For 10 years, I dreamt of traveling alone. My Pinterest board contained thousands of aesthetic travel pictures, and I’d often picture myself on the Mediterranean beaches I saw in pictures. Media depicts travel as a chance to bask in the world’s beauty whilst simultaneously finding yourself; traveling is a dream, and I yearned for the unknown, the wanderlust, the freedom, the adventure associated with travel.
However, no one who travels for an extended period is quick to reveal the hard times, the process of adapting or how to navigate unfamiliar cultures. To friends or acquaintances, it feels silly to admit to craving trivial elements of home when you’re staying in the heart of Barcelona for over a month. How could one feel misplaced when they’re surrounded by gorgeous gothic architecture and exquisite Spanish cuisine in one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world?
Well, I’m here to tell you: it’s normal and okay to be overwhelmed, but there are ways to adapt and overcome. Once I decided to be brave, Barcelona revealed itself to me in a whole new light.
Adrenaline fueled my first week in Barcelona. The liveliness of the city swept me off my feet, and I felt enchanted by the newness. I visited Antoni Gaudi’s Basilica de La Sagrada Familia, enjoyed mouth-watering seafood paella and danced with my new friends at La Barceloneta Beach. Each night, I fell asleep absolutely content, dreaming about my morning croissant and café con leche.
As days passed, waves of longing for home rolled over me. I tried to deny the initial feelings and maintain a busy schedule, determined to experience my Eat, Pray, Love moment in bustling Barcelona. But, the moment I sat at the top of Montüic hill — overlooking the vibrant, opportune city — I realized I needed to take a step back. Although it took me a while to admit, I felt homesick. However, I planned to be abroad six more weeks, and I already felt dazed, lost and lonely… foreign in a foreign city.
I decided to take a new approach to travel by diving deeper into my mindfulness practices and adding in some routine. Yoga taught me your outer reality reflects your inner subconscious. I noticed things weren’t right when I felt snappy towards others or annoyed at minor inconveniences. For example, when I felt like crying because the bus driver flew by my stop (you must wave at them, or they won’t stop if no one on the bus wants to get off), I knew something wasn’t balanced within.
In favor of being completely spontaneous, I forewent my mindfulness must-dos, so I reinstituted my daily meditation and journaling practices. Somedays, it didn’t happen, but most days it did, and that was enough. I took time to reflect and write about what the city and social interactions taught me. When you’re uncomfortable, you can find comfort in the fact that you’re growing and evolving with each anomalous experience. Upon reflection, you can develop inner contentment in knowing you’ll always have yourself — the best, most-reliable company.
As days went by, I pushed myself to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, to be brave. Instead of feeling upset at inconveniences, I viewed them as an opportunity to grow, evolve and gain wisdom.
When I got lost and missed my tour reservation, I averted frustration by exploring the neighborhood of Encants. Had I not gotten lost, I would have never visited Mercat de Bellcaire — one of the oldest flea markets in Europe dating back to the 14th century.
Being brave and balanced enabled me to say yes when, on a whim, a friend invited me to Granada for the weekend. I thought about declining, as I already felt homesick, and I didn’t want to project my feelings onto anyone else. However, I decided to be uncomfortable and booked my flight. At the Granada “La Feria” Corpus Christi festival, we met a Spanish Olympian who invited us to their upscale beach party the next day. We ended up saying yes. At the party in Málaga, a beach town dubbed “The Hamptons” of southern Spain, we enjoyed reggaetón music, met fascinating locals and indulged in homemade Spanish cuisine. I put myself out there, and it turned out to be one of the best weekends of my life.
Now, as I get ready to embark on my homeward-bound voyage, I treasure every experience — the “good” and the “bad.” Both lead me to grow and evolve, to gain unforeseen insight into myself. The best travel advice I learned: be balanced, be brave.
Photos courtesy of Cabrini Klepper.
Cabrini Klepper feels passionately about yoga and meditation as gateways to living a more mindful, present life. When she’s not running or writing, she teaches at CorePower Yoga and the University of Colorado Recreational Center. She will graduate with a B.A. in journalism and minors in geography, business and sociology from CU. Cabrini was an intern at Jaunt Media Collective, the publishing company behind Spoke+Blossom, Covered Bridge and YOGA + Life magazines.Originally published in Winter + Spring 2022-23 issue.
