2015 was an epic travel year for me … I started the year on an airplane somewhere between Hong Kong and Vietnam. January was filled with road trips around Southern Vietnam. In February we ventured to Myanmar, a place high on my bucket list, seeing the stunning country by bus and boat. In March, we explored the scenic highlands of Northern Thailand […]
Because, unfortunately, I’m not Elizabeth Gilbert, and did not return from my big trip with a best-seller and a hot Brazilian–but rather to my parents house, broke, carrying nothing but rotten clothes and happy memories, I decided it may be time for me to nab a job and “get a life.” I figured that job should be in a hip city like “Austin,” “New Orleans,” or “Denver,” or any city where there would be food trucks, thrift shops, moonshine distilleries; and as many quirky/eclectic attractions as possible. And that life should include lots of cool, new friends who have interesting hobbies. I could take up a few of my own new hobbies such as canning, shuffleboard, twerking; and maybe finally fitting in that “wood-working for women” class I’ve always wanted to take. And I could start dating guys who bike, or guys in bands or guys with beards; bearded guys in bands who bike! It could be fun. Maybe then, I could fulfill my overwhelming desire to constantly put myself in strange new settings. I could mimic those things I loved most about traveling–learning, meeting new people, challenging myself–right here in the USA. The new life I find doesn’t have to be one I’m not ready for (husband, babies, houses, cars). But first, I was due (and wanting) to play catch up with my wonderful family. Which worked out well, because, as mentioned above, I’d barely enough money to do anything else. So, […]
I find myself, in Mexico City. Somehow, an entire year has passed and still I travel. I`m amazed and saddened by how quickly 12 months have passed by me. May 5, 2012, I eagerly woke at the crack of dawn so my parents could drop me at O`haire. A goodbye that was exciting and happy, though tearful. My layover flight, […]
Though just an hour flight from Cancun, Havana could not be more different. Cancun with its long stretches of congested roads, plastered with billboards, lined with banks, restaurants, chintzy shops, tacky night clubs, and currency exchanges; high rise condos, apartment buildings and luxury hotels lining the horizon. An abundance of sex, booze and cement; a total lack of character. In […]
I’ve done a lot of living these last 6 months. Here are the details… The Highlights *Overcame my fear of cockroaches while in the Amazon. *Kayaked Las Isletas in Granada. *Explored the massive Mercado Municipal in Massaya. *Moonlight skinny-dipping in Ometepe. *Watched women weave tapestries in the Sacred valley. *Spent the day as a patient in a Colombian hospital. *Mountain […]
These past 6 months, I’ve felt a bit like I’ve been riding a wild chicken bus of emotions. This began on day one when I waved a bittersweet goodbye to my loved ones. With each stop, each new day, I’ve felt a bit more calm, a bit more comfortable. However, like with any trip, the road has taken me places […]
The Benefits of a Break … By the time I made it back to Wisconsin, my previous 48 hours looked like this: 16 hours on an overnight bus, followed by a night in San Jose, followed by 16 hours in airports and on planes, and finally a 2 hour car ride home. I went to sleep, finally back in my bed, and woke up to partake in a 3-day celebration in my hometown involving lots of friends, family, cheese and beer. By the time that was all over, I was exhausted and had no ambition to leave my house, let alone keep on travelling. Hence, I spent my remaining 3 week visit doing as little as possible–sleeping 10 hours a night, catching up on my favorite shows, watching movies, eating healthy, taking long leisurely walks and bumming with my family. I spent time with my adorable new niece. I went to the dentist. I got a check-up at my doctors office. I visited a friend who just moved out of state. I absorbed as much beautiful fall weather and colors as I possible could. My break seems to have worked: as I face the end of my 3 weeks, I am positively itching to get back on the road. I’m re-enthused, re-energized, re-packed, re-organized; healthy, excited and motivated. Just as I needed the road to remind me what I appreciate at home–I needed home to remind me of what I appreciated on […]
A few of my favorite quotes on travel mixed with a few of my favorite travel moments from my first four and a half months on the road… “I can’t think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything. Suddenly you are five years old […]
5 AM Saturday, Monroe WI– I wake after 2 hours of anxious sleep. Stayed up later than expected trying to figure out my proof of onward travel situation. Ended up reluctantly buying a ticket to Ecuador for May 30. Was glad I had it when the Spirit agents gave me a hard time about my one-way ticket. 11 AM Saturday, […]
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