A Postcard from Bordeaux

The rain followed me everywhere in Europe it seems, from Munich to Paris + now to Bordeaux. So I spent most of my days here huddled under an umbrella staring at the cobblestone streets + listening to the rain fall in our hotel courtyard while I caught up on some work. After leaving Bordeaux, I’ll admit I felt a twinge of regret that my visit was so low key (I didn’t see any major sights or do any of the day trips I was hoping to). But Travel Annabelle typically has much more grace with herself than Home Annabelle.

Do you notice that certain parts of yourself show themselves more while you’re traveling? I like my travel self. I kind of wish I could be my travel self every day. Travel Annabelle is much more spontaneous + open to trying new things.

Sure, I’ll add Bordeaux to my itinerary at the last minute (admittedly, my hand was kind of forced here but I didn’t complain about it). Sure, I’ll try that scallop risotto with truffled lobster sauce even though Home Annabelle would have skipped it. Sure, getting lost for the afternoon + just wandering seems like a perfectly legitimate use of my time. I won’t even get mad about it. Because I’m in Bordeaux!

Travel Annabelle gets butterflies in her stomach over that stuff. And they’re the good kind of butterflies.

My travel self is much more present + observant of her environment. She makes time for museums + parks + that pastry shop on the corner. She people watches + reads books + finds inspiration in the tiniest of things around her. She appreciates simplicity, like a good glass of wine + some crusty bread. While I sometimes bring Travel Annabelle home with me for a while, she never stays long enough.

But I keep hoping that someday, she’ll stay for good.