London, Paris, and Rome

I look back to when I was in my mid 20's, and never imaging that, I could one day be calling myself a world travel.

These two young ladies are the ones that explored, London, Pairs, and Rome, with me.

It all started with a 1 on 1, (1:1) meeting with the boss. I wasn't a fan of meeting each week, to go over projects, deadlines and how much progress you have made from last week, to the next. It stresses the hell out of me. But if it wasn't for that 1:1 moment with the boss,  I believe I would have never thought of traveling. I recall that 1:1, we didn't discuses projects and or deadlines. We spoke of football and then her most current travel to Russia.  She then asked, Tomàs, where would you do want to go? I thought for a whole minute, and said, I don't know. Had never put much thought into traveling,  yet alone traveling overseas. I didn't even have a passport.

So then she gives me a new project. So for my next 1:1, action item to present "La Jefa" was to select three places.  And you guested it, three city I would or have dreamed of going. And you would think, this would be a piece of cake. Well not so... I struggled, believe it or not.  But thank goodness for Google, I ended selecting, London, Paris, and Rome.  Once I selected those three cities and had them penciled in, it was time to do some major research of these three cities. Another part of the world, I know get to touch, smell, and be me, and not read or watch a show about them. I now had that opportunity of making that happen. 

So there came stages of excitement. From putting down the deposit for my first solo overseas international trip, and it become a tad more real. Not quite 100% real, but it came in stages. The day I paid my deposit, I was at 250 plus'ish days away. The agony of just knowing it's 250 days away just about killed me.  But I survived... Trust me, it was worth the wait, and it flew by. 

Fast forward...  Date of flight December 8th 2014.

My next moment of excitement, and what made it real at that 100% real, for me was when I flew from Austin to Houston... Can never forget that moment, walking up to that terminal. Not just any terminal, but the international section of the airport. When I got to my section, and looking out the window, that  over looked my plane, and seeing this enormous marvel of a machine. It was fucking huge. And I was about to board it.  It was a Delta Boeing 747, that seated around 400 individuals. 

My heart was pumping harder than norm. It was all seeking in, it was real. I made it happen. Called my beautiful mother, told her my good byes, and I love yous and so on's... 

  

At the moment all that mattered, was that I was doing this, and like my boss and a co-worker had mentioned, a trip like this will forever, change who I am.  I didn't understand that, but they were so right. It changed me forever, it opened my eyes and I grow into this young, thriving, curious, Hispanic men. Going into this alone was honestly, scary, but at the same time it was fucking mind blowing.  I had decided to go into this trip, being myself. Being my TRUE-SELF.  (Note:  another blog entire on #trueself statement)  Ended up meeting some amazing folks, from all over The United States, and befriended two girls, that were around the same age as I, and till this date we are still friends.  One of them is taking another advantage to South America, with me. 

So, for the next 10.5 hours, I would be in air and bound to one of the worlds largest airports, and that would be London's Heathrow. 

I am going to share the moments I captured via pictures. I am going to try to update this blog, as much I as can remember. Hope you enjoy my moments. 

This picture, me in Houston and ready to be in air for the next 10 hours.  I upgraded my seats, the boss said, you must, trust me... So I did, and thank god, I did it.  And I got a window seat, and no one was seating next to me.

This photo is of some amazing crazy Australians. Once they figured me out, and found out, I was American, they went crazy, and feel in love me with. Not sure how and who took me back to my hotel, but I got back safe.

Last night and ending our trip in Rome, Italy.  We all dressed up in our finest, and headed to dinner.

I believe this was after we got back, I got myself a bottle of wine, and brought back to my room. View from my room. Also, I believe I had one too many, not glasses of wine, but bottles of wine.