Traveling isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, although I do firmly believe that many non-travel people can learn to appreciate it if they are exposed to it in a positive manner. My sister wasn’t a big traveler, but she’s come on a few trips with me recently and is warming up to the idea that travel to non-tropical destinations can be fun. Similarly, my dad hasn’t traveled out of the US much, so I don’t think he knows what he is missing.

We had a Bat Mitzvah to attend in NJ this past weekend, so we took advantage of the fact that we were all co-located and booked a trip to Spain and Portugal. I’m really excited to show my family what it is that I love about travel. New foods (and such good food!), gorgeous architecture, different rhythms to the day, and so many opportunities to build memories.

After fulfilling all social obligations, we set off for JFK. Anna-Sophia had a 6pm flight back to Boston and we had an 11pm flight to Lisbon. I have never in my life been to an airport so early. Never. In fact, this one day might’ve been more airport time than I have in a typical year, and I fly almost monthly! Since we had 7+ hours to kill, we headed over to the TWA hotel in Terminal 5.

I LOVE the TWA hotel! It is such a fabulous throwback to the 1950s/60s. I marveled at the photos of passengers all dressed up (I was doing said marveling in my leggings and a casual tank top since I fly only in comfy clothes). How very far the aviation industry has fallen – I’m happy now when I board, fly, and deplane and nobody got into a physical fight!

The hotel has converted an old airplane into a bar – genius! We killed a fair amount of time hanging out with “Connie” the airplane bar.

After subjecting ourselves to many hours of the indignities of modern air travel, we arrived in Barcelona! We found the B&B (a place I’ve stayed several times previously) and then grabbed a long overdue lunch. Any lunch eaten at 3pm that contains olives and sangria is a lunch I can get behind!

Since we were all dragging, we came back to the hotel to rest and clean up for a bit after lunch. I thought I’d stay up, but then my phone hit me in the face as I fell asleep setting my alarm so I accepted that I was totally dead-dog-tired and I slept. 59 minutes later, we got ready to go meet a cousin for dinner

I’ve only had a few deliriously tired hours in Barcelona, but I’m already enjoying it. Spaniards have definitely figured some things out. Less stress, good food, taking your time and enjoying things – these are the keys to truly experiencing a place and time, rather than just checking it off life’s great to-do list.