One of my personal heroes, Elizabeth Gilbert, said "To travel is worth any cost or sacrifice," and she wasn't kidding. Traveling is expensive, and not just for your bank account, but I agree with Liz. It is all worth it. I've given up a lot to travel, to keep following my dream to see every country in the world, and I don't regret a thing. My life is an epic roller [...]
There are a few things you're probably doing that make you stick out as a "typical American tourist" (effecting your favorability depending on what that person thinks of the states). Sometimes , depending on the country I've been visiting, people love the fact that I'm American. Other times, not so much. It's been particularly interesting to see peoples' reactions to me being American post-election- but I won't be getting political right now, [...]
I recently had a near lifelong friend tell me something I can't shake. You ever have one of those conversations that lingers for days and weeks after they happen? We'd had a few cocktails and all kinds of truths were coming out. The good, the bad and the ugly. I relished in all of it, the raw honesty. But she shocked me when she said, "You're so damn perfect all the [...]
Two years ago I embarked on two different journeys that would take me to strange corners of the Earth, and my mind. One started with a backpack and a one-way ticket to Spain, but you've heard plenty about that. The other journey started with me opening my laptop one day in Portugal. Both were equally terrifying. Both have drastically changed my life. I started this "blogging thing" with little to no [...]
Outside of the question "Aren't you scared traveling all alone?!" (No, but I was at first. You toughen up pretty quick out there in the world!) The next most frequent question I'm asked is: "What's your favorite country? You must have one, right?!" I feel like I disappoint people, more often than not, when I respond with "I can NOT pick just one! That's impossible." I've never been one to [...]
This week marks the two year anniversary of the day I left the states on a one-way ticket to freedom. It feels surreal to be celebrating this day two whole years later, when I swear it was just yesterday. Time is elusive isn't it?! Einstein said that time and space are an illusion. Perhaps this is an example in my life that connects me to that truth. Time flew by faster [...]
Traveling has so many twists, turns, ups and downs, it can be hard to keep up. There are often unforeseen issues that arise and can totally ruin your day- if you let it. The trick? ALWAYS keep a notebook (and your sense of humor) on hand. Personally, I've slipped up MANY times along the way, learning and taking lots of notes as I've gone along. Amidst any given travel f**k up, [...]
I'll admit it, I have "wino" in my blood, and sometimes it shows- particularly during my time in South Africa. Myself, my boyfriend and my cousin (who came all the way from Louisiana to visit!) all enjoying our 4th- maybe 5th, who knows!- glass of wine under the South African sun. Life is good in Cape Town! If you follow me on Instagram, you know I love a good [...]
You can always go home...but it will cost you. $1,100 (to be exact) and 25 hours of flight time across three continents and, easy! Just like that, I was back home in the states. No matter the cost, it was so worth it. Landing at the San Francisco airport after a year and four months of being totally, completely, GONE, felt so surreal. I was watching a movie of the previous [...]
The difference between traveling solo versus with other people is complex, to say the least. If you talk to a traveling pair about their experiences, it will be in stark contrast to the conversation you'd have with a solo traveler even if they followed the same travel plan and itinerary. (I may be biased, but I'd almost always prefer to hear the stories of a solo traveler.) The experiences are completely [...]