Hello everyone! I am writing to you very briefly from Greece. I have been here for about a week now and I cannot wait to share with you all of my adventures so far.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and there is much unrest in parts of Europe and the rest of the world, I felt it was important to take advantage of this small window in which things are relatively stable. At least, they are stable enough for me to feel I could manage within my personal comfort zone.

But what made me travel? Where am I? Who am I traveling with? And where I am going next?

My Motivation To Travel Internationally Now

This trip was motivated by several things.

First, it’s been 2.5 years since I’ve traveled internationally. I’ve been chafing at the bit to get out there and have some adventures. Local Miami exploration, short trips around Florida, short stints to New York and Denver definitely held me over. But there’s nothing like leaving the country and entering a totally unknown culture and landscape. Even if you have to be extra COVID-safe to do it. For example, I got my 2md booster right before departure and I wore a soft N95 mask on all flights and in all airports with mininal time taking it off.

Second, because of COVID, I’ve been building up vacation days almost beyond the maximum I can accrue at my job. So it was time to book an extended period of time off just so I wouldn’t lose the days! I am honestly grateful for the generous amount of time my job affords me to take off each year. Accrual happens quickly and I am grateful that my supervisor supported such a long time to be away.

Third, I knew, or I thought I knew, I was going to be traveling to Europe for a wedding anyway. But I messed up big time with that part. I explain below.

The Missed Wedding :(

My cousin Lisa, whom I met in my paternal grandfather’s home town, was planning to get married last October 2021. We’ve maintained a connection since my visit, especially with her visiting New York back in 2017. COVID-19 prevented the date of that wedding from happening so they had to post-pone to 7-5-2022.

When she told me this, we both messed up this communication, since I read 7-5-2022 as July 5 and she intended it as May 7. We weren’t thinking to clarify when our countries write dates numerically backwards! Ugh!

I started planning earlier this year in anticipation of a July wedding visit to Germany in the middle of visiting other parts of Europe. Things were already set in motion, so when I learned the wedding was in May I knew it was not going to be possible for me to go anymore. BIG sad.

Alas, I sent my cousin a gift already and we agreed that we would have to try to visit each other another time in the future. I do still intend to do that, but not on this trip. Next time, I will plan a visit to Germany for a more meaningful amount of time.

Where Am I And Who Am I With?

I have been spending my time in the Greek Isles on this trip.

I have a really fun surprise to share: I met up with my old travel buddy, Carolina. You’ll remember Carolina, the Swedish woman I met in Iceland in 2014 and then met back up with in New Zealand several months later. We traveled all over New Zealand together, camping and hiking.

Carolina and I on the Bealey Spur Track in New Zealand

We had an amazing time and parting ways was difficult. Much has happened in both our lives since then—she has a daughter now; I don’t live in New York anymore. But we maintained a connection and it’s been so good to travel together again.