The first two nights in a new place are not the best. I'm not sure if it's the anxiety or the excitement to move to a new place, but it has been a consistent trend in my travel experience. Interestingly enough, when I travel for work and stay in hotels, I don't have that issue.
In the new Airbnb the bed was fantastic. I was excited to not worry about ants crawling all over me. Everything was so clean, that I really felt very comfortable. There was a thick cozy comforter that I covered myself with that made me feel I was on a cloud. Unfortunately, summers in North Carolina are pretty hot, so I got rid of it on the second night and just used just the thin duvet cover.
My cat settled in pretty quickly as well. He loved the sunlight coming through the skylight in the morning. He would stretch out on the bed and move as the sun shifted throughout the day. To position himself right in the middle of the most sunny spot. I have no idea how he doesn't get hot.
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| Seriously? |
The neighborhood was wonderful as well. After a sleepless night I decided to take a walk. It's been a while since I have taken a walk in the neighborhood. I was excited to finally be able to do that. The neighborhood seemed peaceful and quiet and reminded me of the time I lived in New York. I felt safe walking in the neighborhood both day and evenings, the activity I took on daily averaging over 10,000 steps.
I also realized the diversity within Greensboro. It was great seeing a multiracial community with pride flags, Black Lives Matter signs on lawns and more liberal presence.
I met a local who recommended to visit Piedmont Farmers Market about 20 minutes away from where I lived, towards Winston-Salem. On Friday morning that was the first thing that I did. The farmers market was gigantic with several sections. I bought a whole bunch of produce including strawberries, tomatoes and cucumbers. The following morning I also stopped by the even more local market - The Corner Farmer's Market - which I liked even more. Here I found my favorite stand where I could buy fresh eggs, vegetables from the small farmer. Maybe it's strange, but I love to see eggs unwashed knowing where they're coming from. I guess you know where eggs come from in general, but when they're coming from pasture-raised chickens they are even better. I also bought kombucha, although I didn't find it that good after all.
I decided to go on a hike to Bill Craft Trail and spent a few hours in the woods. It was so exciting to have a hike only 10 to 15 minutes away from my rental. On Sunday, I decided to hike another trail - Piedmont trail - that was probably my favorite throughout the whole stay in Greensboro. I got a message later that day from my host who invited me to have pizza with them and drinks. We had a great time together. This is one of those reasons why I decided to travel. Meeting people in a casual atmosphere is something that allows you to learn about the neighborhood and also gives some perspective on what the area is like.
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| Piedmont trail |
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| Piedmont trail |
After figuring out that the Internet speed would not be ideal if I do a major presentation at work, I started researching my options. I went to several local libraries, which were within 10 to 15 minutes. Surprisingly, only one had an enclosed outdoor area where I could potentially do a presentation without disturbing anyone else. Only one library had Internet strong enough where I could do a presentation from my car. That was definitely unexpected. I had to figure out an alternative. I spoke with the host about the issue, and they quickly contacted AT&T to upgrade their speeds. The following week they had somebody doing the upgrade. I didn't think it was going to solve the issue because there was no node in the apartment itself, just multiple extenders from their house. After the upgrade the speeds did not change much for me. It was still doable to work from home, but the calls were a bit choppy. After another week of that I spoke with the host again who called The Geek Squad. Finally, they installed the new extender in the apartment resolving the issue. I had only one week remaining at this place, but the Internet was fantastic.
During one of the weeks, I met with a girl in Winston-Salem who I met on Bumble BFF, and we walked around the garden in Reynolda Village. She invited me to go join her and a few other girls at a concert on Saturday evening. After hiking Owl Roost Trail in the morning, I headed to Winston-Salem and walked around the downtown. I stopped at the bar and got a peach cider. I asked the bartender why the downtown was so empty, and she said that the town has become like that after the COVID pandemic. Also, it was the summer break and most students have already left. I didn't get a very positive feeling there. Somehow it was not the place for me. I was so tired that after eating a large ice cream I decided to skip the concert and head home.
The following morning I hiked another trail not far away from the farmers market. Cascades Preserve trail was only 2 1/2 miles, but I encountered a snake and found a turtle.
I also started to frequent the local bakery where I've been purchasing a variety of pastries. It has become my Saturday tradition to get a few pastries there right after visiting The Corner Farmer's Market. I was settling in my routine again. This routine didn't seem bad though. Greensboro felt like home, although I realized quickly that the neighborhood I was living in was one of their more pricey neighborhoods. In fact, I later found out that my hosts were real estate developers owning multiple properties in town.
I could see myself living here, but in the meanwhile the time in Greensboro was coming to an end. I packed my things once again and headed to Rougemont to the most expensive rental thus far. I had high expectations, but Greensboro also set the bar pretty high, so I was worried to be disappointed.
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