Our flights from Chicago, through Seattle to Portland were uneventful. We had horrible, long layovers, but that is the price you pay when you use air miles and are very conservative about how much time to leave between connecting flights. We were delighted to find all four bags waiting for us at baggage claim in Portland, so the travel gods were looking out for us.
Every trip is an opportunity to learn something. Most of what I learned on this trip wasn’t profound, but most of life isn’t either. Just to remind myself the trip wasn’t just about the destinations, here is my list for this trip:
When on a cruise, never have your hair cut on a “formal” day. You could end up with hair that is fluffed and sprayed to look like your grandmother.
Never take a suitcase you can’t lift high enough to get onto a bus. You never know when you will have to be your own porter.
Don’t assume you can use a credit card or dollars or Euros. Ask before you order that beer.
Whenever you have a an opportunity, recharge everything.
Look twice in the bathroom before you walk out of your hotel room, it sucks to leave the toothpaste behind.
Don’t trust the itinerary, look at your tickets to see what time the train leaves the station,
And get to the station early. It is very difficult to read the departure board when you are in a hurry.
Don’t count on cell service or wifi when you really need it.
Never pass on an opportunity to use the restroom.
Ask for help. Whether it is directions, reading the menu or proper etiquette, most folks want to help.
Remember this is your trip. Wherever you go, you can’t do everything, so just have fun and do what makes you happy.
Stop and take time for yourself. You don’t have to be a tourist 24/7.
You don’t have to eat everything at the buffet.
It’s not the end of the world if there is no blow dryer in your hotel room.
Save room for ice cream.
Remember to laugh.
I am sure I learned much more on this trip. The most important thing I learned is to be grateful I have the opportunity to travel and a wonderful husband to carry my luggage and share the memories with me.
This is the end for the Barbados blog. Over the course of the summer, I will try to bring you random thoughts as we visit state parks and federal lands around Oregon, so check in when you have a chance. Also, we will be updating the On the Road section of the website with more photos from this trip. For now, it is time to do some laundry, go to the grocery store, pick up the dog and start planning the next trip.
