In Search of Blue Skies and Fair Winds...

(AKA the day we thought we were going to die...)

We were under a wind warning, and I could hear the wind howling through the cracks around my front door. I was supposed to fly out in a few hours, winging my way back to my country and family. WestJet had the flight listed as on time and good to go, so after a few last minute checks to ensure nothing was left behind, I made my way to the airport, enjoyed lunch, and settled in to wait for my flight.

My seat mates were from Calgary, Alberta, and we enjoyed some pleasant conversation while we waited to taxi down the runway. Then we took off. A collective gasp from everyone on board when it felt like someone had picked up our plane and shook us like a pair of dice. Up, down, sideways, that sudden stop that throws your stomach at your head...she grabbed my hand at the same time I grabbed hers, and we laughed hysterically. "It's like a rollercoaster," she said, and I replied..."but there are no rails! And I don't like rollercoasters!" And muttered something about having life insurance.

Later on, once the flight had leveled off, her friend a few seats ahead mentioned she could hear us laughing like loons at that moment we all thought we were going to die.

So a big shout out to Lana. I'm glad we met and that we didn't die that day, and I'm sorry you got snow this past weekend after that fantastic hot weather we experienced the week before.

This was my first real trip without family. It was a fantastic week to get together with an old friend, and explore the area with her. I enjoyed meeting a couple of clients, and I got some work done- a course I've been putting off in favour of doing other things, all good things, but still, it needed to be done. We ate out at interesting places and saw interesting things, we met interesting people and enjoyed interesting conversations with them.  We talked outside in the dark with a bottle of wine, we talked over breakfast on the patio watching the palm trees blow and listening to the birds sing. We talked while we hiked up Split Rock Trail, and talked while we hiked back down. We picked up where we left off 22 years ago, and it was such a pleasure to be with her again.

I learned a few things about travelling solo. If I did it again, would I change anything? You tell me!

So without further ado, here's my top 12 lessons learned while travelling without my family.
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1. Get to the airport early so there's less stress. Try to get enough sleep the night before so you don't take a wrong turn in the airport and have to run for security, like I did.
2. Pack light. Carry on luggage is THE way to go. In spite of just having carry on, I still over-packed. I brought a couple of extra t-shirts and undergarments "just in case"...nah. Take those out. Here is an interesting resource as a starting packing list. The benefit to this is more room for souvenirs for your bereft family.
3. Travel with an old travelling companion. You have your old travel memories to remember, and new ones to make. And the moment you're together you start to remember more than you had forgotten. Shared memories are a gift.
4. Talk to the locals. You learn so much from the people that live there. Places to see, things to do, places to eat at, and this year in particular, local opinions and feelings on the presidential race. And every single person I talked to, when finding out I was from Canada, wanted to know what I thought about our new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.
5. Call your family. It was hard to remember, to be honest. The time difference meant I didn't remember to call the kids at bedtime like I meant to. I did a slightly better job talking to or texting my husband, but not enough to his satisfaction.
6. Enjoy your solitude. Don't feel guilty! Maybe things aren't being done at home the way you would have done them...in fact, it's a certainty. But if part of the allure of travel was to get some quiet, solitude, and rest, then accept that it's a trade off and more than worth it.
7. Don't over-stuff your days. Give yourself some down time to wander the area, read a book, take a swim, or have a nap. Be flexible.
8. Check out travel deals in your destination on sites such as Expedia before you leave. I was able to score a sweet deal at Cabazon Outlets and get a great car rental rate. Booking ahead of time meant I paid in Canadian instead of US funds, which, as a Canadian, makes the most sense. They have wine tours, stargazing tours, and more. It's worth the time to check out what's available. If you find something you want to do, you will save yourself some money.
9. Pack a sweater. Or an umbrella. Even if your destination is known for hot and dry, there comes a time when you will probably want something warm and cozy to wear. I could have used it the day I went to Carlsbad, and definitely when I came home to 30*C cooler than when I got on the plane.
10. Calories don't count on vacation. According to a well-travelled friend, anyway. Let's just say I was really happy my jeans still fit when I got dressed the morning I left. Don't let fear of calories keep you from enjoying amazing foods you don't get at home. One of the best parts of travelling is getting to try new foods. If you're in Carlsbad, and you like chocolate, check out this place: Carlsbad Chocolate Bar
11. Do things you wouldn't normally get a chance to do. I found out after the fact (I was so disappointed!) that Bernie Sanders did a rally the night before I left. That would have been interesting to attend, and in fact likely the last political rally I'll ever be interested in attending. Politics are not my thing, and nothing here at home would be equal in scale to anything political in America.
12. Get to the airport early so there's less stress. Yes, I'm repeating it. I got to the airport with plenty of time to spare, and after clearing security was desperate for my first coffee of the day. I missed the courtyard Starbucks on my way up to the lounge, so went back down to find it. And started thinking about something else, which meant I entered the departures area again and had to go through security, again.

What travel tips can you share with me and others? What else am I missing? I would love to hear your thoughts in comments on this post.

Today is the beginning of my work week, since here in Canada we also had a holiday yesterday. I've got my work cut out for me. Be on the look out on facebook for my Tuesday soup series photo tonight, and the recipe giveaway post tomorrow. I've got a #testkitchen and recipe development day scheduled this week while I try to pull out new flavours and foods based on some of my recent travel finds, and a birthday party to plan for this weekend, as well as my tap routine to practice for our year end show.

I wish you a great week, friends, and look forward to hearing from you.

​Stacy