Travel
This hero gets over her dislike of hotels by... avoiding the bad ones
Hello Pals,
As a TV lover it’s been challenging to find shows that are appropriate and interesting as my kids get older. I have real moments of prude-person shuddering when things take a turn for the sexy: hearing my mom confidently answer my daughter’s curious “what is jacking off?” (“well, it’s a form of self-love…”) remains one of the darkest moments of my life. But a positive is that it’s brought reality competition shows into my life, specifically The Amazing Race which has been on for 22 years with the same eagle-featured host Phil Keoghan.
This show has become the backbone of my family’s conversation topics - If you had to, could you eat one pound of caviar in a Russian palace? If you had to, could you shave off your hair in the Ganges? If your jeep flipped over in Kenya would you leave your wounded cameraman to get to the airport on time or would you help him? If we lived in the same town would we be friends with Boston Rob and Amber? Is it possible to engineer a wedding between one of their four daughters and our teen son? Time will tell but we’re open to this. And most importantly, who amongst our family would win, and who amongst our family would you want on your team?
Hurtfully but unsurprisingly my family agrees that I would be terrible on The Amazing Race. I’m easily thrown off my game by being physically uncomfortable, and I require a lot of sleep. This has meant for years I haven’t loved traveling: most hotels are not for me, and schlepping small kids is a nightmare that has nothing to do with vacation. So many creative people claim to love travel, it’s where they get inspiration and feel restored and that always felt out of reach for me until last year, when I went on the trip of a lifetime to Egypt and sailed up the Nile. Not coincidentally it was led by an interior designer who lavished care and attention onto our comfort, and the experience of enjoying novel sight/tastes/sounds while remaining unconcerned with where I would be sleeping/eating/recreating next was transformative. It also was the first time I’ve been on the receiving end of the type of service my office provides, and it filled my cup. I love my job because of the day-to-day, but experiencing what it feels like to have energy poured into my creature comforts was bananas. What a gift, I’m so proud that I get to do this for people.
The feature this month is snapshots from that trip. It’s about being inspired, making friends, collecting and editing, all the things travel promises it can do and why it’s worth it to get out there. So worth it that I’m currently packing to go to Morocco with my family on Friday. My trip was planned by Grant Gibson, the same interior-designer-turned travel pro that orchestrated my Egypt trip, and I’m so excited for my family to see this Grant-ified version of me: sturdy, alert, go-with-the flow, perhaps even up for a river-side haircut or a dune buggy race. Wish me luck, my secret hope is to edge my way up to first draft pick.
EGYPT & JORDAN
Have you ever wanted to go somewhere remote with 10 strangers? Neither have I, but last spring I scheduled a sabbatical and felt I needed a quest. A trip to Africa led by Grant popped up on my radar and felt like the perfect dramatic exciting thing - somewhere I had never been, something I would never think I could do. I signed up without thinking about it too hard, was added to a WhatsApp group, and flew to Cairo knowing only that my fellow travelers put a lot of thought into their packing, and had big feelings about people who check bags.
It’s hard to tease out what exactly changes you; is it the trip, the sabbatical, the ski race, the grief, the book, the concert, the song, the coach? I’m a different person than I was a year ago, jollier with more ideas. Less of a complainer. And I trace so much of it back to Egypt, which of course wasn’t just about the itinerary but the people. And with that in mind I will show one great group photo but the rest are atmosphere, nature, architecture and me in a hat.
Insights that made it possible for me to feel like this was a business trip and not just a me me me trip: Yes color, yes pattern, yes cotton, yes things made by hand. Yes to imperfection, to layering, to high ceilings and big windows. Yes to decorative plates? Sure. But also: a view is everything. Nature is everything.
Thanks to Barrie, Abbey, Jordan, Emily, Holly, Mugs, Jeff, Diane, Lauren and Jamie, and the biggest boop of all to Grant. What a gift.
And now, my favorite way to digest information:
Well I started this issue before I left for Morocco and now we’re back and I’m pleased to report it was everything I hoped it could be; I saw so much beauty, I ate so many delicious things, I met wonderful people. We slept in seven different beds in 12 days and it turns out when the beds are great this is something even the pickiest traveler can handle. You too can be this brave, email Grant or just follow him on IG to be inspired. Stay comfy out there.
Last Word: A nip of my omnivore’s book club where I never tag the author because I like to let ’er rip on all books great and sleazy. Almost 150 book reviews of all flavors saved in stories
Biggest takeaway: travel is just another form of self love.
When you tire of making life lovely for your clients, you can do stand up! Oh my God, Chloe, you are funny! And fearless. Way to go😂