When the clock struck 12, I was already fast asleep with an alarm ready to go off 20 past the hour. I didn’t care to see the sparkly ball drop. I was home alone with two children, with one just receiving the okay to join the world again. Two days before, while standing in his cardiologist’s office, it felt as if this wind blew against my back and then, quickly blew right past me. Dust in the face and all. I knew that strength would dissipate into a hearty breath and slow crumble of relief. The anticipation of that was off-set by another thing..
A vacation. And so 20 past the hour, I committed something to myself for myself. No-one needs writing or a surgery to push them to take a pause for themselves, but having that combination made the purchase of my tickets a brief high. Yes, a vacation because everyone needs a vacation. BUT a vacation after a particularly trying season of life? This one is necessary, I thought.
Tonight I’ll pack my bags and head to New Orleans alone for a few days. Holed up in a hotel room in the morning drinking coffee, at night with cocktails by the bar, the afternoon, at a park with a beignet, and words hopefully finding their way out and on paper in a city that never ceases to inspire.
Besides trying to sleep in, I can’t think of anything else I just need to do. Help!
What’s one thing you just have to do when traveling alone?
P.S 5 days in Paris
(Photo by Doug MacCash of ExhibitBE mural)
Backstreet Cultural Museum, Mardi Gras Museum, WWII Museum, Folk Art Museum, The Gumbo Shop (in the Quarter), Cafe du Monde, Press Street Station (food and art gallery), Frenchman Street for music, Satsuma's for lunch, Angelique Boutique on Magazine Street, Magazine Street has a bunch of cute boutiques where you can walk up and down and check out, the tree of life next to the zoo, and take a street car. Enjoy New Orleans! 🙂
Museum's, coffee and macroons oh the Shakespeare bookstore because it's Paris
Go to Preservation Hall and listen to live music while in Nola
For me the most important thing while on a solo vacation is to not use social media as much as possible. And to listen to yourself. If you don't feel like leaving the hotel bed for the entire time, so be it!
Go to an outdoor flower market and get yourself a few.