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# Landing in Valencia
- URL: https://www.noteofdaring.com/landing-in-valencia/
- Published: 2023-07-31T18:24:59.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-09T15:10:12.000Z
- Description: Making the transition of leaving, traveling, and arriving in Spain.
- Author: Rachel Thompson
- Tags: Adventures

Adventures happen in phases.

The planning and preparation phase took 5 months. The packing, flying, and unpacking phase took 3-ish days over this past weekend. It was a weekend of packing, waiting, flying, waiting, flying, and arriving here. I feel these transitions are often the most simple because of the clarity of change. Saturday I was in North Carolina. Sunday I’m in Spain. And yet, the transition is its own experience and story.

### Part 1: Leaving & Waiting

I left Friday to prepare to leave and pack. And so I spent the day doing just that. Wrapping up and publishing a podcast episode with Flo. Putting clothes, snorkeling fins, and electronics into my suitcase and backpack. Dropping off a key for a friend to water my plants and emptying my fridge. And then going to play pick-up sand volleyball for hours instead of just waiting at home.

Then Saturday was departure day…at 6 pm. There was no final rushing around. I dropped off my dog Devin at my friend's house and got lunch because I had zero food at home. I was ready and just waiting. Waiting until it was time to go. Then waiting until it was time to fly. Wanting to get over the transition and the travel and just be there. But the transition and the travel are a part of the story and a piece of the adventure.

### Part 2: Flying, Waiting, and Flying

I’m a good flyer. Boarding the plane and settling into a window seat with layers and a blanket ready for the 6.5-hour overnight flight to Paris. I watched the Shazam movie and a Masterclass on Negotiation with Chris Voss. Otherwise, I read or dozed with my blankets and an eye mask. Just traveling over 4,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean and six time zones to a different continent!

We landed at 8 am in Paris and I had 7+ hours until my flight to Valencia. (Tip to future self - book the airport lounge waaaay in advance). So I changed and found a corner to lay down for a pretty solid 3-4 hour doze before getting food and boarding my next flight.

### Part 3: Arriving & Settling

I made it. I grabbed my suitcase. Then meet the driver that brought me and another group member -who was actually one of my roommates - to our building. We picked bedrooms, dropped off our stuff, and then walked to a delicious welcome dinner at a restaurant with others in the group that was organized by the community manager. This is one of the main reasons I wanted to do Remote Year. The built-in community and the support around building that community. There are a dozen other delightful people here with me this month to share food, experiences, and co-working space with.

### Part 4: Landing in Valencia

Landing here is just the ending of the beginning. A slow cross-fade into existing here with transplanted and transposed routines. Getting groceries, Spanish classes, working, doing laundry, writing, and creating intermixed with local experiences like a Flamenco dinner and a silk painting workshop, and beach days. And that is just this week!

The next phase of this adventure of settling into living and working, meeting the group, and exploring the language, culture, and water.

Hasta Pronto and until next time!