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2 Weeks travelling
on the road.
Thoughts and feelings

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Hello Friends.

I have been on the road again for about 15 days as of today. One thing that I love and hate, is how traveling solo is both exciting and lonely. On the one hand, you get to see all sorts of new places and meet new people. On the other hand, you often spend a lot of time by yourself. I think that's one of the things I love and hate about traveling solo.

You're constantly meeting new people, but most of them you'll never see again. It can be hard to make connections with people when you're only around for a short time. But that's also what makes traveling so exciting. Every day is a new adventure, and you never know what you'll find around the corner.

But venture on. I talked to my work in Vietnam, and it will not be till the end of March before I can return to Vietnam and my puppy @kooza (*missing that little guy). With time to travel, that is what I am doing.

In this post, I will talk about the first 15 days on the road, some expenses, tools and hurdles I faced and how I overcame them.

• Days 1 - 7 : were in Madrid, Spain.
• Days 7 - 15 : were (are) in Athens, Greece

Breaking down my estimated costs.

Item	Cost
Lodging	-$516.36
Supplies / Activities	-$330.65
Food	- $355.99
Coffee	-$66.46
Total	-$1269.46
Days on the road	$15
Average per day cost	-$84.63

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Looking at the above, some numbers don't seem right, and I may have placed them in the wrong location, however, I believe I am way over cost on this trip so far. The first week in Madrid, which was AMAZING, was a more expensive city than I had planned.

My goal was to stay at about $1,200 for the month, or $40 per day on average (tho more like $20 a day would be ideal). I do see ways to reduce some of these costs, such as staying in a hostel. However, I have not found one that feels right. I like to have a private space and most of the places I see, the bunks don't have a curtain. My first few nights in Madrid, I was in a hostel, and perhaps that is what I need to find again.

I am currently looking for places to stay here in Athens that would be $300 / $400 for a month. That would be good. Then I could cook more at home and save a bit more on the funds for outings and such... just not having much success in that department... yet.

The largest hurdle I have at the moment is just the funding or adjusting the level of cost (Quality of living) vs cost. A hostel, would cut the lodging costs in half, but the quality of life would go down (perhaps). The hotel I am in offered me a month's stay for $480. That would be from the 18th to the 18th of next month. This would also reduce my lodging costs a good deal, but the location is not in the best neighborhood of Athens, and I am not 100% sure this is where I want to stay for 30 days.

Also, the more I am here in the city, I find more affordable places to eat and spend time. So, I think over the next 15 days, I can reduce that cost down to perhaps an average of $30 per day... or, at least I hope.

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Thoughts on travel at the moment

Money woes aside, the experience of walking into a new city and seeing things that are epic, is life changing. It can be a great way to learn about other cultures and to see the world. It can also be a great way to meet new people and make new friends. Traveling can also be a great way to learn about yourself and to grow as a person, or at least that is how I think.

After all, growing up as a person is the goal in life. It is a never-ending journey that we all embark on when we come into this world. There are so many paths that we can take to get to our destination. It is important to find what works best for us and to stick with it. There will be times when we feel like we are not getting anywhere, but as long as we keep moving forward, we will eventually reach our goal.

That goal doesn't mean just becoming smarter or more experienced. It means becoming more compassionate, more humble, more loving. It means becoming the best possible version of yourself. So that's what I/we strive for every day.

When you travel, you quickly learn that you are not in control. You are at the mercy of the weather, the locals, and the other travelers. You quickly learn that you are not the most significant person in the world. You learn to be humble.

Traveling is one of the best ways to become more compassionate, I think as well. When you see the world from a different perspective, it is easier to understand other cultures and their customs. By traveling, you are also able to learn more about the plight of other people and their struggles. This can help you to become more sympathetic and understanding.

Lastly, there's something about being in a new place that just opens your heart up. Traveling makes you more loving, more compassionate, and more connected to the world around you. It's like all the barriers that you put up in your everyday life just melt away, and you're able to connect with people in a way that you never could before.

All said and done, traveling can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also be lonely and frustrating. It's important to be prepared for both the good and the bad aspects of traveling. Make sure to pack enough clothes and supplies, and be prepared for unexpected delays or problems. Most importantly, try to enjoy the experience and make the most of your time away from home. Things will work out as they need to if you are open to hearing it.

That's my story for today friends. I hope you enjoyed it and have a great day.

Cheers

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