Having Time When Traveling - A True Gift

I am so lucky, I know – I have 6 days to really relax and enjoy Rome. I don't feel rushed, I feel like I can take the time to explore, or just hang out - I don't have to rush from sight to sight to sight.

It's meant that most of my days start out pretty slow and it's lovely. A little internet, a little yoga, some breakfast, maybe pop out for a quick errand, a little more internet and then head out and explore. I find I either head out earlier and then am back mid/late afternoon for some recovery, a shower and then find dinner or else I am not out until early/mid afternoon and I stay out for the rest of the day/evening. Basically, I try and avoid being out in the full heat of the middle of the day and it seems to work well.

But then the question becomes, what do I do with this time? The place I'm staying has free, very good wifi – it was the first thing I checked when I arrived and then I was soooo excited when I got it working. I've realized just how important it is for me to fell like I am connected when I'm traveling – especially when I'm traveling on my own. All of a sudden, I'm a fan of Facebook and very grateful for skype – even a few lines of chat with friend or family member really makes a difference in my day. The internet also helps me manage my 'what next' anxiety – I can go online and check out the train schedules, possible places to stay for my next destination or next trip. And it is so nice to be able to google these things without time pressure.

However, about 3 days in, I realized too much wifi can also be a bit of a curse ... I can google just about anything and everything – one google search leads to another and the hours disappear ... I've realized it can be like me with TV, just external stimuli, not accomplishing anything, just passing time ... It became apparent to me as I realized that I hadn't written my blog or read anything other than my guidebook since I'd been in Rome ... not what I want to be doing. A good lesson and reminder, this time is a gift that I don't want to squander.