You might wonder how someone as regimented as I am manages the chaos travel brings to my daily routine. Travel is extremely disruptive (to schedules, sleep, and exercise routines), but the benefits far outweigh the challenges. For those interested in how to stay fit mentally, emotionally, and physically while on the road, I’m sharing the three things that remain constant for me no matter where I go.

In this place there are no world-class museums (like the Prado or Louvre), Rodeo-esque high streets, or even many 5-star hotels. They are unnecessary here, because the whole city is a treasure all its own.  While I wish I had the words to describe this ancient and artful town, all I really know is how it feels. It’s the kind of place that makes you WANT to pause.

When I was in Spain I received a crash course on the Reconquista and Spanish Inquisition. And as someone who recently spent several months learning about the Catholic Church by participating in adult catechism (I’ve always loved studying comparative religion), it truly pained me to see the devastating impact the Reconquista and the Inquisition had on cultural and faith communities throughout the Iberian Peninsula. 

What I love about travel is two fold: Travel challenges my assumptions by reminding me there’s more than one way to live. Each day I step foot in a new country, I'm not-so-subtly reminded to rethink everything–from the foods I eat and the language I speak, to the way I commute, and perhaps more importantly, the rhythm of life…