The Beauty of Traveling Lite
I’m Going Home Soon
I just purchased a sixteen inch suitcase.
It’s touted to fit under the seat in front of me on an airplane. I think I’m going to love it.
I looked at a dozen or more small suitcases and kept coming back to this one. It’s a London Fog. The design is pretty impressive.
I’ve been wintering in Spain for 18 years, but COVID put a stop to that for the last two years. I keep an apartment, a dentist, and a doctor there. Now I even have a cardiologist in the city of Malaga.
My apartment manager has been so nice to hold my reservation ever since COVID hit. It’ll be like going back home when I finally get there. I’m definitely not a tourist.
Back to my little suitcase, however.
For many years, I carried a small backpack. That and my purse were it. People were amazed that I could get by with so little. But hey, I have a washer and a dryer in my apartment so that helps.
I’ve also learned to travel lite and prefer it.
Unfortunately, my little backpack bothers my shoulders these days. So, I had to rethink my situation. This suitcase was purchased at Marshalls at a great discounted price. It has a nice shape to it and the interior is deceptively big. I’m having a ball arranging and rearranging the contents as I prepare for my trip. We’ll be gone for five weeks which is three weeks less than usual, but I can’t wait.
There are so many people and places that I am dying to see again.
I love the walkability of the Spanish towns. Everything I need can be reached on foot. If I decide visit another town, I can take a taxi, bus, or a train. Public transport is affordable and plentiful. Consequently, I’ve never rented a car while in Spain.
I live across the street from the Mediterranean Sea and the longest seaside promenade in all of Europe. It connects four towns. I can’t wait to eat the fresh catch of the day and a locally sourced salad at the chiringuito directly across the street.
I love our morning walks to get our breakfast which consists of a bocadillo, coffee, and fresh squeezed orange juice. I enjoy sitting in the local parks while watching children play or groups of old men engaged in a game of chess. I love the sunsets over the Mediterranean.
I love the professional manner of the waiters and taxi drivers.
I can’t wait to take a train from Malaga to Madrid. Train trips are the best. So much better than airplanes.
I love the countryside and the little white villages that I see from my window seat.
Of course, I’m looking forward to reconnecting with friends, people I’ve known for years now who hale from lots of different countries in Europe. I’ve been brushing up on my Spanish.
I suspect it’s reawakened my brain and will serve me well once I’m back in Spain.
Some days I have to pinch myself because it’s so hard to believe that this has been my life for 18 years. I’ve been fortunate to experience lots of different locations around the world as an “untourist”. None more than Spain, however. Spain is my home away from home.
No doubt about it.
So I’ll continue to prepare for a long overdue trip. My little suitcase will be christened with a name. Maybe I’ll call her La Dama, the lady.
I think she’s going to serve me well as I finally recapture the life I love.
Teresa is an author, world traveler, and professional myth buster. You can find her books on Amazon.
