Austin, Texas. Who knew that a home in the heart of the city could feel like an oasis. You wouldn’t have known we were only a few miles away from downtown Austin. For three days we had gourmet meals, dips in the pool massages and amazing conversations that changed our lives. It was the trip that we all knew we needed but the house really made all of the difference. It isn’t easy to find an Air B&B that matches its photo and gives so much. Fortunately, this one did all of that.
The Reasons Why
As the pandemic became a little more manageable, one of my extremely close girlfriends planned a retreat in Austin. It was a retreat for all of her friends that had been swallowed by the pandemic in one way or another to come together to heal. From losing a parent to losing a job, we were all going through something in one way or another. Funny how a chef, a trained masseuse, morning yoga with a trained instructor and a lot of love from your girlfriends can change everything. On top of all of that, add a beautiful 5-bedroom house and we have a vacation I will never forget.
The Food
When we showed up we were greeted with a cocktail. I tried to pretend this wasn’t one of my best friends that put this together. We had gift bags waiting for us on our beds, t-shirts to mark the weekend and I can’t forget the food. From Chicken and Waffles as one option for brunch to Oxtails with Grits. Desserts every night added to the amazing options. That included the treat on our pillows because our beds were turned down nightly. We
What I learned
There were so many things discussed that weekend. talked about losing someone, finding love and never losing hope in what will be. I learned a lot that weekend. It reinforced my value of friendship; it reminded me not to sweat the small stuff and always hope for the best. We will all hit roadblocks, but it is how we maneuver through them that makes us who we are. Don’t get me wrong, there were moments that we danced in our matching pajamas, laughed or sang songs that we hadn’t sang in years. Yet, through it all we were more united, and I was definitely more focused on what the next steps in my future would be.
In conclusion, Covid 19 may have made some changes in my life, but it wasn’t going to control my life. I have moved forward every day since and will have lots more travel stories to tell. Including my fabulous trip to Greece with girlfriends.
The Exterior
The Interior
