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Louise L.'s avatar

I like ice tea too! It's my go-to drink.

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Louise L.'s avatar

I carry my own sweetener and True Lemon packets. The lemon packets are a substitute for lemon wedges on refill. Yes, sometimes I refill twice.

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Michele Linehan's avatar

My daughter and I love New Mexico. It's gorgeous and so diverse. If you're ever in Albuquerque eat at Monroes. We make sure to time our trips so we can always eat there. They have fantastic salsa! You can buy it in jars to take home. We stock up!

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Mary Austin (she/her)'s avatar

Thanks for sharing this with us!

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Holly Wielkoszewski's avatar

I'm sure this is too late, but if you haven't passed through Grants, NM, yet, the Kiva Cafe is worth a stop for their incredible green Chile huevos rancheros! Glad you had a nice visit to my state ✨

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Barbara Shaidnagle's avatar

When my husband was alive and would fly to Ohio to visit family I would drive 20 miles to a mall that had Skechers shoes or take the bus to a theater and catch a movie. Alone now,I drove all over different parts of Ohio. During the pandemic every three days I would take the car out for 30 miles one way then back home.

Now home in Alabama, I drove this morning to the church where my marriage was blessed in 1974, one last look before I move this weekend to stay with my sister's mother in law. So I won't be alone but I think I have the opportunity to drive around to get familiar with places.

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Sue Fagalde Lick's avatar

What a great idea. Just get in the car and go see stuff. That used to be my father's favorite thing. On Sunday afternoons, he'd get us all in the car to "go for a ride." Now my brother and I enjoy doing the same thing. Good luck with your sister's mother-in-law. Have fun exploring your new home.

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Pam Johnston's avatar

Reading this made me so happy. Santa Fe was the first place I traveled alone specifically for a caregiver break--and I don't know what is about the place, but it fed my soul. I'm definitely planning to go back again.

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Sue Fagalde Lick's avatar

Yes, there is something here. I feel it, too.

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Eileen Vorbach Collins's avatar

Having spent years solo, although currently partnered up with a husband I'm quite fond of, I love your Substack. My only advice about solo traveling applies to all traveling. Even to the corner store in your own meighborhood. ALWAYS, when it comes to shoes, choose comfort over fashion.

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Sue Fagalde Lick's avatar

I totally agree. I got tripped up by the weather. I didn't expect it to be so cold. My bad. I will do better next time.

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Jenn H's avatar

"I skip the attractions that don’t interest me. If someone says, “You have to go there,” I say, no I don’t. This is my trip."

Amen!

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Lori's avatar

I used to travel a bit by myself on business. I have two favourite memories: after a day meeting people at my company's office in Edmonton, I went back to my hotel, changed, got into a cab and said "take me to the mall" -- i.e., West Edmonton Mall, one of the world's largest and still relatively new at the time. I spent four hours there, mostly just walking around and seeing what there was to see (vs shopping). I did take time out for dinner. And when I got back to my hotel, I ordered up some tea from room service and sat with my feet up, watching the sun set over the North Saskatchewan River from my window. Ahhhh!

On another trip, I went to Halifax for the opening of a new call centre there. The event was on a Monday, but it was significantly cheaper if I went Saturday vs Sunday, so I flew in on Saturday & was met by a chauffeured car with a very friendly, chatty driver. There was a whole group of people from Toronto there for the occasion, including a few I knew, if only slightly. We all went out for dinner and to the casino near our hotel that night. The next day was completely open, and I decided to go sightseeing. It was November, cold and slightly snowy, but I had a wonderful time. I walked for miles along the waterfront, taking in some of the wonderful little shops and the Marine Museum of the Atlantic. I had lunch a restaurant on the waterfront with a view of the harbour, and some amazing maple salmon. I decided that if I loved it this much in November with snow, it would be even better in spring or fall (lol) I returned with my husband 13 years later, in September, for our 25th wedding anniversary, and yes, we loved it (again)! We spent a week there and elsewhere in Nova Scotia, including Cape Breton Island (you could spend several weeks there alone!). I highly recommend Nova Scotia!

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Sue Fagalde Lick's avatar

I love this. What wonderful stories.I need to see more of Canada. My grandmother came from new Brunswick.

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Sue  Routner-Wardley's avatar

I love Georgia O'Keffe's art and I've seen pictures of Santa's Fe. It looks very interesting. The advantage of travelling alone is that you can set the pace and decide what you want to do and where to eat. Having said that, I could do with a chauffeur!

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Sue Fagalde Lick's avatar

Oh, me too!

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