Asheville, NC: A Month of Reconnection
It’s been almost two weeks since my month in Asheville, North Carolina. There’s something about looking back that makes you see things much more clearly. I can see now what this month was for me—it was a month of reconnection with my self.
I’m in a rural Italian village now, and as amazing as it is, it was a little emotional for me to go through my Asheville pictures. It’s funny how when you’re in it, life can feel so mundane, but looking back, nostalgia can surface out of nowhere.
Before my trip to Asheville, I packed nearly everything I owned. I knew I didn’t want to return to my hometown, at least not for a long time. At the time, I was considering getting an apartment in Asheville and making a life for myself there—if nothing better came along (spoiler: something did).
Below, is a picture of what my car looked like before I left.
Oh, man… you can see how cold it was the morning I left from the frosted windows. Raleigh was consistently hitting below 20ºF that week.
In my pile of stuff, on top you can see my piano keyboard, the box of an acoustic guitar I was set to return, and most importantly, my lego parrot secured beside me (a beloved gift from my brother).
About halfway through the four hour drive, I took a break at a rest stop and ate a protein bar. I was in awe of how beautiful the trees were, their pale bark against the bright blue sky.
Once I made it to Asheville, I couldn’t check-in just yet, so I decided to go on a hike. From a quick search on AllTrails, I found a hike to Catawba Falls. Click here for the link to the trail.
It was getting dark fast, but I found the walk to be really relaxing and I enjoyed the sound of the rushing water beside me. At the end of the hike, there is this 3+ story stairwell that takes you to the top of the water fall. Pretty cool… although, brutal on the lungs.
The next day, naturally, I went thrifting. I found some essential listening for my car rides—music that was soon to become the soundtrack of my Asheville trip. My car is a ‘97 baby, so no bluetooth.
The thrift store I went to was Mr. K’s Used Books & Music. Check it out if you get a chance, its a super cool place.
Later that day, I was craving some mountain time, so I went on a hike. This trail was amazing and had a beautiful overlook at the end. I enjoyed sitting on a rock beneath the warm sun and looking out at the Blue Ridge Mountains.
For much of my trip, I spent a lot of time walking around my neighborhood. My Airbnb was in Montford, a historic neighborhood just north of Asheville and it was a beautiful place.
Below, is a picture of my dream house.
While walking to the neighborhood park, I saw this mini art gallery. It was so cute.
About a week into my trip, I decided to visit the Biltmore Estates. Little did I know, just how much my life was about to change.
I wrote a whole separate post on my Biltmore experience here.
After this experience, I turned inward quite a bit.
I spent a lot of time making art…
… and when I wasn’t doing that I was cooking, baking, and watching movies.
I also spent a lot of time exploring outside. The center picture below is of an apple orchard I visited. Life-changing, truly.
A week before my trip ended, my car broke down on the side of the highway. It was okay though… at least the view was beautiful.
Later that week, I slid around on some ice with my brother.
Then, in a bit of a spontaneous flurry, I decided to downsize again—this time to a single backpack—and prepared for my next destination. Italy here I come ;)
