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Pompeii
This Throwback Thursday posts took place during one of my favorite trips. It was my first time in Europe and I was travelling with my best friend, who was the ideal travelling companion. This story takes place on the very first day in Italy. May 2015 It was our first day in Italy and with only a thirty-minute train ride between us and Pompeii, the ruins of a city once drowned in the ashes of the volcano Vesuvius, we knew exactly how we wanted to spend it. After a complimentary breakfast of Nutella croissants, espresso, and orange juice, we hopped (literary we were bouncing) onto a train south. Little to…
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Idle Afternoon
Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen) was an original essay by Mary Schmich and made famous by Baz Luhrmann when he turned it into a speaking song. In it the listener is given a plethora of advice relating to how one should live their life. One piece is not to worry about the future, “The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind. The kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.” On Tuesday the 13th of July, at 4:23pm I was hit by a car while crossing a street. It certainly wasn’t something that I had worried about, though it…
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Bruises and Hives
In South America I traveled alone: I was prepared and in the right mindset. In all honesty when Shannon left Europe, I hadn’t entirely prepared myself for being on my own. It wasn’t that I didn’t realize I would be by myself. It was just that I wasn’t accustomed to it. We had been a travelling duo for two months and suddenly not having her around was quite a shock. A few days passed before I began to adjust. July 2015 The day after she left, I decided to go jogging along the river. When you travel, the learning curve is astronomically steep. I discovered the east side of the…
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Glamping in Bolivia
It’s been a while since my last Throwback Thursday post, so I felt like one was in order. February 2014 We took the new road, not the Death Road, to get down to Coroico. The way was smooth, though riddled with twists and turns. My legs were smashed against the seat in front of me, where an older woman wearing traditional clothing sat with a toddler on her lap. She wore a brown bowler hat, a red silk skirt, and a lacy top concealed by a black shall she had draped over her shoulders. Every possible space on the minibus was occupied. Diego, Erica and I had claim over the…
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The Little Pizzeria
This is still one of my favorite memories. I speak of it quite often and thought it was about time I shared it with you. May 2015 Our last day on Capri was probably my favorite, though most people might not fully understand why. It had rained most of the night and had all the inclinations of being a dreadful day weather-wise. Shannon and I had procrastinated in planning, mainly for the pure freedom of being able to change our minds if we fell in love with a place. Yet some aspects of a trip cannot be put off for forever. The rain rested, allowing us dry passage into town.…
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A Ferry Family
Today I’ll be starting a five to six day sailing trip from Panama to Cartagena. In honor of this, my TBT post is about a ferry ride from central Chile to southern Chile. I hope you enjoy it and wish me luck on my current venture! March 2014 A day later than planned, I was back in Puerto Montt to head south on the Navimag Ferry. Our estimated time of departure was midnight. We had already been delayed once, so it was no surprise when we actually left at seven the following morning. There is only so much you can do on a boat to pass the time, but when…
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Chuseok
Since I injured my ankle recently I thought it might be nice to reflect on the first time I severely injured it. September 2012 Chuseok is a time for Koreans to remember their ancestors and show them respect through bowing and an elegant feast. It is most comparable to the American Thanksgiving, although it is a great deal more intricate. At our school we basically take a day off to celebrate with the kids. We wear Hanbok, make Songpyeong, and play several customary games. Hanbok is traditional Korean dress. Every teacher gets fitted and the outfits are rented for them. Even the children wear Hanbok, though this is provided by…
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The Colorful Coffee in Chiloe
I’ve posted before about misconceptions and prejudices. This Throwback Thursday post is about a situation in which I was exposed to several of them though not all were directed at me. March 2014 I came to Chile fully aware that it was more developed than both Peru and Bolivia. Yet, I don’t think I was fully prepared for being in that type of environment. Everything was three to five times more expensive. Instead of four dollar a night hostels, the cheapest I could find were fourteen or twenty dollars a night. A full course meal that used to cost three to five dollars was fifteen to thirty dollars. Puerto Montt…
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At Last
It’s strange to think I wrote this over three years ago and yet I had the same sentiments then as I do now. Disbelief at how long it has been since I’ve traveled. Excitement that it is finally happening again. Frustration directed at those that cannot seem to grasp the importance and beauty of these adventures. Peace in knowing I am exactly where I am supposed to be. May 2015 It’s been over a year since I’ve lived the backpackers’ life. It’s almost strange returning to it once again, yet at the same time it feels completely natural—like an MBA player hearing the swish of the net for the millionth…
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Four Days Between Lakes
June 2015 Switzerland was a blur. Having only four days to spare, my best friend Shannon and I packed our schedule with activities. Getting there from Italy was a bit of an adventure in and of itself. Shannon and I ended up taking separate trains as there was not sufficient space on the one from Venice to Brig. We both had layovers in Milan where we would be required to print our e-tickets and switch trains. This is where things began to go a little haywire. My thirty minute layover was reduced to fifteen minutes when my train arrived late. It took five minutes to get to the ticket office…
Insights and Stories Through the Eyes of a Wanderer
