by 
We are currently doing our digital nomad experiment and for the past 5 weeks, we have traveled through Spain, visiting some amazing cities and doing as much as we could for the limited time we were in each location. It was exciting, fun, adventurous and exhausting.
Spain is vibrant; pulsating with life. It feels like everyone is awake until the wee hours of the morning. The zest for life was intoxicating and we found ourselves out and about much later than we would have been back home. I loved the schedule we kept in Spain. Every day we explored and if we had to work, we snuck in some exploration before and after our calls.
We soaked up every minute possible in Spain. And with so many different cities to see, we made sure we saw all that we could. But going at that pace for an extended period, living in and out of a suitcase and dealing with trains, cabs, planes and buses takes its toll. My adventurous side started to feel bruised and battered after so much movement and lack of sleep.
When we made this plan, we knew that we would need to choose a place to stay for an extended period of time after the whirlwind of Spain. We chose Florence, Italy and found a small cottage with a big garden as a place to rest, relax and restore our energy.
Florence is a beautiful city, rich in history and not that big. We are taking our time to see the sights, taste the flavors and experience the beauty of the Italian way of life. Our cottage is up a hill just outside the old city walls, so we are close enough to explore on foot, yet far enough for peace and quiet.
I love it here, especially our little home away from home. The garden is my favorite place. There are so many trees and aromatic plants. No matter where you are in our neighborhood, you can smell jasmine. In our garden, sage, rosemary and lavender grow abundantly. Just sitting out there is like having an aromatherapy session in a spa. All the green and scents have truly been healing.
I don’t think we could have chose a better place to restore our energy. Even the internet is spotty here which would usually be an issue, but causes us to slow down even more. I feel like I’m in my own version of Under the Tuscan Sun just ambling through my days, writing, loving and soaking up the abundant sunshine.
This adventure has opened my eyes to the meaning of feeling alive while active and at rest. When we were in Spain, everything felt alive. Even if I was asleep, I knew that life was being lived to its fullest. In Florence, I feel alive because I am taking the time to restore and for self care. Just being in the sun awakens my spirit.
Gratitude for this journey floods me.
I am grateful to have this experience and a partner who dreams big alongside me. I am grateful that the world is such a beautiful place with so many amazing places to see. I am grateful for all the sunshine, all the trees and all the people we’ve encountered. I am grateful that I have learned how to feel alive while moving and in stillness. I am grateful for my adventurous spirit and for my strong body that has sustained me through this journey. I am grateful for dreams come true…because they really do come true!
