UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

When I travel, particularly on business, I always try to take in as many local experiences as time and budget will allow. There’s nothing like flying into a destination, taking a taxi to a client meeting, then eating a fast, boring lunch brought in from some local joint, only to turn around and go back to the airport.

I did that for over a year when I had a project in Barcelona. I must have visited that city 30 times, and I sadly know very little about it. I might as well have had a video conference and stayed home!

Now, when I travel, I coordinate my calendar so I have time to absorb some local culture before or after any business dealings. Like the saying goes, “No man ever said on his deathbed, I wish I had spent more time in the office. ” If I’m traveling on business, I will find ways that the flight is actually cheaper for my company if I leave on a Saturday morning instead of a Monday morning, and any extra hotels nights are on my dime!

I take the time to see something new, whether it’s an art exhibition, attend a local cooking course, hop on a boat, take a hop-on, hop-off bus or book the London Eye when guests are in town.

I love my new adoptive home of London and appreciate it 100% more now that I’m not running the treadmill. It’s now the London that I loved as a tourist. Within this section I will tell you about some of the fun unique experiences I’ve had.