Today I arrive in Madrid to spend the weekend with friends and fellow bloggers. You may know them: Julika from Sateless Suitcase, Jessica from Curiosity Travels and Amanda from Farsickness. We’re crashing in a gorgeous apartment provided by Go With Oh! and planning on drinking lots of red wine and consuming metric tons of pata negra. (Well, at least I am.)
And next week, I fly to Paris, a place that has become a second home to me. I plan on revisiting all of my favorite things: Le Marais, Saint-Félicien aux truffes, steak frites, as well as check out some new ones like Red House and Sainte-Chapelle. (Finally!)
But like Madrid, I’m there to spend time with friends. Friends I’ve missed, friends I haven’t seen in almost a year.
As you may have read, I didn’t bring my laptop to Europe- I prescheduled all the posts you have read in the last six weeks when I was back in Michigan.
This is probably my last long-term trip. I don’t want to be a nomad forever so I have to put the laptop away and live in the moment, as clichéd as it sounds. I’ll still be taking photos and writing notes on my adventures but I won’t be sharing them via my blog until this summer.
After Paris I fly to India, where I will spend six weeks training to become a yoga instructor in Rishikesh and trekking the Indian Himalayas with a good friend. I have pledged to stay tech-free for a month (besides my Kindle) while staying at the yoga center- wish me luck!
I’m taking a break from blogging, one that should last about two months. But I promise I’m not done forever. I sincerely love blogging and this site is one of the things I’m most proud of. When I return to Michigan this summer I can’t wait to share all my adventures with you, and receive your comments that I love reading so much.
And until I resume blogging I’d love to connect on Instagram and Twitter where I plan on sharing slices of daily life. Have a lovely spring everyone!
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Have safe and sensational travels and eat/drink delicious things!!!!
Cheers!!! – Leah
As sad as it sounds, I totally understand you!
Blogging is so much fun, but sometimes we need to put the laptop aside and just live life!
I will gladly follow you on instagram and look really forward to read about your adventures in the summer!
Have a super time!!!!
Take care! :)
Pam
Have an amazing time Ashley and enjoy every minute :)
Good for you Ashley. Enjoy the break, enjoy Paris and India and the yoga instructor course. You’ll return refreshed and with a different outlook on it i’m sure! Enjoy!
So exciting that you are coming to my city of Madrid-super sad I can’t make the blogger meet up bc I will be traveling to Prague this weekend! One question before you go offline-what is your favorite place for Steak Frites in Paris? :)
Hey, Isabel! I hope I´m not too late in answering your question but I would definitely recommend Le Relais d`Entrecôte… gluttonous but sooo good!
Have a wonderful time travelling Europe, Ashley, and let me know when you make it to the area around Cologne (I know that you have been there already). Also, enjoy your Yoga Class and your travels across Northern India. Rishikesh is amazing, I spent a couple of days there in November 2011 and really liked it. I could have easily spent more time there. Make sure that you also visit its neighbouring city Haridwar.
I definitely understand & support this decision, Ashley! With all creative endeavors, if you’re going to do them well, they requires a lot of time and energy and blogging is no exception. Although it can be a great way to document a journey, it can also detract from the pure pleasure of just traveling and having your best trip. I always say that as much as I love blogging, if my time is limited, it’s the first thing I cut out—there will always be chances to write, and good stories stay good for a long time, but if you’ve only got 24 hours in Bangkok (or heck, a month at a yoga retreat!) make it count and leave the blogging for later. We’ll certainly be here waiting to hear about all of your adventures once you’re back from this digital detox!
Ashley, I love reading your blog but I completely understand your reasons for taking a break. I hope you have an absolutely amazing trip (I’m sure you will!) and enjoy your yoga instructor training. Have fun! :-)
Blahhh once again I’m sorry I wasn’t able to make the trip in Madrid!! Sending you guys all my love from Bruges right now.
Enjoy India but first, SAY HI TO RED HOUSE FOR ME
Totally understandable that you need a little break and a time to enjoy what others have only dreamed of.
Have a wonderful time in Europe and in India. It’s an amazing place as you know and we’ll be waiting for you when you get back. Bon Voyage my friend and see you on Twitter!
I hate that I won’t be able to read your site each week, but I think you’re making a great decision! You’re going to love Rishikesh and good thing that’s where you’re taking a break because there’s about ONE hotel that has Wi-Fi lol. Enjoy your yoga classes! I’ll be coming to the mountains throughout monsoon so maybe we’ll cross paths.
I’m really happy that you decided to do this, Ashley! I will miss reading all your updates, as will others I’m sure, but it’s nice knowing that you’ve made the decision not to be a “digital nomad” because it’s not what you want to do. To me, I appreciate the honesty, and it lets me as a reader know more about you. Enjoy your trips and time with friends!
All the best Ashley, have an amazing adventure! We’ll all be here waiting to hear about it when you’re back :)
Good for you! Have an amazing time in India, and good luck staying tech free. It’ll be interesting to see how you feel after that trip, and when you come back to blogging about it whether it was a good decision for you to leave the blog for a while. Have fun!
Hi Ashley,
I’ll miss reading your posts but if it means that you can really soak up the atmosphere of the place you’re in and appreciate living in the moment with your friends then I think you’ve made the right decision to take a little break.
Have a fantastic time in India, and looking forward to reading all about your travels when you get back!
P.s I went to Sainte Chapelle last week and absolutely loved it! Go on a guided tour (in French or English) if you can. They’re quite small, very interesting and our guide even taught us how to read the stained glass windows!
We all need a break from time to time. Thanks for thinking of us enough to schedule out posts in advance! I hope you’re enjoying yourself immensely in Europe, maybe even because you’re not lugging around the laptop.
It sounds like you’ve got a great setup for the rest of the year, Ashley, and props to you for leaving your laptop at home to focus on living in the moment (and even more for scheduling months worth of blog posts…wow!). Looking forward to following your journeys over Instagram and hearing your thoughts on Madrid later in the year when you get back.
Good luck on the trip. It sounds awesome trekking the Indian Himalaya’s and getting instructor training all at the same time. Rock on.
Hope you are having a fabulous time on your travels Ashley. 2 months without a laptop! Wow. How’s that going?
Can’t blame you for bringing the kindle though. I love mine too even though I should use it more often ;-)
Hope the trip is going well. I see you’ve been swimming in the Ganges.
Looking forward to your updates when you return.