If you believe in kindred spirits the way Anne Shirley and Diana Berry did in Anne of Green Gables, then you will understand the type of friendship I have with my travel bestie.
“kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world” – Anne Shirley
Is there anything more Irish than being at a Whiskey tasting at 10am?
The first excursion of my bus tour in 2019 was to Slane Castle and Distillery. We were split into two groups and my group went straight to the distillery. While waiting to go into the tasting room I began talking to a fellow Canadian girl and we sat next to each other and bonded over our inexperience drinking whiskey. Maybe it was the fact we are drinking it at 10am or the fact we were so excited to be on the trip, but that whiskey was delicious. We proceeded to go through the tour together. Mikayla and I both say this was the start of a beautiful friendship and we didn’t even know it at the time.
From there the friendship grew as we found out we had similar interests, especially in the culinary department. We solidified the friendship as we shoved the most delicious Macarons into our mouths in Rouen France during our cruise. We still laugh about that to this day. We ended up on the same flight to Toronto and spent our lengthy layovers having a bite to eat in the airport. We met in Ireland as strangers but parted as friends at the gate in Toronto.
How did we maintain a long-distance friendship
Many people would think a friendship like this would have fizzled out as the time and separation lengthened. However, thanks to messenger we were able to speak often. Video chats became a thing and we constantly talked about seeing each other again. We made plans to be reunited at the first possible chance. Cue March 2020 and the world shut down. It was not even safe for us to travel within Canada, meaning I could not go to Quebec, nor could Mikayla come to Alberta. We made good use of zoom, face-time, and text messages to keep in touch, constantly planning options for travel once the world opened.
Rocky mountain road-trip
Nearly 2 years after meeting in Ireland we were finally able to see each other in person when Mikayla traveled to Alberta for our Mountain Macaron Madness trip. Since we both love Macarons, we picked up plenty from my three favourite bakeries in Edmonton and then I took her on a Rocky Mountain tour of Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff. This was an amazing week where Mikayla saw the Rockies for the first time and the travel was easy. There was no drama or issues and we traveled so easily together.
Another trip to Ireland… YES PLEASE!!
Early in 2021 we received an email that the organizers of our 2019 Ireland/Europe tour were planning another one in 2022 and we had priority booking. It took about 2 seconds for us to message each other and ask to be roommates on the tour. Fast forward to 2022 and the trip was upon us. We had an absolute blast rooming together. It was so great to travel in our favourite country again with so many of our friends from 2019. There will be more blogs about our amazing time in Ireland, so stay tuned for those!
Niagara falls brings us together again
Due to a covid infection my boyfriend could not travel to Toronto with me and my family. I was pretty bummed out about it and was upset by it all. When I told Mikayla what was going on, she said she could move a few things around and get someone to cover her shifts at work so she could come spend the day with me in Niagara Falls. It was not a short drive for her so this was an incredible gesture of true friendship. While it was not the trip I had planned with the BF, it was a great alternative. Mikayla arrived with her warm smile and her greater hugs! We had a blast together and it again reminded us of how much we love adventuring together.
We met as strangers but through our love of Ireland, mountains, macarons, Celtic music and most of all travel we are now non-biological sisters. Finding a great travel friend has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. I look forward to our future adventures together.
This is not to diminish the amazing friendships I have made with a vast array of people from around the world. I have connected with many over the years, and I love the friendships I have. A true sisterhood was formed with Mikayla over the past few years, and I cherish it deeply.
One of the best things to come of this sisterhood is our ability to travel together. It isn’t easy finding the perfect travel companion. We all have our quirks and our way of doing things and sometimes you just don’t mesh well with someone else, when it comes to traveling that is. But with Mikayla it is easy and fun. She has taught me to see the lighter side of things and to just be silly and have a laugh while having fun. We save the serious life stuff for when we are apart and need each other’s ear and advice through this crazy thing we call life. I truly do think it’s important to find the people you are most suited to travel with, if you aren’t wanting to go solo all the time.
You are blessed to have such an amazing friendship. Look forward to meeting you in person in the future.
the friendship is a true blessing in my life! I cannot wait to meet you in person sometime, hopefully soon!!