Wet Socks, Cruise Ports, and a Little Tired
A Solstice pause in the middle of a moving life — landing in Sardinia
#33
The pace of this week has been intense. Ports of call every day. Two travel days just to reach our next destination. The unpacking, the grocery run, stocking up for an eight-night stay — and then realizing, after only three nights, that we’ll be moving again. This first stop in Sardinia turned out to be a little too remote and quiet for where our energy is right now and what we’re wanting to experience.
This week also marked the Solstice — the day where light and dark exist in perfect balance. And being in winter, it carries that natural pull to slow down, reflect, and harvest the growth of the year behind us. All of this has nudged me to use every inner tool I’ve gathered over years of personal growth work: managing my energy, taking things moment by moment, and keeping myself from tipping into overwhelm. And that’s without even being in the crush of holiday frenzy.
I am, as expected, a little tired.
After 96 days on the road, I’ve slept in 21 beds, taken 13 flights, had seven car rentals, six ferries, and one train. With 21 days still to go, I have four more beds and seven more flights before landing in Portland. If I include the one-night overnights during transitions, that averages out to a new bed every four and a half days.
For context: standard leisure travel usually moves every two to three days. Slow travel stays four to seven nights per location. My stats are skewed because of those one-night transitions, but when I remove them, the truth becomes clear. I’ve actually been staying a week at a time. Long enough to arrive. Long enough to soften. Long enough to listen before moving again.
The last time I connected with you, we were at a cruise stop in Marseilles — a deeply soul-fulfilling day. (No repeats here; I’ll spare you.) The next day brought us to Genoa, where I opted for a guided walking tour instead of our usual wander-and-see-what-happens approach. I wanted context. History. Someone else to hold the map for a change.
Our weather throughout the cruise and really the entire trip has been incredible — crisp 50s to low 60s, mostly sunny, occasionally moody. Genoa, however, had other plans. I’d seen rain in the forecast and assumed it would be brief. It was not. It was cold, windy, and a steady downpour all day long.
Armed with a cheap umbrella from a street vendor in Heraklion and a cruise-issued disposable poncho (bless them for trying), I made a valiant effort to stay dry. By the end of the three-hour tour, despite ducking into a few of Genoa’s approximately 100 churches, hiding under awnings, and watching my umbrella turn inside out multiple times — my feet were soaked, both pairs of socks were wet through, my 2 pairs of pants were damp… and my heart was happy.
I saw exactly what I’d hoped to see. I ate a fabulous bowl of ravioli with meat sauce from a street vendor, picked up cookies and pastries from a local shop, and then went back to the ship and crashed hard. Tim, meanwhile, enjoyed the steam room and sauna, popping into town briefly for Wi-Fi and a check-in with the world. A true win-win — each of us doing exactly what served us best.
In Livorno the next day, we met in town, shared a bottle of prosecco and a bowl of pasta, wandered for a few hours, and headed back to the ship to prepare for disembarkation. We’d have a full 36 hours of travel before landing in Sardinia, so it was time to pack up once again.
The cruise delivered exactly what we expected. I especially loved having access to the gym — seven out of eight days — which my body was very grateful for after nearly three months away from weights. Will we sail with this cruise line again? Probably not, for a handful of reasons, one big one being the food, which ranged from poor to average. But it was economical, and we knew what we were signing up for.
One thing we’re clear on moving forward: a balcony is a game changer. Yes, it can add up to 30% more in cost, which matters when you’re traveling long-term. But the ability to step outside, watch the sea roll by, catch a sunset, see seagulls flying just feet away, and glide into ports each morning? Our energy felt more spacious. More free. Entirely worth it.
Travel logistics can be full of snags, delays, and mishaps, and we’ve been remarkably blessed with ease so far. Before each transition, I say an intentional prayer for grace, ease, and highest good, and we’ve been met there again and again. That said, transitions still take effort, both mentally and physically.
I drink lots of water, try not to overeat, keep bringing my energy back into my body, and I’m getting better at trusting and allowing instead of stressing. It’s a balance for me: tracking what’s next without slipping into old conditioning that everything has to feel hard. And Tim is getting better at not waiting until the very last moment to make a flight, so we’re clearly growing together. We’re also deeply grateful for how compatible we are as travel partners. That alone is a gift.
And so we flowed from Rome to Sardinia.
After a late afternoon flight, we arrived in Olbia in the evening and stayed one night in town before driving to Alghero, where we’ll spend Christmas. The hotel was great, we crashed instantly, enjoyed a fabulous European breakfast, and then drove two hours to the agriturismo B&B.
And… hmmm. Not quite what we expected.
The hosts were incredibly warm and welcoming, complete with a generous welcome basket, and the grounds — chickens, one duck (?) — were undeniably charming. But it was simply too remote for us right now. After sleeping on it, doing yet another grocery run (still and sparkling water, red wine, champagne — obviously), and walking around town, we knew we needed to pivot.
Thankfully, we were able to negotiate and will move after three nights to an apartment right in the center of town.
And what a soul-fulfilling, heart-opening place Alghero is.
Sitting on the western edge of Sardinia, it’s alive year-round — locals, energy, movement. The port, the ancient walls, the coastline, all of it quietly captivating. Add in Christmas lights, holiday stalls, and incredible food, and I’m reminded (again) why I love travel so deeply.
Yesterday, while strolling, we stumbled into a tiny square just as two women began singing opera from a balcony above us. They were breathtaking. We stopped. We listened. And I let that moment sink in — this town, this place, this life — embedding it into my soul.
The freedom, health, and means to experience moments like this feels otherworldly, even with the exhaustion, even with the logistics. It makes every bit of it worth it.
And so, I’ll pause here — sending you peace, love, laughter, Light, and joy for a blessed Solstice. However you celebrate this season, may you remember your soul’s purpose: to grow, to expand, and to support one another through these rapidly changing times.
A simple smile can change someone’s day.
Let’s create that ripple today. ✨
To your highest and best,
Dianna
P.S. If you’d like to see more of these moments — balconies over the sea, arriving into ports, and the quiet magic in between — I’ve been sharing longer, slower travel videos on YouTube. They’re a different way to experience the journey, and you’re always welcome there, too.
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