That 3:55am wake up call was brutal….

Twenty five minutes later, we were jumping into the wicker basket of a massive hot air balloon with fire scorching the top of our heads. The pre-dawn twilight glow was just starting to show the silhouettes of a sea of other like minded travelers all anxious to lift off into this mystical wonderland of Cappadocia.

Our pilot was the first out of the gates and we set the pace from high above. If the tears of joy pillowing in the corners of my eyes were any indication of my upcoming elation over the next 70 minutes, I had a feeling June 19th will forever be etched in my mind.

The sky lit up with the fire sparks from at least 100 balloons lifting into this new day, all at different heights in their journey. The color resonated against a rugged backdrop of cave like spires jutting out from this crazy topography below. Our pilot easily raised and lowered our vessel with the mixture of gentle breezes and the occasional fire torch.

That is until one of our dramatic gains in height was in direct line of another captain and we experienced a “morning kiss”. After bouncing off our nemesis and pummeling a poor cliffside bush, we rose to finally get our first glimpse of the sun gleaming off the horizon. Wow.

We glided towards the suns rays and I stopped counting after happily clicking away at over 100 pictures/videos. I felt the constant struggle of being in the moment and making sure to capture this glorious memory.

As we inched towards our final descent and inevitable end to this ride of a lifetime, we crouched as instructed to brace for impact. After three sharp bounces jolted us into the lap of the unlucky passenger behind us, we returned back to reality safely and as giddy as could be.

We toasted with champagne to an unforgettable ride!

Detours.

I woke so excited to go exploring at 6:30am with the sounds of the waves crashing along shore just 1 block away & the wild roosters making a ruckus with the light of a new day. My 2nd stop took me to just past the northernmost lookout point on the Big Island of Hawaii – Pololu Valley & the 1 mi steep descent to the black sand beach below. The violent waves crashed ashore BUT there was an indescribable feeling of peace radiating in the crisp Feb air.

I hiked the winding single track trails hugging the coastline and even jumped on a rope swing to let off some steam!

And to think I wasn’t even supposed to be here….. after the rollercoaster year 2020, my plan was international travel for 3 months. Maldives. Bali. Australia. New Zealand. Greece. Egypt.

But staring out into the expanse of the aqua blue Pacific Ocean, there was no where else in the world I would rather be in this moment. How had I overlooked the beauty in really exploring our own country & being genuinely enthralled with US history? Looking through the rear view mirror in my mind, I stopped at this twisted piece of driftwood to appreciate the long, winding journey & unscheduled stops along the way – one of my greatest pleasures in life!

#detours #onelife #bespontaneous #myjourney #unpackourhearts #tellyourstory

I hitched a ride on my first Alaska cruise in the early 2000s in my parents room on the foldout couch. It was my longest cruise to date at 12 days, which I absolutely loved disconnecting and having no connection to the outside world. In the moment for sure.

We arrived early into Vancouver (also my first time in Canada) and immediately went out to explore. I only remember totem poles and a port, then insisting we go to the monstrous Capilano suspension bridge. It seemed like we were in a fairy tale and I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost amongst all the connecting catwalks in this lush rain forest.

Every Alaska port was so quaint and I loved all the nature. Definitely in my element. We hiked to the Mendenhall Glacier, took the gondolas to cliff tops, went whale watching….. unspoiled and breathtaking.

I rappelled off my first real cliff and had the bow of the ship to myself one morning while more than 50 dolphins guided us into a one of a kind sunrise.

We had a day planned to watch the glacier from the top deck…. sounds boring. Quite the contrary. The ship inches along slowly pulling into a small bay, while small icebergs are bobbing all around us. What??!! I was sworn to that it was normal. Then we spend hours doing a 360 degree turn while bundled up in our winter gear. Then I finally understood – it is hard for me to sit still for any amount of time BUT I learned that day that silence is golden. Ice chunks occasionally peel off the glaciers and splash into the bay. JUST WOW! Only then can you understand the effects of years global warming and try to be sensitive to your own carbon footprint.

Another memorable note – I was the youngest passenger by probably a good 15 years. And being a night owl, I certainly wasn’t ready for bed so I hit the lounge for live music every night. I was infatuated with a young Filipino singer who had a passion for folk music. Just something about him was so calming and intriguing. I even bought his CD and stayed in touch with him for awhile, as he continued to sing on numerous ships over the years.

I ramble but Alaska is a true masterpiece and worthy to be on everyone’s bucket list.

Once a year in the mid 2000s, our Disney Created sports fields team would attack the paintball fields in north Orlando for a day to let loose.

Our first year and one that I will never live down….. I put the outing together and wanted to find a restaurant close by the venue. Options were slim, but I found a sit down place that I kept secret until the day of. I had planned to arrive first to get a big table and settle in. I should mention that the guys were pleasantly shocked at my choice….. Wing House! How could I go wrong with wings and bar food? Since it was an official team outing and on the corporate card, no alcohol was on the agenda BUT I had no idea the place was similar to a Hooters!!! Geez. How embarrassing and a huge laugh. Food was decent from what I remember but the jokes were never ending.

We would dress in our oldest and rattiest clothes, all bundled up, so we would have some protection from the onslaught of shots inevitably coming our way. Typically we would start at the indoor warehouses and eventually migrate to the outside fields. The guys would always scare us females indoors (shots just too close for comfort), so we preferred the open spaces.

Rapid fire weapons would always run through the ammo so quickly and, after refills, we would get one last long run in before the onslaught of pictures and laughs ended the perfect day out with an extraordinary group of teammates. And of course the battered and drenched clothes would be tossed!

I had always hated running growing up. It just wasn’t my thing. But I had a stretch for about 5 years where it was my coping mechanism and retreat from stressful jobs. I escaped and had time to think on my daily jaunts. Six days a week I made the time, so my weight and mental health benefited.

Racing didn’t really personally interest me too much, as I typically enjoyed my role as the biker behind all the walkers just listening, encouraging & keeping them safe. But I signed up for a few 5ks and kept getting better. I was proud of myself. As I got more addicted, I knew I had one shot to go hard core towards possibly completing a half marathon. (Just no desire to go for 26 miles) After all the abuse I had put my body through growing up in competitive sports every day and through college, I did ache all the time and my recovery time was starting to get longer with each year that passed by. But I committed. No regrets.

My friend Jamie and I trained relentlessly for months. I was ready. It was a non Disney race, as I wanted the challenge of the unknown. Winter in FL is hit or miss. As luck would have it, our big weekend was the lowest temperature recorded for that year at a brutal 33 degrees with winds hovering around 18-20mph for race start. Yikes.

Also I’m finicky in that I must wear shorts while running, so I’m literally shivering with blue lips even with my skull cap and running gloves on. But we suck it up and I start at a solid pace and get into my groove quickly.

Run your race.

13.1 miles to go – my only goal was to beat the 2 hr mark. And I must say I never ran more than 9 miles in a single clip during practice runs, but I knew adrenaline would push me through on actual race day. And it did….. I let my thoughts wander, so I don’t remember much else except what felt like a brick wall of wind when I turned onto the loop along the pier. It was insane.

But I felt invincible. I peaked at the exact right time and crossed that finish line in 1:46:29. I know I will never beat that mark and I’m ok with that. I went all out, as I always have to do.

I’ll never do another half but I’m so thankful that I became a runner that day. #rockit

I have to be inspired and then I’m off to the races. It becomes an obsession. Map out a basic plan. But not too many details. I don’t get caught up in all the intricacies just yet.

My flow typically is to have a well laid out shell, then the night prior, when I’m reliving the day, start thinking ahead to solidify a plan for the following day. This allows me to stay in the moment and really appreciate the present. Make sense?

How do I even get started? I scour social media articles for must do’s for months. I join Facebook interest groups focused around national parks, single women travelers, world explorers and reputable travel magazines. There are always pictures popping up (especially on Instagram) to add to the ever expanding bucket list, as well as fellow travelers asking for advice in their trip planning. I save articles by grouping them under a few different headings – general travel, US destinations, Asia interest points, Europe deals, etc. Plus I have running notes on my phone of a handful of future travel locations that I just dump all the info I’ve gathered until it’s time to really frame up a plan.

For flights, I detailed my research plan in a previous blog.

Car rentals are typically your biggest expensive if you are really going to explore for any length of time. If it’s short trip, I typically forego a rental if I can be centrally located with easy access to my interest points. I compare all sites because I haven’t found a 100% go to yet. From specific car sites like Alamo, Dollar, Sixt, Thrifty to generic websites of Rentalcars.com & carrentals.com, I am always receiving emails with discount codes so try them all. Also I should mention to check out if there is a drop fee to possibly start in one location but drop at a different one. There never used to be, but nowadays it can be substantial. And of course, gas prices are always a factor.

Accommodations I scour all the sites – Airbnb, VRBO, HomeExchange, Hotels.com, TripAdvisor & booking.com. Sometimes I prefer a home base, while others I like to jump around. That is all personal preference and how close your activities are to each other. Be careful and read reviews, as housing in foreign countries has a wide range of comfortability and can be challenging. Personally, I don’t get my hopes up too high and just go with the flow. I tend to lean towards a comfortable, low key stay and don’t mind rustic conditions. It adds to the authenticity in my opinion, but know what you are getting into. And don’t be afraid to wing it a few nights…… I’m serious! It’s ok to not have sleeping arrangements for the night if you are ready to explore or possibly have a full day planned and don’t know how far you will get. My 2 “go tos” for day of needs are apps for hotels.com and hotel tonight. I swear it can be exhilarating!

Activities are were I spend most of my efforts and savings. While I mostly enjoy hikes and outdoor, natural excursions instead of the touristy, expensive traps, I will splurge on a one of a kind experience the location may be known for. I still to this day grab all the brochures in hotel lobbies if they spark an interest in me. My route finder of choice is http://www.myscenicdrives.com, as it finds the fastest route between destinations and even directions for when you go off grid without GPS.

Culinary delicacies are the reason most people venture out. While I do love supporting local businesses occasionally, I’m not a foodie and tend to keep it simple with easy snacks ready on the fly. Think about this one as you can blow a ton of money just eating out if you haven’t planned ahead. Anytime you visit a resort (ski town, amusement park, national park concessionaires) you will pay a premium for lackluster tastes. Hit a grocery store prior and avoid the distraction.

Now that you have a destination picked out. Flights. Car. Accommodations. Activities. Food.

Get to packing!!! One of my first ever blogs detailed my luggage thoughts and I will emphasize it again….. pack less. Period. What do you really need? Enjoy the experience not material things.

I couldn’t have been more excited to really explore Spain, France and Italy. We had a big group of 8 ready for a new adventure. As first timers, a cruise in my opinion is the least stressful way to cover a bunch of ground in Europe while not having to worry about planning activities & travel arrangements crossing many languages. Every morning we would wake up in a new location ready to venture out.

The history of Barcelona lured me into its elegance. We walked throughout the city taking it all in – Las Ramblas was like walking through a history book. We indulged in massive beers & tapas, which we had no idea were tiny portions so we had to stop twice for dinner. We even took an excursion just outside the city to the impeccable, hillside monastery of Montserrat and enjoyed the funicular to the top. The most memorable stop was a huge fort near the Olympic village that was a replica of old times – just stunning to get lost in and ponder about life back in those days.

Italy really clued me in to how young the US is and I eagerly wanted to learn so much more about ancient times. Climbing Mt. Vesuvius in the bitter winds, visiting the Pompeii ruins, walking ancient cobblestone streets, drinking obscene amounts of wine….. it was divine and we craved for more.

We arrived in Rome on the day of a taxi strike but were able to navigate the labyrinth of streets to take in some of the iconic sights – Trevi fountain, Pantheon (my fav), St. Peter’s Square, Colosseum and numerous bakeries.

We goofed off at the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which had more to do than just climbing all the stairs, and pigged out on the best pizza and ice cold Peroni that we’ve ever had just one block away.

I looked forward to the France portion of the trip, where we stopped in Marseilles, got close to the island depicted in one of my fav movies the Count of Monte Cristo, took an excursion into Monaco to visit the castle, walked the poker room in the Grand Casino and drove the beautiful coast up to the historic city of Eze (my fav old time city perched on a mountain top with old cobblestone streets leading to an astounding view). But my top memory was the bay where we docked for this day – Villefranche. I have dreamed of this city overlooking the bay of crystal clear water and all sizes of boats, and know I will make it back there one day to rent a flat for a month. Bet on it.

And the trip didn’t end upon arrival back in Barcelona, as we hopped up to Paris for a few days to take in the sights and hit Disneyland Paris (cast members just can’t resist). I do remember multiple croissants daily, churches that will blow your mind at the intricacies and grandeur…. the rest is a blur but I no doubt must go back.

Even if your journey doesn’t include Disney, make sure to explore this part of the world and it’s rich history…. I promise you won’t be disappointed and walk away yearning for more.

I’ve had some really dope adventures in my life and the night dive with the manta rays ranks high up there.

Day 2 on the Big Island and I snagged the last spot on the 4:45pm boat – 4 divers and 9 snorkelers. I timed a short hike at the nearby national monument prior because it dumped out at the marina for this late day excursion. After a quick briefing, we jetted out onto the water just north of the main city to a protected cove.

We watched the sunset hit the horizon but I was more consumed by trying to not feed the fish. Of course I forgot my Dramamine back at my lodging, so I opted to suck on Fritos in hopes the salt would hold me over until we jumped in. Three mini bags later (and add in a bag of cool ranch Doritos too), we finally suited up and took the plunge.

It had been 1.5 years since my last dive and this was my first nighttime feat, but I settled in quickly as we explored the underworld en route to the “campfire”. Our guides set up fluorescent glow sticks in a circle and positioned us right along the shift in current where the plankton were abundant.

And sure enough, we had the best seats in the ocean when the 5 manta rays swooped in for a magnificent show. It was breathtaking and so freaking exhilarating to see them whizzing around just a few feet above our heads, as we all were just in awe at these beautiful creatures gliding along. Did you know each animal has its own unique spotted marking pattern on their bellies and if you find one that is undocumented, you get to name it?!

What a rush! Incredible experience! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I originally wanted to learn to scuba dive because it was a passion of my younger brother and thought we could share a common bond when traveling to exotic destinations. He taught me the basics in my apartment complex pool and I was hooked. So a few friends and I took advantage of a course taught at a Disney pool.

My first dives took place in the safe environment of DisneyQuest at Epcot, with all the kids & tourists waving through the glass. It was enthralling and addictive.

From Cozumel to Aruba to Hawaii to Key West, the underwater world is a widely untapped resource and paradise of its own. Most people will only scratch the surface while snorkeling on the waters edge. They can get a taste of the unknown, but only those that dive down know the complete exhilaration of joining marine life in their own habitat. While I’m still a novice with only 32 dives recorded in my book, each one is unique and so fun to venture out into the unknown. And the thrill of searching a historic shipwreck is the ultimate underwater find. Many reefs just forming are baron, but through the amazing force of nature, these playgrounds breed life and bloom into new worlds previously uncharted.

If you ever get the opportunity to get certified, jump on it. It’s a skill that can be used for a lifetime and anywhere your travels take you. I always wish that I found more time to enjoy this passion, but at minimum, I make plans for 2 trips per year to refresh my skills and remind me that I need to dive more often.