Slow traveling is 2020's hit

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You will learn about: motivation, self-exploration, learning, new discoveries

2020 was charged with discoveries, transformations and challenges. During the heat of the year, I have experienced the slow travel in its full glory. There has been no 'one weekend in Italy and another one in Iceland' anymore. Or hoping on a plane for that perfect holiday selfie. There was no more social pressure. I allowed myself to live and travel the way I truly wanted. It was the beginning of my slow travel discovery.

6 weeks in Vilnius, Lithuania 🇱🇹

With the beginning of June, I was burning with desire to go to Lithuania. I couldn't wait to be among forests and fields, to bathe in the cold lakes in the morning and to eat pink soup for lunch. I was longing to recreate my childhood memories. 

I was lucky to have my family being able to welcome my boyfriend and me home. Moreover, with my job at the time, I could work from wherever I desired. So, the only place I wanted to be was to be home - in Lithuania. The last time I spent almost 2 summer months in the country, was during the sweet student times. I was ecstatic to be able to enjoy Lithuania for that long again.

My everyday routine consisted of waking up without the alarm clock, having some breakfast and coffee outside in the open with my boyfriend, doing some gymming with my sister and then starting the workday. The 2 hours difference with London time worked to my advantage. My workday started at 11:00 am. I enjoyed it! During the next 8 hours, I would work adjusting to the British hours. After that, I would either go to the city centre with my family and my boyfriend or spend the evening walking in the forest with the family dogs. 

It was so different from my usual weekday life in London. If somebody had told me that I would enjoy being in Lithuania more than in the UK a year ago, I would sincerely laugh. 2020 had changed my priorities. I forgot that it is not the place, but the mindset that counts.

4 weeks in Vienna, Austria 🇦🇹

Another gift of the summer was the novel experience living in Austria. My boyfriend is from Vienna. His family was glad to host us during the last month of the summer. This encounter allowed me to understand and re-discover him again. 

Living in Vienna was enjoyable. I would wake up without the alarm clock, do my exercises, have breakfast with the family and then work. The time difference with London was 1 hour, which was plenty of time to devote the morning to me or us. I absolutely loved being with my boyfriend's mum alone during the day in the house. The reason behind was that this condition allowed me to practice my German language in everyday situations. The German language was the only language that both of us knew. I am adopting the word 'knowing' in regards to myself very loosely. My knowledge of German is in the learning mode. So in the beginning, I was nervous to say even one word out loud, but then I let go of my comfort zone and just did it. 

The two of us also worked from the Austrian Alps for a week. It was marvellous. I always wanted to explore more of this beautiful country and, finally, I had a fantastic chance to do so. We would go for hikes every day after work. One night we even saw the Milky Way. I have never seen the stars so bright! I was caught in a total surprise. It was only us and the night sky.

2 weeks in Puglia, Italy 🇮🇹

In September, before returning to London, we visited Italy. We stayed in a gorgeous region - Puglia, a heel of Italy. During the first week, we focused on discovering the region, its culture and people. During the second week, we worked. 

We have been very cautious in order not to get ill or spread the virus. We always chose to stay in our apartment over mixing with people. When we did sightsee, it was the outdoor places with the masks on. We cooked ourselves at our flat and watched Italian shows on TV in the evening. 

I have never travelled in that manner. Usually, my days in the new country were filled with activities, meeting new people and enjoying the local food until early hours. This time, it felt as if I lived in the country like a local rather than just being a tourist there. I have always wondered how it must have felt, and now I know. It feels.. right!