Argentina proved to be a good choice to spend time in. As the days passed, I felt more comfortable and enjoyed settling into a new, slower routine. On Monday, I ventured to Western Union to get some Argentinian pesos. There are three exchange rates at this time in Argentina due to the high inflation: the …
The start of a new week meant the start of a new adventure! I gathered all of my belongings, packed up, and went to the front desk to check out of my hostel. Marie, the receptionist, recommended that I double check my overnight bus schedule to ensure my bus was leaving on time due to …
On Monday morning, Gena, Alex and I began our hiking adventure! We woke up bright and early, and Caesar (our guide) arrived with a driver to pick us up from our Airbnb. We made our way to the trailhead, arriving by 7:45. We were eager to get started, excited for a new adventure. I knew …
Once Sonja and I got a grip on the transportation schedule, the rest of the Peru hop tour was smooth sailing! Thankfully, Monday was a down day with no agenda. The only thing we had to be mindful about was the time, as we had a 5:30 pm overnight bus to catch. I spent the …
Volunteering at the village school house is such a rewarding experience, but the one and a half hour bus ride each way proved to be taxing. Three hours in a bumpy, crowded bus isn’t the most ideal form of transportation, but I did what I needed to do to get there! Thankfully, I snagged a …
As I’ve mentioned many times before, one of my favorite parts about traveling around the world is meeting new people. Throughout RTW, I have had the pleasure of encountering so many people from different walks of life. If I’m lucky, I get enough time with them to connect on a deeper level, learning their stories …
After a wonderful reprieve in the US with my family, it was time to get back to the last leg of RTW. To kick off the rest of the trip, I set my sights to Peru! My original flight was cancelled, so I enjoyed an extra two days in Houston with Mike and Brittany. It …
It’s been an incredibly busy and fulfilling few weeks on my journey. On Monday, I hit another huge milestone on my RTW adventure: 300 days of travel! It felt surreal to see such a large number of days on my travel log– it seems like just yesterday that I stepped foot on the Camino de …
Though traveling is, quite often, enjoyable… and the idea of seeing so much of the world in a single year is glamorous, the not-so-wonderful aspects of life still pop up from time to time. During the beginning of the week, I nursed a cold that lingered around for a few days. Surely, I reasoned, the …
Choosing to caravan through New Zealand proved to be a great choice! I wanted a means of transportation that gave me the flexibility I needed to make changes to my itinerary along the way, but also provided me with the stability of knowing that I always had a place to stay. I’m no stranger to …
Over the course of the past two weeks, so many big changes have happened! I’ve spent time in a number of cities, utilized many forms of transportation, formed plans… and then new plans when the first plan didn’t work out (more than once). I connected with some travelers, added new items to my pack, and …
This week, my journey along the Pekoe Trail continued on! I had the opportunity to hike the trail with three different guides, each of which gave me valuable insights on Sri Lanka. Further, I was able to make personal connections with each guide, learning more about their backgrounds, experiences, and their “why” to guiding. My …
This week was a mix of emotions, and I was able to see Sri Lanka through multiple lenses. I finished out my time volunteering at the Mother Theresa House, spending my time cleaning and teaching. It was a real blessing to be able to spend so much time in the classroom with the kids! They …
Transitioning from RTW ’23 to RTW ’24 has been a journey in and of itself. I took some “down time” to myself to reflect on what my intentions are moving forward, research some new places I’d like to add to my itinerary, and regroup. Making the decision to transition to air travel when necessary was …
My time spent on Safari in Tanzania was filled with so many amazing memories, moments, and experiences. This week, I spent time reflecting on the different places that we went to, the abundance of wildlife we saw and the incredible diversity of the foliage and landscape around me. It’s hard to describe the majesty of …
Over the course of the past week, I’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to spend some time focusing on women’s issues. It was a powerful week for me that brought attention to an array of different issues that still plague women around the world. I learned a lot from my time at CCBRT …
In Swahili, the phrase “Hakuna Matata” means “there are no troubles”. While on Safari the past few weeks, I felt relatively trouble-free. I was in my “happy place”, I had a plan in place for the next leg of my adventure, and I really enjoyed just being in the moment. I ended my Safari experience …
Over the course of the week, I made it a goal to stay present in the moment. I didn’t want to miss a single moment of the last week with my safari tribe, and I really wanted to soak in the safari experience. I spent a lot of time connecting with those around me, looking …
Safari life has been one incredible adventure after another. My soul is at peace, and I am often finding myself standing in awe at the world around me. Africa is a land of extremes. There is a two leaf plant that lives for hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of years, while other things can’t survive there …
After a trying first week in Africa, I craved the adventure of the great outdoors. I’ve always felt at peace in nature, connected to the earth and all of the creatures that thrive in the vastness of the wilderness. When I was a young mother, I used to take my children camping. I’d find somewhere …
The idea of traveling around the world for a year sounds very exciting– extraordinary, even. It is an undertaking that requires out of the box thinking, determination, dedication, and the ability to bloom wherever you are planted. When the idea blossomed for RTW, the thought of seeing so much of the world and experiencing so …
Throughout the duration of RTW ’23, I’ve met a lot of new people along the way. While some of these chance encounters only lasted momentarily, others have turned into friendships that have carried on. Every connection I’ve made, however, has made a lasting imprint on my heart. I truly feel as though my heart strings …
Ahoy, loyal readers! It has been a very exciting few weeks at sea, and I am so excited to share a little bit about this part of my journey with you! On January 7th, I boarded a 200 meter merchant vessel (MV), Blue Master II to start my month-long journey at sea to Africa. I …
This week, I took some time to answer a few questions that were submitted to my RTW inbox by some of you! I’m so excited to connect with you in this way, and I hope that by answering some questions you are able to better understand some aspects of my journey. For those of you …
Though I missed out on Christmas festivities with family and friends back home, my son, Mike, flew into Amsterdam for a few days to visit me post-Christmas! The holiday decor still filled the streets, and the holiday spirit was still in the air. Mike and I have spoken regularly since I’ve been away, but I …
Welcome back, everyone! Though I’ve missed connecting with you through the blog, I have really enjoyed some extra time to focus on some volunteer work, bouncing to new places, and self-care! I hope that the holidays treated you well, and you are starting the year reinvigorated! Looking back on 2023, I am proud of all …
RTW hit a very special milestone this week: on Thursday, December 14th, I officially hit 100 days of RTW! It’s truly wild to me that just over 100 days ago, I was in the United States, packing my bags and getting my last minute affairs in order, and now, I’m on an entirely different continent, …
Week 14 of RTW was a resounding success! I started the week in Edinburgh, filling my time there with new friends and new experiences. For those of you who know me, you will not at all be surprised to learn that I stood in solidarity with other women during one of my days there in …
It felt like a milestone when I changed the date on my daily note to December, my fourth month of traveling. I started in sunny and hot Portugal in early September with Pam, and this week, I’m solo in frosty Scotland, all bundled up. I’ve adjusted to living out of a backpack and figuring out …
During week 12 I spent more time exploring Scotland. It was serendipitous to be in the country of my ancestors while everyone back in the USA celebrated Thanksgiving with family and friends. My heart was filled with gratitude to be able to celebrate a Thanksgiving of my own with other hostel-goers, filling our bellies with …
My first full week in Scotland certainly did not disappoint! At the beginning of the week, I wasn’t quite sure where I was headed. There were a few options on the table, so I started in Glasgow to get my bearings and planned from there. Thankfully, the week unfolded beautifully, and I was able to …
I knew that when I set out to travel around the world, I would miss a lot from my life in the US– family, friends, events, special occasions, even mundane everyday life tasks that had become a part of my daily routine. What I didn’t realize, however, was just how much my heart would yearn …
During week 9, I found myself in a constant state of gratitude, reflection, and awe. Being in this consistent state of travel has really opened my eyes to what is important in life, and has formed a deeper appreciation for other cultures, historical understandings, and life as a whole. I spent this entire week in …
Throughout Week 8 of my journey I felt like I was always on the go, which was vastly different from the end of my time in Spain where I had plenty of time in one place. The week began in my favorite place: at sea. Even there, though, I was met with some unexpected challenges. …
Week 7 of RTW ’23 looked very different from all of my other weeks so far. For the first time on my journey, I stayed in one place for the entire week– not because of a hiccup or obstacle, but because I planned it that way! It certainly felt different to not have to be …
Seven years ago, Pam and I drove to Finisterre after our first Camino was completed. This week, I biked into Finisterre, and it felt so different knowing that I had ridden my bike the whole way in. As I biked in, I could see the wind turbines in the distant hills and remembered being there …
Week 5 of my journey was filled with some twists and turns. When I planned my trip, I knew that I would have to make some changes along the way– after all, you cannot plan for the unexpected. I’ve been managing symptoms of a UTI since Wednesday of last week, and, as you can imagine, …
Week 4 began with pure excitement and joy as we took our final steps into Santiago! After weeks of hiking, exploring, and meeting new friends along the way, Pam and I walked into Santiago feeling accomplished and proud. It’s hard to believe that I’ve already been on my journey for an entire month– something that …
The third week of my journey was filled with adventure and an immense sense of community. Since passing the 100 km mark, there have been many more pilgrims to connect with, which has made the journey that much more special. With each stop, we learned more and more about the Camino, the towns we’ve been …
The second week of my journey was an amazing experience! With various types of terrain to challenge us, new travelers to connect with, beautiful scenery surrounding us and special moments of meditation, the week was one that rejuvenated my spirit and left me grounded. The week, of course, was not without challenge– however, the overall …
It is almost surreal to say out loud that my journey around the world has finally begun! As I rest in Portugal, I cannot help but reflect on all of the time, energy, resources, research hours, planning (and re-planning) that have been poured into making this trip happen. What was once just an idea is …
Before beginning my journey around the world, I made it a point to make sure I spent time with my family and loved ones. Though the adventure I am about to embark on is exciting, it is not lost on me that I will not have the next 500 days with them. Thankfully, they are …
July 13, 2023 Today marks 2 weeks since my last work day at J&J. The time has been filled with visits from friends, lots of well wishes, and a fun road trip to P-town. I’ve also had some challenges, it’s not all rainbows and unicorns in a post work life. Stay tuned for more of …
Bags are packed , ready ? SET Go! I feel like a kid on Christmas morning , so excited for my first big hiking adventure since 2019. The big black roller bag is full of school supplies /clothing donations. This bag will be making a one way trip (I bought it over 12 years in …
