Roaming Rogue

Well, here it is: after months of planning, I am officially on my sabbatical! I have been waiting to take my sabbatical for years. I am so grateful to work at a company that has offered this in the past (hopefully they can bring it back in the upcoming years). 

For the next few weeks, I will be jet-setting across the Mediterranean to enjoy the extended break from work, bask in the summer weather, and reset. I am hoping to use this time to reboot myself internally, allow myself to go back to the roots of what makes me me and what I want from life. After hitting my mid-thirties, it is perfect timing to reflect on what I have accomplished and what I would still like to achieve (while also having great scenery and food). 

So come with me on this journey. We will see if I keep up with this blog, but I am hoping in my older years I can read through this as inspiration, while also sharing my experiences and travel recommendations with you. 

First thing’s first, let’s buckle those belts. My journey started at the American Airlines Flagship Lounge with a nice glass of champagne and dessert. I used this time to look through my travel plans and ensure I knew the upcoming logistics of the first leg of my journey. Despite being a frequent traveler, I tend to have  unnecessary anxiety that I am going to forget something. 

Once I was settled in, I started a new book that I have been wanting to read: “Budapest: Portrait of a City Between East and West”. It is a non-fiction book that is seen as one of the most comprehensive reviews of the history of Budapest. As a (non-native) Hungarian, and from my visit to this beautiful city years ago, I have been wanting to learn more about my people’s past and why Hungary has been under so much turmoil over the last thousand years. It started off as a good read, and honestly, made me regret not having Budapest on my list of travel plans for my sabbatical. 

As boarding closed in, I departed the lounge and boarded my flight, with a connection in London. The flight itself was pleasant, though nothing out of the ordinary to call out. I was able to get some sleep and enjoyed ending the flight with a nice cinnamon roll. 

Upon landing in London, I made my way through the network of connection transit ways. I always hate red eye flights and feeling like a zombie, but this go around I felt fine. Once I finally arrived to my terminal, I headed to the British Airways First Lounge. Having never been, it was far above and beyond my expectations: very modern, not crowded, a great selection of food, and plenty of beverages and spirits. I settled on a traditional British breakfast, and then later had some espresso and a croissant. 

That’s it for now. Let’s see how the rest of this leg goes