Rejuvenating mid-trip

I usually travel with one other person, any of three friends who are not “tourists” who prefer to go on shopping sprees but “travelers” who want to meet with and live like the natives.

But after three or four days of hectic sightseeing, it’s time to rewind. What we do is sleep late and eat a cold breakfast that we bought the day before. Then it’s time to wash our hair, redo our nails and do a pedicure. We spend time writing cards and letters and make plans for the next day, like reservations, etc.

For lunch we eat the food we bought the day before, and don’t forget the wine! Then we’ll take a nap, read and savor what we did in the days before. Oh, yes, we wash out some clothes too.

At night, looking pretty and rested, we treat ourselves to a fancy dinner nearby.

The world is such an amazing place, and I can’t think of any bad experiences I’ve had. We play it all by ear and, reluctantly, come home to rest up for the next time.

DOROTHY KEARN

Sonoma, CA