My Stay at Home Spring Break During COVID-19

Week #1 Shelter in Place

My Spring Break was going to consist of me and my boyfriend in Cartagena, Colombia, eating all the food, swimming in the ocean, bathing in a volcano, hiking through nature preserves, and wandering around the Old Town. Then, COVID-19 happened. No more Cartagena for us.

Instead, I get to spend spring break, like many of you, in the comfort *cough cough* of my own home. I’m practicing social distancing, maintaining 6 feet from people around me when I go out, washing my hands like it’s my job. I’ve been reading books, watching too many hours of Netflix to count (with my dogs Elsa and James), gaining some of the COVID-19 (the weight, not the disease), and drinking at unreasonable hours of the day.

Depression kicked in as I resigned myself to staying at home for the foreseeable future. Then, I said, screw it, I’m having a spring break during COVID-19.

My Spring Break during COVID-19

For my spring break, I would be ordering a pool, and drinking alcohol that reminded me of being anywhere besides my own house and backyard.

First, we needed a pool. Thank you Walmart and two-day delivery.

NOTE: This is the only item I’ve ordered online while sheltering in place. I’m trying, okay?

The pool came two days later, and we promptly spent 1 hour assembling it, and 3 hours filling it. I’m dreading my next month’s water bill.

But, this is for my sanity.

Surprised by our success, we moved onto step 2.

The Alcohol

Going to the grocery store is still a necessity. So, on our next trip. I promptly asked my boyfriend to bring me my two favorite alcoholic beverages: ingredients for a margarita, and some New Zealand white wine.

And then, we went out and enjoyed the pool.

While it may look like I’m in my backyard, I’m really in a hot tub in New Zealand, drinking some excellent wine and looking out onto the changing leaves (its fall in New Zealand right now).

I’ve just gotten back from a beautiful hike in Wanaka, New Zealand. I’m staying in a rustic log cabin with the most breathtaking views of mountains and trees.

Now, in this photo, I look like I’m in St. Pete, Florida, but I’m in Mexico, in Playa Del Carmen, soaking in the rays on the beach, with a margarita in hand.

I’ve spent all day zip-lining and 4-wheeling, chasing all of the adrenaline I can get. And now I’m enjoying the sunset with the man I love.

I get by with a little help from my friends…

Because I don’t have all the money to buy all the alcohol (or the tolerance to drink it all, has anyone else started drinking at 3 pm yet?) I reached out to some friends to tell me what they would be drinking, and where they would be going if COVID-19 hadn’t interrupted their spring break plans.

Amber recommends drinking Sangria, and partying it up in Spain!

• Fruit (like apples and oranges)
• Orange juice
• A sweetener (like brown sugar or cane sugar)
• A liquor (like brandy or rum)
• Bold, fruity, dry Spanish red wine (like Tempranillo, Garnacha, or other Rioja wine)
• & Ice (for chilling)
• Recipe found at here.

Amanda recommends White Sangria for a trip to Barcelona, Madrid, or Sevilla.

Angel recommends Mojitos, PR style!

• 3 lime wedges
• Mint leaves
• 1-ounce simple syrup
• 2 ounces Don Q Cristal Rum
• Ice
• Club soda or tonic water, for topping
• Recipe found at: here.

Audrey says to drink Rum Punch for a trip to the Caribbean!

• 1 cup of orange juice
• 1 cup of pineapple juice
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• And 1/4 cup rum
• 1/4 cup dark rum
• 1/2 cup of grenadine
• Recipe found at: here.

Courtney recommends Cafe con Leche for a trip to Cuba!

• Heat milk in a pot. Cafe con Leche is usually made with whole milk, or a mixture of whole and evaporated milk, but any milk will do.
• Pour the hot milk into a mug, filling it almost to the top. Throw in a taste of Cafe Cubano and stir.
• Recipe found at: here.

Devon says to grab yourself a bottle of wine from Porto!

Just look for a bottle of wine from Portugal. You won’t be disappointed!

Jessica recommends to buy a beer from Iceland!

Enjoy a taste of the land of Ice and Fire with an Icelandic beer. Or, choose a beer that reminds you of another country for your spring break trip!

Michael says to grab bag drinks from Seoul, South Korea!

Pour your favorite alcoholic, or non-alcoholic drink in an IV bag, and enjoy!

Kristi wants the Milo-this can be for your trip to Southeast Asia, South America, or parts of Africa!

Mix the milo with warm water or milk and enjoy!

Sara prefers California wine!

You’re taking a trip to Napa and the land of perfect-weather when you grab a bottle of wine from California!

Stephanie says a Coco Loco from Mexico!

• Thanks to a TripAdvisor comment, here is the recipe:
• Carnation Milk
• Creme de cocoa
• Bacardi rum (light not dark)
• Ice
• Recipe found at: here.

So this is what you guys should do:

1. Scroll through the list and find a beverage that looks appealing to you, or get something that reminds you of a specific country.
2. Get said beverage at a grocery store (You can still go to grocery stores you kind of have to).
3. Drink said beverage while lounging in a pool, chilling outside, or relaxing in your house.
4. Pretend, no, will your mind to believe you are celebrating spring break in a different country. You can put on some music, scroll through photos on your phone, listen to people talk in the language of the country you are in, I don’t care, you are THERE!
5. TAKE YOUR SPRING BREAK!

Enjoy your spring break during COVID-19!

Comment with a photo of you enjoying your COVID-19 spring break 2020.