2021: Where These Heels Went

I still have a draft of the 2020 version of this post unfinished (story of my blogging life in 2020 and 2021 to be honest) but I decided to commit to getting this done this week. I really do enjoy looking back on my year in travel and summarizing it here, and selfishly for myself. See my 2019, 2018, and 2017 versions! Here’s my 2021 travel recap:

Ringing In The New Year In Hawaii

My tradition of ringing in the New Year somewhere new continued! After being cooped up in my apartment for 9 months, I spent the last three weeks of 2020 with friends soaking up the sun between Oahu and Maui Hawaii.  It was my first time in Hawaii but this trip was so needed. It was also my first time on a plane during the pandemic and there were so many things to get accustomed to. Boy, have things changed in travel.

Some of my favourite moments from that trip were our Christmas meal, game night, a daylong road trip through Honolulu, and the most magical sunset at Haleakala. My least favourite moment (which is now a funny memory) is our return trip from Hana. It was scary and we are so blessed to have gotten through it without mishaps. That’s a story from the road that’s drafted but not published (I know, I know! I’m working on finding ways to outsource so that I can blog better next year).

March in Texas

In March, I packed my laptop and portable external monitor and went off to spend the month in Texas. I worked remotely and spent time with my sister and her family and taught my niece a few dance routines, did her hair, and we all potty trained her. It was a really good time. My sister is the only immediate family that I have in the USA so it was good to be able to help with my niece and to see them for more than the usual 2-3 day trips and after not seeing family for over a year. My niece loved the extra company and I’m all about play so it was great. More than anything, I didn’t realize how much I needed that. In any case, if you need some randomly made-up potty training songs, I’m your girl!

Girls Trip To San Diego

My friend, Kemi was in town so we finally went on our first trip together: a mini spring break to San Diego, California.  We spent three days exploring the Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, Coronado Island, and La Jolla! I even made her wear matching dashikis and she agreed to it. Friendship asoebi (matching outfits for my non-Nigerians) is a love language. PS. Thank her for all the pictures I shared on the gram in San Diego and for all of my summer 2021 reels. She was a top-notch director through and through even when I was super annoying with my lack of commitment to the art at times.

Surprise in San Antonio

In May, I went on one quick 24-hour trip to Surprise my sister at her graduation. I shared this story with my newsletter family a few months ago. On the morning of her graduation from her Master’s program, I showed up! I shared this to show that yes, I travel for fun but one of my personal priorities is showing up in person for the big moments (of course small moments count too) in my friends’ and family’s lives to the best of my ability even when it is not convenient, especially when it is not convenient.

A September In The Air

After being home all summer, September was NOT chill.  First, a birthday spacation. I found myself exhausted a lot this year. I think it’s due to a lot of internal mental/emotional work and introspection that I did this year. Add work, life, and pandemic on top of it all and Sis just wanted to chill for her birthday and that’s exactly what happened.

I spent a few days in Scottsdale Arizona relaxing, getting spa treatments, reflecting, and eating in one of the best spa destinations in the United States. If you told me a few years ago that I would go on a trip just to relax, I’d think you were out of your mind. We change, we evolve and our needs change. It’s okay (even expected) to change your mind and express as much.

After Scottsdale, I went off to Austin Texas to attend a conference and see my girl as she moved into her spanking new home. I didn’t get to do a lot of touristy things but I am looking forward to returning to Austin in 2022, God willing.

My First Pandemic Business Trip

Next, I was off to Clearwater, Florida on my first business trip. It was my first time in Clearwater. Funny story, my team had suggested booking lodging in one location but one look at it and I wasn’t too pleased. Yes, I care a lot about where I stay (I feel the same way about where I live).  I found a different property right on the beach and within our Company policy and made the team change the reservations. I kind of wondered if I was being a little too much.

My team flew in on an earlier flight and I joined later. As I was riding in my Uber form the airport, the Uber driver started talking about some ladies he’d picked up earlier that were going to my same hotel. He said they mentioned that their boss made them change the hotel because she wasn’t a fan of their choice. He also said they were so happy about the change because the new location was so much better.

Phew!! Thank goodness my input was positive or I may have been hearing something negative about myself from a stranger!  I didn’t get actually get a chance to enjoy the beach (I was working late), but my team did J and that’s a win in my book.

A Return to Puerto Rico

October was time for another girls’ trip and my friend Korma and I hopped over to Puerto Rico. I’d last been to PR in 2013 but there were a few things different about this trip. Asides from the pandemic, we got to do a mix of old and new things.  I have to also admit that my travel budget in 2021 was more generous than in 2013 (Thank you, God!). Both trips were great and I’m proud that my 2013 self did not hold back from traveling, waiting for perfection, or for a bigger paycheck.

November in Nashville

To be honest, I mostly dreaded this trip because of how much I had going on at work at the time. I was in town for 48 hours for a business trip where I also spoke at an industry conference. I didn’t get to explore at all as I had to work on other deliverables in the evenings. Nashville is a great city though, I visited in 2018 for my friend’s wedding and shared about it here.

The One Trip I’ve Been Looking Forward To

If you’ve read my sporadic newsletters this year, you’ll know that the one trip that mattered the most to me this year is the very last trip of the year and my only international trip. So it’s been a bit nerve-wracking to see news about the latest variant take center stage and red lists begin to appear. Regardless, these heels are HOME!

After visiting Nigeria, I look forward to restarting my goals of seeing one new African country every year and ringing in the New Year somewhere new. Stay tuned for more…newsletter gang will get the destination in advance.

That’s it for my 2021 travel recap. Although I did not start out 2021 with a massive travel list (because pandemic), I’m thankful for all the places I’ve been, the miracles I’ve witnessed, for good health, the lows I’ve walked through, the questions that remain unanswered, the questions that have been answered, person I’m becoming, and the life that I have been blessed with. My heart is so happy to be home!

A lot can happen in a year.

Thank you for the gift of your time and attention. Stay healthy, stay safe.

Till next time,

Dee (Ms. Heels)