Well, this has been an interesting month. Despite cutting back on the travel, it would prove too little too late. Burn out. It happened again, but luckily I didn’t get so entrenched in it this time. I’m almost recovered and it’s only been a week and a half.
But let’s take a pause on the downsides and look at the wonderful upsides of this month!
Minneapolis
My best friend was home from Korea and luckily she is from the very city I am moving to! We had an absolutely jam-packed weekend in Minneapolis. In fact, expect a guide to a weekend in Minneapolis very soon because I’m fairly certain we smashed it out of the park.
We ate, we drank, we went to museums, went on walks in parks, found new cafes, and shopped along the way. I’ve already discovered some places I’m going to have to come back to once I’ve officially moved.
Unfortunately, all of this activity after almost non-stop weekend travel over the past few months finally did me in. Completely exhausted, with the looming move and start of graduate school, and a fun bout of tonsillitis, it is official. No more travel for me for a bit.
Except…one of the things I had most looked forward to all summer would be coming up the very next weekend:
Mississippi River Cruise
I’ve always dreamed of the Nile. The Amazon. The Rhine. Euphrates, Mekong, Yellow River…famous rivers around the world. They have such a mystique and I want to see them all.
And yet, I’ve neglected the fabulous river in my own backyard. This is one of my favorite things I have ever done while traveling. Drifting by the gorgeous – shockingly tropical – nature while sipping a Pina colada? This is what dreams are made of. It’s so big. With pelicans and cormorants swooping by, dozens of bald eagles nesting in trees, and fields of lotus flowers I felt like I was truly seeing nature.
Luckily, one of the most relaxed excursions I could have planned. Literally having all of my snacking and transport covered, I was able to take it as easy as possible. Riverboat Twilight is a replica 1880s steamboat, and it’s so pretty. I love moments where I can feel transported back in time, and this was absolutely one of those days.
Upcoming Travel Plans
Right now, I’m not intending to do anything in September besides getting used to my new home of Minneapolis. This will likely still result in a bunch of posts but things will quiet down for a little bit.
Graduate school is going to be a massive transition for me, but I am so exciting to be back to learning. Already I’ve been granted an RA position that I could not be more thrilled by. The research looks so exciting!
Beyond September, I am hoping to start exploring areas close to Minneapolis. I’ve signed up for a Writing Festival in Morris in October, and I’m excited to explore Minnesota’s state parks and get back to camping.
In the meantime, I’m going to continue to get caught up on posts about previous locals I’ve visited. Expect more Korea content, new Philippines guides, and Iowa recommendations.
Leave a Reply