The big you-know-for-sure-that-you-are-on-holiday checklist

I have been traveling for a week and a half now. The entire corona break is being made up for hard. Not good for the ecological footprint, after this I will go on a travel diet for a long time or at least impose a flight restriction on myself. Anyway, after a week or so, certain patterns suddenly emerge and then you know: I am really, really, really on holiday.

1. You have strange dreams
All underlying feelings, fears, nagging issues, hopes, and dreams are thrown into a blender and served at night. Last night I met Anna Wintour at a totally unfashionable friend's place. Anna only had a sort of bust (so head and neck, nothing else) and we would lift her up when she wanted to sit somewhere else. Maybe there is a psychiatrist in the audience who can explain to me how I got here.

2. You drink totally different drinks
At home, I would never make an Aperol Spritz, but here it is a regular thing. And an Averna on top. Drinks that taste sensational in their country of origin are a miscast at home. Anyone who brought a bottle of Hierbas from Ibiza to let it disappear under the dust at home should now raise their hand.

3. You play games
We really never do that at home, mai, jamais, never, but now we present each other dilemmas all evening, play Who am I? or ask for a top three of the past year.

4. You have no hangover
No matter how many Aperol Spritz and Averna you had, you are fresh and fit. No matter how short the night, you are not tired.

5. You are busy with nothing
A dive here, a nap there, a bit of sunscreen, some messages and it's lunchtime. Two playlists later and it's time for the aperitif.

6. You take a lot of photos for your photo book that you actually already know you won't make
Story of my life.

7. You delete photos from your library
Because of point 6.

8. You really enjoy reading Dutch news

9. You relish it when it rains in the Netherlands

10. You think about what you would have done on a normal Monday and wave once more to the waiter.