first accommodation, I brought by bed along with me.  I’ll be tucked away, hanging in an ecovillage.    There are some other campers, a few cottages and the owner’s home; there are a few couples staying there, two are French, one Spanish/ Portuguese and one Colombian/ Italian along with a French family of 3.  Other guests on the property include dozens of chickens in their own enclosure along with 3 cats and an unexpected new guest a kitten that I snagged off a lava rock wall as it was squealing, desperate up there at sunset.

 

We have a shared outdoor kitchen, composting toilets and solar heated showers, rugged and everything we need. 

 

The town is small and utterly charming.  This island feels quite serene.  I’ll share more about the location after I have left, for safety. 

 

It’s a bit tricky posting while here, as I don’t have WiFi access.  I use airalo to download a local Esim card on my phone, but it is slooooooo going.  And there are 4 outlets total for all of the campers!

Hurry Up and Wait

 Hurry up and wait is a theme of travel for me.  Acknowledging this pattern allows me to move more smoothly through the stages.  It was very relevant on this first day, as I rushed around the day prior and the morning of to get all the last details in order and then re-pack my bag, stuffing last items in and abusing the zippers.  Trying to get out the door with La by noon, for him to zip us to the train station.

 

I arrived in good time, the train is running late.  Hurry up and wait!  Hustle and then sit or run and then wait in line for an hour.  It’s the ebb and flow.   Accepting that waiting is integral and knowing that planned elements will change allows for ease.  My train to New York was then seamless transitions to the Long Island Railroad to then the JFK Air Tram (following significant research).  It all lined up!  I got to JFK 5 hours before my plane departed, way too far ahead, but better wait than hurry through NYC rush hour trains!!!

Later a storm passed through while I was at the gate at JFK, the airport ceased operations for an hour, so our flight was delayed two hours.  I waited, patiently, appreciating that I could sit or walk the terminal instead of being stuck on the plane for that time.  

Bringing my dinner to avoid paying $20 for a terrible airport sandwich.  I’d rather wait for the delicious meals ahead!

 

Last year, I was flying home from Sweden after visiting friends and  at the airport quite early, they had just started allowing people to check bags, everyone was on the same flight.  We had been in 3 lines for a while, sifting through to the attendants as they opened to check the next person.  We were all going to the same place with ample time.  When I was at the front of the line, we were shuffling with the other lines to check our bags, when I was first in my line, I let someone at the front of another line go before me.  Then I got pushed on the shoulder from behind.  Turning around quickly, with a “please don’t touch me”, an overly anxious person said “you should have gone”.  Stressing too much about the hurry up, they didn’t acknowledge the 2.5 plus hours we still had to wait.  

Getting Out the Door

 I am muchhhhhh better at logistics, planning and organizing documents than I am at managing objects, clothes and gear.  This is very evident in my preparation and packing. 

 

I create an extremely detailed itinerary with my every move and stay, with contact information.  Then I just get to live what I have lined up for myself and not having to figure out where I am going, just navigate how to get there.   Digital folders with PDFs for every night’s stay, each document I might need to refer to, insurance policies and all the factors I can think of. 

 

My bags?  Basically a bursting disaster.  I’m in the air now and am not convinced that I my backpack will arrive with in tact zippers.  Yoga mat?  Got it.  Enough food to feed myself for 5 days?  Yep.  Also hammock, tarp, sleeping bag, cooking set, coffee/ filters, zip ties, and a dozen supplies I will have “just in case”.  I have set myself up for persistent weight lifting, while moving for the next few months.   Obviously I can downsize along the way, but I don’t want to be wasteful. 

 

The thing is that having everything I need makes me feel set up and safe.  However, this trip might be a practice in learning I need less than I think I do.

 

This trip has been in the planning stages for almost 2 years.  Despite those efforts, I was shoving things in on my way out the door.  One of my best friends La was gracious to take me to the train station, he was downstairs giving me time checks as I shoved things in and tried not to bust zippers. 

 

Spent too much time planning and not enough actually packing, which is biting me in the ass.

The duffel I put my backpack and camping gear duffel.  Made it just under weight restrictions (hand to forehead)

Saying “See you next time”

 The hardest and worst part of my travels is knowing that my travels will cause people I love stress and to worry.  And to miss my family and my people and having them miss me.  The goodbyes were especially hard this time with my nephews, they gave me hugs for every holiday and birthday that I will miss with them while gone.  Feeling the distance more because we are so used to being close. 

 

My last two weeks before leaving/ the first two weeks of unemployment were so so special.

 

• The last day of work, I flew to be with my sweetheart, hillie in Austin.  She curated opportunities for deep rest and recuperation in Austin: a divine float tank together, yoga, massage.    We delighted in bike rides, swims in the springs, LOTS of espresso (thanks to my personal barista ;) and many shared delights.  It was hard to leave, but wonderful to know she will be joining me in Greece!
  

  
• Returning to Baltimore for time with family hanging with parents, babysitting the boys, spending the night to hang with Kate (seastar) and Tyler (best BIL!)

• Lunch with dear Berwyn friends, laughing soooo hard, digging deep, enjoying the time.

• The biggest surprise Bon Voyage dinner party at Anne and Steve’s charming forest home with the friends-like-family from growing up.   The people that mean so much  to me, always have an always will.  

So so so  grateful for my people and all of my Baltimore community.