Do We Miss New York

Like all breakups, we needed separation to gain clarity.  Of course, next we went through the denial-bargaining-anger-grief phases.  Now we have emerged-- a bit shaken, but in one piece.  And we're finally ready to talk about it.

So here it is.  The first of our post-breakup posts.  We recommend you read it how it was written- with your favorite breakup pint.

What We'll Miss / What We Won't

Fancy cocktails / That cost $14

The Piano Guy in Washington Sq. / The Pigeon Guy in Washington Sq.

The Spring / The urine smell that follows

The Fall / That only lasts 5 days

Amazing West Village apartment / Tiny in all ways but rent

Everything being so close / Everyone being so close

World’s Best Restaurants / With the sauciest Maître D’s

The Shows / Time Square

Informed people / Protests

Living at the Center of the World / Fear of terrorist attacks            

Public transportation / RATS

The very best Police and Fire Dept / Sirens all night

But there are aspects of New York that are untouchable by our cynicism (as if New York needed our protection.).  The daily things like amazing tap water and personal drivers.  The museums and parks in a city so well laid out it gives evidence to smarter men having a bigger plan.  Challenging jobs that proved ourselves to ourselves.  The honesty that replaces manners and, with that, the freedom in knowing exactly where you stand with people.   The unique lives being lived in each window you see.  And the history on every street, every block, and every building of New York.   A history in which, by daring to live there, little you play a part.

New York, if you're reading this, we miss you already.

How We Planned our Itinerary Around the World

We NEVER thought it would happen.  With all seasons and hemispheres to contend with, we were in despair.  Blakely called off the trip or said we'd need 10 years to do it.  And then, it clicked.  

This is very loose and will absolutely change.*  And we're sorry we can't go to all of your places (see post on why we are skipping Europe*).  But cheers to having a great place to start.

*DISCLAIMER: RTW LOVERS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT, SHIFT, NIX, ADD TO, ENHANCE OR JUXTAPOSE (?) ANY PORTION OF THIS ITINERARY IN PART OR IN WHOLE.  PLEASE DO NOT BOOK FLIGHTS TO MEET THE LOVERS WITHOUT CONSULTING THEM FIRST (MOM).

Click Here to See It.

Match Souvenirs to Your Real-World Style

We've all been there.

You walk into a discount apparel store and, about 2 racks in, you get overstimulated by the cheap prices, buckets of purses, and plaid abundance.  One thing leads to another.  You fantasize about your new styled self pulling off some hipster-chic, oversized coveralls and that's when you black out.

When you finally come to, you're walking out with a bag of stuff you don't need, will NEVER wear, and give off a slight smell of stale cheese.  Just me?  K cool.

Well I run the same risk when visiting a new place.  I fall in love with the culture, the people, the history.  I hear the enthralling tale of the pottery master's rise to fame and become convinced I can work an Indian motif into our one-bedroom apartment.

I blame the tourist goggles.  I lose sight of my real identity and personal style and get swept away in my enthusiasm for new cultures.  Well that ends now people.  We're not doing a trip around the world to collect shot glasses.  But you don't need a World Trip to be proactive about your foreign purchases.  Below are 3 great articles I've found on the subject.  Read up and buy right.

And cheers to your real-world self meeting your travel self and loving her outfit.  Or at least her African mask collection. 

Article from Everygirl.com: 5 ways to Cultivate a Well-Travelled Home. Most amazing tip? Bring home spices from your trip and recreate your experience in the kitchen.  So simple and spot on.

Article from Huffington Post: The Souvenir Collections You Should Start.  Leave the magnets, shot glasses, and key chains where they belong- at the shop in the offending country.

Article from CNN: The Biggest Souvenir No-No's.  Great tips when purchasing for others.  Sorry, pal.  No one wants your leftover foreign coins.

 

We love Europe. But we aren't going.

We feel that you should know (in the name of full disclosure.  And since we've become so close) that (brace yourselves) our itinerary doesn't include Europe.  

Whoa whoa whoa cool it.  Here's why:

  1. Relative to other parts of the world, Europe is a fairly expensive region.
  2. We've been very lucky in the amount of times we've gotten to travel within Europe.  
  3. We feel most comfortable there.  And now is the time for discomfort. 
  4. The Main Reason: Most places in Europe are amazing no matter what your age.  And now isn't the time for that.

We aren't ruling out a quick jaunt to Spain from Morocco or hopping to a Greek Isle from Turkey (see Blakely plotting already?).  But for now, we'll have to content ourselves with knowing that we'll always have Paris.

That time we decided to travel around the world.

<Insert your favorite travel quote here.  Go on.  And make it an inspirational one.>

Our decision to take the World Trip was gradual and spanned over many years of our friendship and courtship.  The path was similar to how we ended up in love-- we can't pinpoint a moment where it happened.  It wasn't a conscious decision.  By the time we had the wherewithal to check, the World Trip was as much a part of our future as kids or buying a home.

We started to do research.  It is CRAY the amount of resources out there.  So many people do this.  There's even a checklist on exactly how to plan a trip around the world.  And Blakely LOVES checklists. 

So we put it off and put it off.  But finally we had to take the first real step...saying our dream out loud to someone besides each other. 

The range of reactions was fascinating (if it wasn't so terrifying.  And if this was an experiment and not our life).  The reality is: people have incredibly different feelings towards travel.  That's true in their own choices and it's true in their judgement of yours.  We were lucky in that we have incredibly supportive friends and family.  

And the others? Well there are always haters.  And as you could guess, we prefer lovers.

So we've decided.  And said it out loud.  We even went to a seminar.  And while there are so many hurdles to jump, decisions to make and tasks to check off, having the words out in the universe seems like the most significant of all.

Thank you to all the lovers.

Love,

Blakely and Ryan