Arrivals
November 26, 2007 | Filed under: Oh The Stupidity You'll See, Planes trains and automobiles
“I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine.” ~Caskie Stinnett
My first trip to Europe was a weeklong visit to Rome to visit friends of mine who were studying abroad. Being beyond giddy about going somewhere that wasn’t Canada, I was full of endorphins upon landing. The rush of the sights and sounds carried me from the airport to Trevi Fountain to my friend’s apartment where I promptly saw a pillow and swore I would have it’s babies if I could just rest my head on it for a few moments. I felt like every fiber of my being, anything holding me upright, was being sucked out of me via my toes and my body was languishing and about to toss itself off the nearest precipice if I didn’t shut my eyes soon.
It seems that my body is a bit of a delicate flower and does not handle time change well. Yet I feel the need to keep pushing and pushing it by pretending that I don’t need to stinkin’ rest. It’s like I’m seven years old again and my bedtime is at 7:30 PM yet I just can’t sleep even though the need is made evident by my repeated thrashings against my bedroom door, but I fear missing out on something exciting by sleeping. Such is the reason for why I thought I was a bad ass my first day in Spain and instead of sleeping, like I so desperately needed, I stayed up until 2 AM learning the hard way that euros are worth more than dollars and drinking sangria. I woke up the next morning in tears and promptly fell out of the shower due to exhaustion and the worst hangover I have ever experienced since the night after my 21st birthday.
Before I left for France I knew that when I got back I would have a 36 hour turn around in NY before going to the west coast to Las Vegas and San Diego. My mind was all “FUCK YEAH!” and my body was all “You are such a dumb bitch. I’ll get you, my pretty.” The initial descent into Sin City was just fine it was the subsequent all-nighter that had me in the fetal position ordering room service for three days straight while everyone else ventured off to Mexico and made light hearted banter over cocktails in the hot tub. I spent four days in San Diego barely able to say my first and last name together. I spent four days known only as Heather from New York. Heather with no last name. I was like fucking Madonna.
Anyway, I’m back now and back into semi-top condition having spent the last week laying in bed or watching Weeds or sitting in my office with the door shut having a ‘moment’. Attempting to recoup several lost hours and days of my life that at this point are nothing but a foggy memory of pictures and sliced words and bits of paper found in my pants pockets. Each one reminding me that I went somewhere new, ate something and from the number of receipts from bars and the perpetual feeling of fuzziness, I’m pretty sure I had a good time.
whoorl says:
Any plans before Oklahoma? Please Jebus, say no.
Mrs. Flinger says:
Totally traveling virtually through you. Nothing like a vicarious hangover. (I prefer my drinking to be real, though)
BOSSY says:
You must stop making a habit out of Doing Amazing Things without Bossy.
kerrianne says:
“Heather from New York” has a ring to it. I like it. Now you just have to meet and marry someone British. And wear a cone boob bra, which is in fact on my List To Do Before I Die. The cone boob bra part, not the marrying British part. Cheerio!
Angella says:
I have been watching/reading your travels through Flickr & Twitter, and I must admit that part of me is envious. The furthest I have travelled lately is to Costco.
And you are totally “Heather from New York”
It makes you unique, amidst all of the amazing Heathers I know.
Suebob says:
Let’s travel somewhere fabulous together. Oh, right, I have no money. Forget it, then.
Isabel says:
Damn the exchange rate.
And dude, you remind me of the good things about traveling.
Sleep? Who needs it?!
Karen says:
You should have your own show. And if you do come to Canada, I hope you know you are more than welcome to drink my wine and laugh at my dumb jokes. My door is always open!
Maria says:
Time changes throw me off every time.
Sounds like you had some fabulous trips.
Jennie! says:
See, and this is why someone needs to invent a teleporter. So we don’t have to waste time in airplanes and cars and stuff.
AlieMalie says:
and in the end, the travel is worth all the time changes and messed up sleep schedules!
She Likes Purple says:
My dream is to go to Spain. I hope it was as amazing for you as I imagine it should be for everyone.