When do we stop traveling and just live instead?
We travel because it opens our minds to new experiences, cultures, and people. Sometimes it’s to feel more connected to the world we live in, and sometimes we’re looking for something we haven’t found in the places we’ve already been to. Despite our best intentions, sometimes the way we plan our trips can be idealistic and unrealistic. Even though traveling is extremely rewarding and tons of fun, this post will delve into the ways we can unintentionally negatively impact our physical and mental health while traveling and how to avoid it.
October-November of 2022 was perhaps the most intense month of traveling I’ve ever done. I decided to embark on a month-long (mostly) solo journey to revisit a few favorites and explore some new cities in Europe. When I planned this month of wandering all I could think about was how efficient I was! I was going to maximize my time and visit 14 cities within the span of two months. I think this is also a good time to mention that I was going to be working EST hours throughout the majority of this trip, meaning Monday-Friday I was only free to sightsee until 3 pm every day. By the end of this leg of my trip, I felt like I’d aged a decade, lost key functionality of my lower back, and overspent my budget.
The essence of what I want to say in this article is F*CK rushing. F*ck trying to outdo yourself and seeing as much as you can as quickly as you can. Rushing to see all of the local tourist destinations does not give you an authentic feel for the place. It doesn’t give you the opportunity to actually enjoy what it may have to offer. The more you slow down and take your time, the more refreshed and prepared you’ll feel to meet amazing people, learn about the local customs, and of course try more food.
This was some of my original itinerary (from hell):
- 1 night in Warszawa (solo)
- 3 nights in Prague ( with a friend)
- 3 nights in Vienna (with a friend)
- 3 nights in Budapest (Solo from this point on)
- 4 nights in Berlin
- 3 nights in Copenhagen
- 3 nights in Oslo
- 3-4 nights in Stockholm
- 3-4 nights in Helsinki
- 6 nights in Barcelona
- 6 nights in Mallorca
Looking back at this itinerary now, literally who did I think I was? When the inevitable travel tiredness set in, I needed to have a ‘Basura Day’. My boyfriend and I coined the term when we started observing dedicated ‘garbage’ days together, however, I was observing them long before they had an official name. These are the days of your trip when you chill the hell out and relax. Absolutely no planning and there is no pressure to see the sights on this day. Below I’m going to give you a rundown of how and where I’ve spent my top Basura Days.
1. Budapest (#1)
I give this Basura Day a 9.5/10.
I got to Budapest a day after an insanely late, alcohol-filled weekend with one of my best friends. I was beyond exhausted and couldn’t imagine doing much of anything. The fact that my body now takes several days to recover from drinking is really starting to haunt me. How am I getting old so fast?? Any who, crisis aside, I must say Budapest is at the top of my list for best locations to have a Basura Day in. This affordable and beautiful city left me feeling refreshed even after a physically ( but so fun and worth it) traumatic weekend.
In order to properly recover I knew I needed to book a spa experience. They’re a million times cheaper in Budapest than in the states, at least major cities, and include so much. After some googling, I landed on the 5 Elements Balinese Day Spa where I got the “Bali- A Heavenly Delight” package. It was 180 minutes of pure bliss and I floated out of there feeling loose and happy. I managed to take the train back to my AirBnb because the train system is pretty comprehensive, cheap and reliable. I booked my treatment for 2:00 pm so I got a chance to catch the sunset as I closed out the most amazing and relaxing Basura Day.
2. Barcelona (#2)
I give this one a 9.3/10.
This Basura Day was one I spent with my boyfriend after my month of excessive traveling. We had been in Barcelona a few days and a combination of me working and Halloweekend coming to an end left us needing a day of rest. We spent practically the entire day in bed sipping Aperol Spritz’s and binge-watching Rick and Morty, my forever comfort show. After several hours without any movement, we actually felt refreshed and energized, so in a turn of events we set out on a walk.
This walk is one of my favorite memories from my recent travels. We ended up leaving our apartment around 5 pm and returning past midnight. We walked through countless neighborhoods, sat on the beach, and had a wonderful feast of padron peppers, baby calamari, and clams. This was by far my favorite restaurant in Barcelona so I need to give it a shout-out, it’s called Salamanca and is located right on Barceloneta beach. If you’re thinking this is far too much action for a Basura Day, we did all of this in peak Basura fashion, wearing sweats and running shoes. The goal was comfort and leisure, not an almond mom walk. We didn’t plan such a long journey but we enjoyed not caring what anyone thought of our outfits and enjoying an unplanned walk through a stunning city.
3. Mallorca
This Basura Day gets a 7.5/10.
This rating felt low but since it was a really low key vibe I think it’s the fairest, comparatively. This was only a redeemable and mentionable Basura Day because my wonderful boyfriend gave me royal treatment. I was exhausted from spending our mornings exploring and my afternoons working so I decided I need a day off. The only part of this day that I participated in was going grocery shopping. I’ve been blessed with a man that loves grocery shopping so I definitely could’ve skipped the trip, but specifically Mercadona’s (a Spanish grocery chain), are my happy place and they had one in Palma de Mallorca.
We decided on a menu and as soon as we got home I was instructed to sit down, handed an Aperol spritz, and started watching a movie. My boyfriend then made me a bunch of my favorite foods, tapas style of course, and we enjoyed dinner together while talking and watching our favorite shows. If you’re traveling with someone you love, not just a partner, this can be a great way to show your appreciation for them and take a bit of a day off! Even trying to re-create some of the dishes you’ve tried could be really fun to see how close you can get!
4. Copenhagen
I give this one a 5/10. Bottom of the barrel. I took an overnight bus from Berlin to Copenhagen and nothing about my body felt right after. I also had a hostel booked so privacy was not a luxury I could enjoy. I wanted to explore as I arrived on a Saturday morning but choosing to rest and take it easy just felt right.
I was exhausted and hungry by the time I settled in so I started by getting a Burger to go. It just so happened that my hostel was right next to Gasoline Grill, apparently a must-visit food spot. So I walked the 3 minutes to my closest one and ordered the Butter Burger, a side of fries, lemonade, ketchup & mayo. It is safe to say I was bamboozled when my total hit $24. In that tired, absolutely disheveled moment I needed that burger to resurrect the vibe and make it a $24 well spent. It was okay. The butter burger was rightfully named but I’m not really sure why it exists. It tasted like a regular burger with extra grease, it was not a favorite of mine.
Although I was less than impressed, I decided to carry on and enjoy the rest of my Basura day. I ended up staying in my room, mostly uninterrupted for the majority of the day. I took a nice long, hot shower, did a mask, and watched a few shows to really unwind for the rest of the day. The only reason this got a 5 and not lower is because the universe was on my side and my room with 6 bunks was mostly empty the entire day- an unexpected and rare luxury in a hostel).
My greatest trips would’ve been nothing without a great Basura Day in the mix. Let go of the need to see everything, everywhere, as soon as possible. Enjoy the journey of exploring and getting comfortable in new spaces. Learning when your brain and your body need a break is the only way to make sure you keep enjoying your journey. Being human and needing a break doesn’t stop when we’re on vacation, isn’t it the whole point?
