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Kelly Glynn

@fantasyaisle

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✈️ Female Solo Traveler ~ 65 countries
Observer, Writer & Leadership Coach
NYC|Chicago|Barcelona
🗺 #fantasyaisle

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Keeping it real by @fantasyaisle

Summer of NYC
Summer of Chicago
Summer of patience
Summer of construction
Summer of dishwashers
Summer of dust
Summer of soccer (Vamos!)
Summer of exhaustion
Summer of learning
Summer of up and down and all around
Summer of so many big celebrations. Wow my friends are awesome.

I’m always learning something new, something surprising, something that pushes at me or pulls me in another direction. And this summer was all of that and a lot more.

I’m grateful for the unexpected time spent with my family. To my mom who pushed through a knee replacement, to my dad who learned to boil water on the stove and decided it was best not to argue with my mom or me, to my brother who was a remarkable partner in a shit storm at mallard court.
I’m grateful for my quickie to Scotland and Jill and Jono and Katie and Bill. I’m grateful for July 4 in Philly.
I’m grateful for everyone who texted and called when I went dark for weeks at a time.
I’m grateful for Qigong.
I’m grateful I gave up sugar.
I’m grateful to Hannah, Ava, Jill and Steve, Emily and Joel, Sarah, Nicole, Marie, Michelle P and Michelle V, Megan, Marla, Melissa, Amy, Anne, Abbie, Suzy-Q and Kate, Daria, Elise, Heather, Laurie, Jamie, Jessica, Carrie and Thom and my Parasocial crew in BCN.

I’m sure I’ve missed people but I’m about to board and my brain is fried. Oh and thank you to the entire YA genre. Without the kids and their traumas, life would be dull.

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Próxima parada: Barcelona by @fantasyaisle

Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 you know how to rock. 🎸 by @fantasyaisle

Barcelona commemorated the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death on June 10. The story goes—he crossed the street from his workshop at the Basílica de la Sagrada Família and dodged one tram but got hit by the other.

Covered in dust and dirt from construction, he was mistaken for a homeless man. When someone recognized him, officials wanted to take him to a “better” hospital, but he refused accepting his fate. Gaudí died the next day leaving Sagrada Família unfinished.

Gaudi may have known he wouldn’t live to see his greatest masterpiece completed. He left models and detailed plans for his apprentices to continue the project. But in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, anarchists broke into the cathedral and set fire to the crypt and many of the models were destroyed. It’s taken architects years to piece together his vision.

We celebrated Gaudí on June 10, 2026. It was an epic day.

I stood on the streets for 3 hours waiting for Pope Leo. The weather delivered blue skies and balmy temperatures. People from Venezuela, Peru, Mexico, the United States, Great Britian and from all over Spain & Catalonia and the rest of the world lined up waving flags and singing songs. Many of us calling Barcelona home. Then at 7:00 PM we caught a glimpse of the Pope Mobile, and everyone got their phones ready. As soon as it started, it was over. And I loved it anyway.

Pope Leo made his way to the Sagrada to bless the Tower of Jesus Christ and I tore through the streets of Barcelona sprinting to make a performance of 84 Bells and Seven Dreams of Gaudi at the Palau de la Musica Catalana. It was magical to see such a performance in this decorative and historic space.

I started to walk home after the show but as I waited to cross the street the Pope motorcade came barreling down the road with a police escort. I shouted and screamed along with the small crowd. It was the perfect end to a memorable day.

Special thanks to @livespanishwanderlust for the wonderful night and @_h2ou_ for the fireworks video. Too good not to share. by @fantasyaisle

Barcelona’s quietest neighbourhood holds some of its greatest secrets. The Petrables Tour takes you through Pedralbes Monastery, Parroquia de Maria Reina, hidden gardens, Gaudí’s Portal Miralles, and lunch at Santa Clara. DM to book or to chat about setting up a meeting!!

#PedralbesTour #SpanishWanderlust #HiddenBarcelona #VisitBarcelona by @fantasyaisle

I’ve been pounding the pavement visiting Barcelona’s hot spots. For this ladies night, I dragged my friends to Alaire Rooftop Bar at Hotel Condes. It overlooks Passeig de Gràcia, one of the main pedestrian and shopping streets in the city. Enjoy great views of Gaudi’s La Pedrera and Sagrada Familia. Fun cocktails and food are available but definitely make a reservation. It’s not a huge space especially for guests not staying at the hotel. by @fantasyaisle

Just a regular day in Barcelona. Running errands, getting my coffee, navigating closed sidewalks and traffic. by @fantasyaisle

Casa Vicens is where Antoni Gaudí began — and even with his very first project it’s easy to see his genius. Located in the Gracia neighborhood of Barcelona, Casa Vicens was constructed in 1883. It’s worth a visit to see the house and why not grab lunch in a shady square nearby. by @fantasyaisle

The sun shining in Amsterdam is something to celebrate! A trip to see @martinehonee in The Hague. And some laughs, music and tall tales with @de_billman @dawnmulroyamsterdam by @fantasyaisle

Happy birthday to the birthday girl @katiep586! Paris is always a good idea but wow celebrating YOU with this fabulous team of friends and family was a blast. What a way to usher in the next decade. Long live wine and cheese and bread and Paris. by @fantasyaisle

It turns out...I like to win. Another March Madness Vegas-style in the books. by @fantasyaisle

A year of translations
A year of conversions
A year of growth

A year since I stepped foot on the Camino.
A year filled with extreme highs and exhausting lows. A year where I learned to balance my relationship with patience and perseverance. A year I plunged into the unknown and emerged hot and sweaty but also rested and content. A year where I fought for myself. A year where I discovered light and dark can co-exist.

A great year.

Not everything has gone according to plan. I'm writing this post from a friend's kitchen table in Barcelona because my "new" apartment is under construction. The universe wanted to test me, test my resolve, test my faith.
It said, "Hey you, Yep YOU over there chasing a dream. Well here's a giant curve ball, can you take it?"

So shit got hard and I cried ugly and blamed myself. But then I did something I hate to do. HATE! I asked for help. I called for reinforcements and an army lined up to support me. I accepted that help. I couldn't do it alone.

I'm stronger for it.

This summer I fell for a fictional character named Conrad. This summer I turned resilient. This summer I adopted a F*ck it attitude. This summer I vibed.

A year ago I walked to rediscover the pieces of myself I buried to exist in this world. I met people who will forever remind me to trust myself. I love them for it.

When I left for Santiago on 9/24/24, I could not have imagined that today I would live 30 minutes from the Mediterranean, go to bed at midnight, sleep until 8am, or eat patatas bravas for breakfast.

I celebrate a year of saying yes to magic, mishaps and miracles. I lifted the veil of doubt and stepped into the person I was always meant to be.

I'm home.

* by @fantasyaisle