Your holidays are over. Do you have to stop the rest, relaxation and enjoyment of new experiences? If your daily routine requires adjustment, read on for some tips to shake things up.
Last week I returned from a very satisfying trip overseas to Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. Though this was also a "work trip," much of what I did was familiar and fun. Enjoying usual activities -- like playing ping-pong and shooting pool with my best pal, sitting outside on his patio evenings to enjoy cocktails and make conversation, and spending an afternoon at a lakeside park -- every day was full.
Additionally, we added some new adventures, driving through Germany and Belgium into the Netherlands for the main purpose of seeing Bruce Springsteen live. Though the concert was the highlight for him, our trip to Amsterdam included other bonuses: a stay on the top floor of a beautiful hotel, a boat ride on famous canals, and sampling the wares of the city's infamous "coffee" shops.
Walking around the city the first day, we discovered the Oude Kerk (old church), located in the center of the famous red light district. Across from the church were several cafes, and the Old Church Bar -- an inviting locale we visited several times during our stay.
Outside in the bar's "beer garden," I drank one of their menu items and specialties: an espresso martini. (My sister had introduced me to the drink in Costa Rica when we visited that country in December.) The cocktail did not disappoint, so I had two over the course of a few hours, taking sips while enjoying pleasant conversation, the constant passage of interesting-looking people, visits from birds and other locals, and listening to the chiming of the church bells high above our heads.
Of course I enjoyed every minute of my working vacation, because I was with one of my favorite people, and I got to experience new sights, sounds, foods and culture.
Stepping off the plane into the airport upon my return home caused an immediate pall to fall over me. I was "home" -- my current state of residence, anyway -- and back in the place where responsibilities and routine awaited. The vacation was over.
Driving away from the city and through the greenery of forests and pastures toward the town in which I live, my mood lightened some. After all, I was on the road once again, seeing different sights as my eyes moved across the horizon as I drove.
Closer to home, I retrieved my other best pal -- my dog -- and pulled into my gravel driveway 15 minutes later. Though I'd been awake over 36 hours, I wasn't too tired to haul my suitcases into the house and unload some of the items therein.
After a good night's sleep, I woke the next day to more unpacking and questions for myself regarding what to do next. Of course I had to take care of daily business, like walking the dog, making breakfast, showering, laundry and the like, but I didn't want my vacation to end just yet. Did it have to?
Making an afternoon visit to the tavern in which I work part time, I ordered an espresso martini, transporting myself via my tastebuds back to that seat just outside, in the confines of the Old Church Bar, extending my vacation. The cocktail was one way of living just a little bit better than I had before I went on my trip, and tasting the cold coffee and liqueurs was enough to take me back to Amsterdam.
It was then that I began seeking out other ways to continue my vacation and destroy the routine that so plagues me some days. Though I had to eventually return to work and the activities I was used to doing on a regular basis, couldn't I live as if I was still enjoying time off from my normal life?
For a week now, I've been thinking of other ways to upset routine and regularity and play like on vacation. Below are some of the ideas I've come up with.
1. Continue the journey.
Driving along the highway on my way home from the airport and the big city the day I arrived back in the States was enough to grant me peace of mind to reflect on all the great things that happened during my two-week European escape. Driving kept me in motion and was a breath of fresh air after being on a plane for 11 hours; with the cool temps blowing in through my Jeep window, my vacation lasted 90 minutes longer as I journeyed home.
The day following my return, I simulated that expedition by taking a mini road trip to buy groceries in a city farther away than where I normally shop. The best part about it was that I was mobile once again, and doing something to change my regular routine.
At the store, I treated myself to a whole slew of healthy foods to make up for the gastronomic sins I'd committed during my trip, also buying a few new items to try. Taking a different-than-usual route home through hills of farmland and around winding curves, I made my mini-adventure a tad bit different. Though short, it was a pleasant trip. And I wasn't stuck at home doing laundry all day. That could wait.
ROUTINE-BUSTING/VACATION-EXTENDING TIPS:
Break up the daily grind and extend your vacation by taking a walk down a different street or driving a more scenic route to work.
Go mobile to run a not-so-urgent errand to somewhere out of the ordinary. Take your time.
Buy yourself a food or beverage you've never tried before, or something that reminds you of your vacation.
Take a road trip through beautiful scenery, listening to relaxing music or a great podcast.
2. Visit new places.
On my first post-vacation day off (almost a week after arriving home), the destination chosen to escape again was a dog-friendly national park and historic place not too far away. We skipped breakfast, setting out in the morning before the park opened and arriving before anyone else.
The air was crisp and clean, and the smell of the pines was invigorating. All of my snapshots were of giant trees, green meadows, and rocky paths -- dog included in most. The feast of nature was another cure for my Fernweh, or yearning for faraway places.
A healthy walk that simulated a hike was enough for the dog, who turned around after only a mile or so. Without having eaten breakfast, we headed for home, taking a detour through a nearby town. There, we sat outside (like I had at the park in Germany and the outdoor cafes in Amsterdam) at a brightly-painted red table. Coffee, a cinnamon roll to share, and a meal for each of us were enjoyed at the small cafe I'd never visited but had heard great things about. The waitress was very pleasant, and the food came out quickly.
Sitting outside at the Covered Bridge Cafe in Stayton -- sipping coffee, people-watching and enjoying the sunshine -- I felt like a tourist. Though I bank and shop for groceries in that town, it was like visiting a new place.
ROUTINE-BUSTING/VACATION-EXTENDING TIPS:
Visit a national park, museum, or forest near your home. If you've seen it before, go to a different wing or unexplored area of the park.
Take time to notice the little things wherever you are.
See or spend time in a town you've never truly visited before.
Enjoy a drink or a cup of coffee outside in good weather, or inside during inclement weather (but near a window), and have that cinnamon roll.
3. Experience local culture and foods.
One of the best parts about going on vacation is eating and trying traditional foods, especially when in another state or another country.
In Germany I ate grilled salmon served with steamed white asparagus and tender potatoes with Hollandaise sauce, a Flammkuchen (like a thin-crust pizza with various toppings), and a homemade Hawaiian-style beef stew. With those foods I enjoyed regional wines and a Black Forest vodka, among other drinks.
Needless to say, a bottle of Grauer Burgunder came home in my suitcase, and it is chilling in my icebox for a special occasion. Mixing it with some soda water, I'll have created a Weinschorle, or wine spritzer -- great for summer evenings.
What to do when the wine is gone? No interest in recreating a German dinner? No matter. The world we live in has so many offerings of local and regional cuisine, no matter where we are.
ROUTINE-BUSTING/VACATION-EXTENDING TIPS:
Check your maps app for a unique restaurant near you, invite a friend, and try it. Look for German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Thai, Polynesian...whatever! Let your tastebuds do the traveling, and take your time.
Shop at a local farmer's market or at a nearby farm, buying produce you've never cooked. Make an evening out of enjoying new recipes.
Something you truly miss from your vacation and want to recreate in your own kitchen? Google the recipe(s) and have a dinner party. Or deliver leftovers to someone who's housebound or recovering from an illness. Don't forget about your neighbors.
Eat something different! Even if it's at home. Try a new food.
The local liquor store or grocer should have a large selection of imported wines and liqueurs. Make it an adventure by choosing a bottle of something you've never tried, or something you've always wanted to taste.
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