Bridget abroad: Portugal musings

I’m sat here watching all the boats in the marina bob and bow with the waves, there’s two girls who have been playing volleyball for an hour and a seagull who refused to eat my stale croutons. The bar in the background plays cheesy 80s music and passerbys are buoyant on beer and soft serve ice cream. 

I like cascais. 13 days in and it’s weird being on my own. I don’t feel lonely and i don’t feel bored, I think sometimes I find the afternoons long when it’s hot and I’m tired. 

I forget I need to relax as well and this is my holiday it’s not just to work all the time. It would maybe be more ideal if more staff worked here to ease the work load and also make the atmosphere more fun - there’s less team spirit I have to say as they’re all a bit older and maybe more settled into the hostel job. I'm here for a holiday, to work a bit and relax. I forget I’ve been building up to this the whole year and waiting and been excited, so enjoy it. 

It is like living in Mamma Mia but it’s also hard work. The stairs and the incessant coffee runs are taking their toll on my knees. Going forward I would like to enjoy my free time, not feel pressured to tick things off, enjoy my own company more and embrace being here. I would like to read, not stick to bucket lists as much and also enjoy the chaos. I would like to not take to heart what the guests say and that I’m too nice. It’s okay to be too nice. 

Take a breath more often and give less of my heart away. Pace myself, give up the afternoon nap. I would like to get into the habit of writing daily. Lower the expectation of writing a novel and just write daily.