Six Facts about Travel

My heart, life and joy... my daughter Jessica is arriving today!

I've been crying on and off for days, weeks even, at the thought of her visiting.

It's been 15 months since I've hugged my child and that is just way too long.

So, please forgive me for recycling a post today.

This post was originally a guest post for Amanda at Living Another Language.

She is one of my favorite travel bloggers and about my daughters age.

Jessica and I will be packing our suitcases and heading to Paris on Monday.

Sharing Paris with my daughter will be a dream come true!!!

Even though the time apart is so difficult, another benefit of my expat life is that my daughter gets to experience the joys of travel, too.

1.  Travel is addictive.  It feeds your appetite for life.  You develop a strong  desire to learn more about history and culture, about how other people live, what they value and love.  Travel will quickly become a passion for more.  Once you have a travel moment, you are moved.  And you can't wait for the next one to come along.   Plus, it's just fun!  Be careful because once you start you won't want to stop.

2.  Travel is contagious.  People who travel, talk about travel.  All. The. Time.  Travel is a story and stories are meant to be told.  They just can't help it.  And it's like a yawn, completely contagious.   I can't tell you how many times in response to a conversation, a tweet, a blog post or a photograph, I've turned to Matt and said "I wanna go there!" The possibilities are absolutely endless.
 
3.  Travel is invigorating.  Once you start exploring, you expand your comfort zone.  Your circle of experience becomes larger and you get more comfortable stepping into new territory.  Being adventurous give you courage and makes you feel alive.  You will be inspired to do more and see more, to experience life more fully.

4.  Travel is exhausting.  I can't tell you how many hissy fits I've had while traveling.  (I might have just a few control issues.)  When you're traveling there will be times when you have  absolutely no control over a situation.  Also, you always have to be "on."  Aware of your surroundings, reading people's body language, communicating effectively,  and managing logistics.  When you're tired, hungry, frustrated and aggravated (read PMSing), you can only think about the usual comforts of home.  Sofa. Pajamas. Wine.  Remote.   The last thing you want to do is drag suitcases up and down steps to get to the tube.  (I swear they get heavier as a travel day progresses.)

5.   Travel is challenging.  Language barriers, cultural barriers and budgetary barriers.  These are just some of the things you must deal with when you travel.  And the work starts way before you head out the door.  All of the research and planning that goes into travel is work.   You have to be a project manager and a travel agent.  Add a partner, family, friends, children or pets into the mix and things get even more challenging.   You're basically just packing those relationships "glitches" and "challenging" personality traits in with your 14 pairs of shoes to take with you.  (What?  Don't you pack 2 pairs of shoes per day?)

6.  Travel is humbling.  I'll be the first to admit that even at my age (forty-mumble-mumble), I was very naive about the world.  I was living a very US-centric existence and was a bit sheltered about the world outside of the States.  Traveling has given me a whole different perspective about the world and has really made me rethink some of my beliefs.  I love my home country now more than ever, but I'm much more aware of how the world views America and Americans and why.  

Travel changes you.  It challenges you to grow and learn more about yourself and others.  It gives you a great story to tell.

What have you learned about travel?  How has it changed you?   

 I have some cruise posts scheduled for the next week and you can follow our mother/daughter adventures on Twitter and Instagram.

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Saying Goodbye

We are driving to Cardiff, Wales today to say goodbye to a wonderful lady.

Matthew's grandmother has passed away and the funeral is tomorrow.

I'm so glad I met her.  She had such a great sense of humor.

Matthew loves his Nan dearly and is so sad to lose her.

Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

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Final note on Frome

*We were the guests of the Frome Town Council.

We can't leave Frome without some discussion on where you can stay and eat.

There are many options that you should explore.  I'll tell you about just a few of them.  

I was talking to Matthew last night about our weekend in Frome.  I commented that I had two of the best meals that I've had since I moved to the UK while we were there and he totally agreed.

The first was at the Restaurant at the Grange.

 

The Grange is a famous residential cookery school in nearby Whatley.

(Pippa Middleton attended their month-long cooking course.)

It's not a hotel or bed & breakfast but this is where we were lucky enough to stay for the weekend. 

They do have a cottage on the premises that is available for holiday lets and you can contact them about an overnight stay in one of their rooms.

Jane Averill who opened the school in 1988 was a fabulous hostess and she fed us so well!

You may not be able to experience her amazing breakfast spreads

but you can definitely enjoy the fabulous food she and her great staff create by visiting the Restaurant.

These are definitely The Best Lambchops I've ever had.

Matt had them on the first night and we both ordered them on night number two.  Amazing!

The Restaurant at the Grange is open Wednesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner and Sunday for lunch. 

We had a lovely lunch on Saturday at Café La Strada on Cheap Street,

a big hearty bowl of Watercress Soup with a poached egg and a variety of sandwiches with ice-cold elderflower cordial.  They are also known for their Italian-style ice creams created by owner Jude Kelly in exciting flavors such as Grapefruit & Peppercorn, Gin & Tonic or Gorgonzola, Chili & Fig.

Because three square meals a day is just not enough we stopped at Divas Café for a coffee and sweets break.  It's located at the Black Swan Arts Centre and is open Monday through Saturday from from 8:30 to 5:30.  Try the carrot cake, it was mouthwatering.

We didn't stay or eat at the Archangel but I popped in to take a few pictures to give you some options.

This spot was first recorded as an inn 1311 and was once a medieval coaching inn called The Angel.  In 2008, it underwent a major renovation and became the Archangel.

There are now 14 rooms available and a three story bar and restaurant built into an old hay barn.

Just across the street is the George Hotel with rooms and a restaurant.

We popped in for a cheeky drink and free wifi.

Last but not least is The Cornerhouse which is most certainly where we will stay when we return to Frome.  It used to be known as The Lamb Inn but changed ownership in 2011 and has a new name.  

 

We stopped in on Sunday and sat down with the owner Martin Earley for the other best meal I've had in the UK, a Sunday Roast.  Three courses for only £15 and better than anything I've had in London.

Martin once ran a software company but had a dream to open a pub and hotel.

He arrived in Frome with his suitcase having never even set eyes upon his new purchase.

He then got to work turning it into a pub that he would enjoy visiting.

He has totally renovated and it has all of the little touches that make a place special.

It's a bright airy pub serving great food, close to the train station and city center.

He proudly showed us around.  The rooms are all various sizes and very clean and comfortable.  You can get a double en suite room for £80 to £100 with breakfast.  We are looking forward to getting back.

We had a terrific time in Frome and I'm so glad that invitation hit my inbox.

We will definitely be back. 

I have to thank all of the people that welcomed us so warmly to Frome and

also those that read and commented on these posts.

I'm sure we will see you again soon!

More about Frome...  Supermarket and Made in Frome.

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*We were the guests of the Frome Town Council for the purposes of review.   Meals and accommodation for our stay were complimentary.  All photos, writing and opinions are my own.
As always, I promise to be open, honest and transparent with my readers.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.