My friend and I were discussing travel the other day and how we both do it. And as it turns out, we both do it very, very differently - as is pretty much the case with us in every situation. We approached every situation - money, planning, booking, budgeting, etc. - differently. So I thought it might be fun to share what I do when I travel. This particular post is about going with the flow - obviously based on the title : )
I'm fairly methodical when it comes to planning travel. I do loads of research beforehand, and map out where and when I want to go. There are spreadsheets and handy-dandy reference sheets involved.There are usually lists of things I want to see, and longer lists of restaurants I want to try. Let's just say I like to be prepared.
The worst thing I can think of is wasting my time wandering a city blindly, because I have NO idea where anything is or what I even want to see there. However, that doesn't mean I'm one of those crazy travelers that books everything down to the nearest second either. Those people are evil and should really loosen up a bit.
My plans are guidelines just to keep me on track. But if I forego the plans in exchange for something even cooler, then that's great too. If, for instance, I make a wrong turn and find a gorgeous street full of shop or maybe if I've read about a Stevie Ray Vaughn statue existing somewhere in the city, and I just happen upon it whilst checking out the lake. All of these instances are allowed in the Kristen Travel Plan.
The absolute best part of travel is discovering new and marvelous things. When you plan down to the minute, you focus too much on things you've already seen in your research and forget about the hidden gems. Those are my favorite things to find. And because I have some serious travel directionality (the ability to not get lost while in another state or even country, while still being able to get lost 1 mile from my home), I've been very lucky to discover some awesome gems, which just makes me crave trips and travel that much more!
Because of the EU referendum, England has been in my mind a lot today. I have no idea how it happened but England will be leaving the EU, and it seems most people are quite unhappy about it. I feel terrible for those people and have been silently wishing them good thoughts all day. They're going to need the good vibes over the coming months and years. The vote however doesn't make me love the UK any less. It's still one of my most favorite places in the world. And because of that, here are my favorites from my last few trips...
1. Of course The Globe is on the list! I mention the Globe specifically because I'm a Shakespeare nerd, however the other theatres I visited were also equally cared for. The Barbican in London and the Swan in Stratford are 2 of the best theatre experiences I've ever had. I'm in awe of how the arts are treated in the UK. It's a major focus which is amazing to see.
2. Next up are the gorgeous homes in the Cotswolds - not forgetting the gorgeous people of the Cotswolds. I've never felt so welcome and so taken care of than I did in the smaller villages. People are just genuinely kind.
3. York Minster Abbey is just as impressive is everyone says it's going to be. It's quite the feat of architecture. And the best part is, there are tons of other beautiful, historic and important buildings & churches scattered everywhere you look in the UK. I'm always in shock of the age of the places I'm looking at. To see them still standing and still thriving is just a testament to the dedication the monarchy and the government has for honoring the past.
4. Life - most specifically in some of the bigger cities like London and Edinburgh, but everyone is just so full of life. It's chaotic and crazy and noisy and maddening, but it's also exciting and a jolt to the system. Everyone is headed somewhere to do something. You feel like you're a part of something when you're right in the thick of it all. There are different accents and colors and races, and yet everyone is just sort of living and existing as one.
5. The green space. Even in a major city like London, there are little parks and spaces to go to catch your breath when city life gets a little too hectic. And the green spaces are actually green, with flowers and plants and trees everywhere. In the US, where most cities are pretty much just cities, it's neat to see a dedication to calm and tranquility as well as to the environment. I'm more of a city girl at heart, but wandering around a bustling village like Stratford surrounded by trees, a river and fresh flowers, I started to day-dream about a little cottage in the hills with a back garden of my own.
1. I drink excessive amounts of tea - seriously, there are days that go by when the only liquid I drink is tea in some form or another (cold or hot).
2. I root for the Baltimore Ravens, the Baltimore Orioles, the Washington Caps, the Maryland Terps and Phil Mickelson. I know next to nothing else about any teams that aren't on this list (and sometimes, I miss a few things about the ones that are on this list.)
3. I hate having people look at me. I'd much rather fly under the radar than milk the limelight.
4. I have an eye for design (graphics, typography, slides, etc.) I'm not saying I'm fantastic at creating them, but I know what looks good and what looks truly awful.
5. I'm a complete and utter fangirl when it comes to Supernatural, Sherlock and Doctor Who. I'm comfortable being a geek. It's fun and it makes me feel like part of community.
6. I've figured out the sheer awesomeness of Twitter but managed to completely lose the thread on Tumblr. (Seriously, can someone please explain to me what it's all about?)
7. I'm not nearly as brave as I'd like to be.
8. I attend church regularly, even though the Catholic church and I majorly disagree on some huge issues.
9. I've sort of found my own style when it comes to clothes. I'm happy with my wardrobe - but Pinterest does help quite a bit.
10. However, I haven't quite found my crafty style yet. I go all over the place and mix all sorts of creativity together.
11. I really want to live somewhere new, but I'm scared to death to try.
12. I understand a lot more than I let on. It's easier to make the other person think they're smarter than starting arguments.
13. I've been trying to be more responsible with everyday girly things - like washing my face before I go to bed and brushing my teeth twice a day (instead of only once), or actually getting my hair cut on a regular basis rather than whenever it's gotten too annoying.
14. I've never had a pedicure or a manicure.
15. My celebrity crush is someone most people have never heard of - Jensen Ackles - but boy oh boy, is he dreamy!
16. I can quote Friends in a heartbeat and rattle off character back story from The West Wing, but I've never seen classic movies like Star Wars or Casablanca. In other words, my entertainment knowledge, is just a bit skewed.
17. I'm not so great at the cooking, but much better at the baking.
18. I am always, always cold.
19. I still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up...
20. But I'm getting closer to figuring that out because I'm extremely happy where I am now and with what I'm doing. And for a change, I'm really good at it.
21. I'm a hopeless reader yet I guarantee, I'll never get to all the books I want to read. I'm not even sure I'll ever get to all the books on my shelf currently.
22. I manage to get lost going to places I've been millions of times, but drop me down in the middle of a foreign country and suddenly I'm awesome at plotting the course.
23. I hate carbonated substances including any and all soda, beer and wine. The bubbles make my tongue feel funny.
24. I feel completely comfortable in England, in a way I've never really felt here in the States before. The Brits are my people.
25. I've only been to a measly 15 states in the US. That's pathetic.
26. I've gone on a few dates this year, but I'm still hopelessly romantic. Basically, there were no violins, no love at first sight and no romantic strolls along the Thames, so there were no real sparks. But at least I'm trying, sort of...
27. For 3 months out of the year, I live in flip-flops and for the other 9 I live in boots.
28. I'm a huge fan of all things chevron and polka-dot.
29. I'm socially awkward and I wish I could change that. But it's not like a light bulb you turn on and off. It's just me.
30. I worry about everything at all hours of the day.
31. I re-read emails at least twice just to be sure I'm not embarrassing myself and that something that I'm joking about couldn't be taken seriously.
32. When I crave food, it's always something sweet and it's most always chocolate. As long as there's chocolate in the world, I'll be a happy camper.
Between everything that seems to be exploding here in the states this week and having to help so many guys with expense reports for England travel this month, I've been craving some London time like nobody's business. I mean, it's a pretty much regular occurrence for me to want to be living across the ocean. But this week, I can almost taste that British air. I know that they're probably just as manic and full of issues as we are here in the US, but it's just so very different over there. While they have scandal and corruption, they've seemed to deal with it just a bit better than we do; not to mention, a bit more civilized.
I know that it's just under a year until I'm back there again, but is it too soon to start counting down the days?
I will admit to often being behind the times in terms of technology. I can usually figure things out eventually, but I'm not often quick on the uptake. Exhibit A: I've just realized the awesomeness of Twitter. I'm still slightly skeptical that people care what we are all doing 24/7. However, I'm in love with its other uses.
It's now possible to follow cities, and whole countries on Twitter. How amazing is that? I've been following Scotland, Great Britain, and Edinburgh. Each day, they post pictures of beautiful places and ideas for trip destinations. After just a few weeks, my trip to GBR in the fall has gotten quite busy. Following the Frugal Traveler and Guardian Travel is also really helpful for getting the goods on travel deals and tips and tricks.
It's sometimes seriously fabulous to live in the 21st century. I can't imagine trying to plan a trip without the countless resources I've found online. Of course, there is a downside. I'm just a little, ok WAY, too excited by what I'm seeing, so the wait is slightly killing me!
