Costa Rica - Soooo Much More Than Rainforest

Costa Rica was my 3rd international trip in 2007 and it didn't disappoint. As I'm reminiscing and preparing for this next chapter in my life this trip definitely reminds me of the simpler things in life that I want to recapture. I'm so glad that there are still countries on this planet that cherish and protect the natural habitat.


Out of all of the thousands of pictures I've taken during my travels this is my absolute favorite. Just a random Toucan hangin' out in the rainforest. I've never seen anything so majestically organic. This was my first trip not using disposable cameras and I'm glad I invested in a digital camera :)

Beautiful Botanical Gardens - free to get in

I have no idea what I'm pointing at

I usually prefer to plan my trips as 'local' and organic as possible. This trip was a little different - even though I stayed at an all-inclusive resort with restaurants in the pool, and gained at least 15 lbs, it was worth every bite of Casado! I even stopped at a hut along the side of the road and enjoyed some homemade Casado while catching the football (soccer) game of the World Cup qualifiers.

Just a random pair of ox - I can't believe it!

I haven't ziplined yet but I did enjoy the Aerial Tram Pacific which provided spectacular views of the rainforest.

I traveled several hours to see the Arenal Volcano and when I got there it was raining and foggy so I didn't get to see it.Talk about a disappointment, but it's all part of the journey so I made the most of it and relaxed in and enjoyed the gorgeous views from the Baldi Hot Springs at the base of the volcano. 

La Paz waterfall was definitely a highlight

Well those are the highlights from my time in Costa Rica. I definitely see why people do as I'm doing and sell everything to experience a simpler life. 

#LifeIsAJourney

Off to my next journey... 

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Greece - The Acropolis, Plaka, Ouzo, & Gyro Edition...

When I started checking Wonders of The World off my Bucket List in 2004, I made scrapbook to chronicle my journey (I didn't realize that most 20-somethings don't create scrapbooks - guess I've always been and old soul). I went to Greece in 2005 excited to see the Acropolis but returned home having experienced so much more.

I'm by nature a private introvert but this new chapter in my life has me wanting to share and open up more about the travel experiences that mean so much to me.

Here's what was written for my scrapbook after traveling to Greece...

"Where would history touch and how will the future remember the past. At what point does the ancient become the old and the modern the new? Philosophers sowed these questions without reaping a harvest. They labored through knowledge but never realized their birthplace was the secret.

For Athens is not only the heart of Greece, but the place where time trips on itself and falls forward. Highways take you to the Acropolis, a bus travels to the ruins of Corinth, and soldiers march the city wearing tradition as uniforms. I hope you see this city.

I pray you walk the city of Athens, take a seat in Syntagma Square, look above the smog to the hilltops of the great monuments. My hope is more of a plea. Yes I make this plea:

Let your eyes see these sites.

Before you pass through existence let your eyes see these sites."

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This is me finally close up and personal to the Parthenon. Wow! What an amazing feeling checking another Wonder of The World off my list.

Erechtheion is where Athena and Poseidon battled for patronage of Athens. I don't 'believe' in mythology as I'm a proud (but not religious) Christian but I enjoy the creativity of the stories - they open up my imagination.

As most of my close family and friends know I am not a fan of being in nor taking pictures so I'm quite proud of myself for being willing let my guard down and take this one. This one is taken in front of Dionysus theater on the Acropolis.

This is one of my favorite pictures from this trip (I had no idea a disposable camera could take such good pics - lol). This is a view of the Acropolis from Filopappos Hill.

I was amazed at the uniforms of the soldiers guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I'm embarrassed to admit that I thought their kilts were skirts - silly American :)

I had no idea Socrates was imprisoned in Greece before he died.

Wow I actually found the shopping center among ancient ruins! Yep I admit I'm a semi-reformed shopaholic :)

I wanted to island hop but I didn't have enough time to make it to Mykonos or Santorini so I went to the closest Greek Isle of Hydra. What a breathtaking view! I couldn't believe people actually live there. It's one of the few places vehicles aren't allowed and they use donkeys.

I'm a bona-fide seafood lover and this was some of the best seafood I'd ever tasted. Caught fresh from the Aegean sea in Hydra.

No words can describe how it feels to walk where ancient Scholars and Apostles walked. You simply have to experience it for yourself. Here's to a lifetime of exploration and discovery.

#LifeIsAJourney

Off to my next journey... 

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Rome Wasn't Built In A Day...or was it? I Met THE POPE!

Traveling to Italy in 2004 was my favorite trip because it was my first international trip to see my first Wonder of The World - The Leaning Tower of Pisa. I found a great deal on Expedia and got my dates mixed up so I wound up sleeping in the airport in Germany because I didn't see the +1day on the itinerary - I can laugh now but you should've seen the look on my face when I landed in Germany and realized that my flight to Rome wasn't until the next day! LOL :)

I always plan a free day during my trips and decided to go back to visit the Vatican my last day because I enjoyed it so much the first time. 

They were having a special mass service and the Pope was presiding. There were only about 50 people in attendance so Pope John Paul II was only an arm's length away.  To this day I still can't believe that I met the Pope. The unexpected/organic events like this are one of my favorite things about travelling!

I could tell the Pope John Paul II was sick but the mass was great. I'm not Catholic - just blessed to have witnessed such an event. These pictures were taken on November 13, 2004, just months before he died on April 2, 2005.

 





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Of course my main reason for going to Italy was to see my first Wonder of The World and the Leaning Tower of Pisa didn't disappoint. I didn't have a digital camera - this was taken with a disposable camera - lol :) . As you can see I'm horrible at taking pictures (that's me in the far bottom left of the Pisa trying to get the 'pushing the Tower' tourist shot - I look like an ant on a mountain). LOL!






Of course you can't go to Italy without doing a little shopping. So of course I had to buy my first Louis Vuitton bags - I still have them! Funny thing is I overpaid with the euro/dollar exchange rate. Oh well, ya live and learn.


#LifeIsAJourney

Off To My Next Journey... 

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Selling Everything & I'm Outta Here!....

I can't believe it! I moved from Dallas to downtown LA 3 years ago after my divorce to reconnect with family and get a change of pace and now I'm ending my lease early, selling everything, loading up my car and leaving!

Yeah paying $2900/mth for rent with a unruly toddler in the unit above me that screams and bangs the walls all day is making me rethink a few things. Not to mention the migraine-inducing construction next door that has been going on for the past year 10hrs/day , 6 days/week.

Problem is...I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE I'M GOING...Geesh this adulting this is hard.

I'm a consummate entrepreneur for the past 18 years and I'm proud of my hard-earned MBA, but I feel like I've been on this non-stop hamster wheel going nowhere. I left corporate and started a few businesses - some successful others not. Now I'm completely over it and want to get back to TRAVELING!


Hard part is figuring out how not to go broke doing it.

I have exactly 17 days, until July 31st when my lease ends, to figure out a new career and where I'm gonna live. Wow that's not stressful at all!

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that I've been single and dateless for the past several years. You would think with all of the single men on the planet God would have introduced me to 'The One' by now. Right? Guess that's the price you pay for having high standards and not settling.

Oh well I guess all I can do is #KeepMovingForward while keeping my eyes peeled.


#LifeIsAJourney

Off To My Next Journey... 

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This Is My Story...

This is my first blog so bear with me while I get adjusted... :)

I'm a MBA Business Analyst by trade and after over 18 years of the corporate world I've decided to make a drastic life change and shift gears to get back to my first love...TRAVEL!

I am a proud world traveler who is fulfilling my lifelong Bucket List of seeing all The Wonders of The World. So far I've journeyed to Greece, Costa Rica, Australia, China, Mexico, Italy, Germany, Canada, Peru, and France.

I've been through divorce, family illness, death of loved ones, failed businesses, but the one constant that's held me together is planning my next Bucket List trip.

Of course I have ulterior motives and hope to meet my Prince Charming along the way :)

My lifelong Bucket List had has always been to see all of The Wonders of the World. So as of July 14, 017 I'm embarking on a 'World Tour' to see all of the remaining Wonders of the World I haven't seen. Of course finding a job and/or sponsor to help me accomplish this for FREE would be awesome!

Here's my dream trip ' World Tour' that I dream about daily and  will keep you posted as I check them off my list

WORLD TOUR  ...

1ST LEG ( Central & South America)  (approx 3wks)
- Mexico / Chichen Itza (Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico - Mayan Trading), Paricutin 
- Panama / Panama Canal 
- Galapagos
- Equador 
- Rio de Janeiro / Christ The Redeemer
- Argentina (Iguazu Falls)
- Chile / Easter Island 



2ND LEG (Europe)  
- London, Scotland, Ireland/ Stonehenge & Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)
- Finland 
- Norway 
- Sweden 
- Switzerland 
- Austria 
- Germany 
- Spain /  La Sagrada Familia (museum) / Guggenheim (museum) 
- Portugal 


3RD LEG (Nothern Africa/Middle East) 
- Morocco  
- Egypt / Nile & Pyramids / Catacombs of Alexandria 
- Jerusalem, Israel  
- Jordan (Petra) 
- Dubai, UAE 


4TH LEG (Southern/Eastern Africa)  
- Zambia & Zimbabwe/ Victoria Falls & Safari 
- South Africa
- Madagascar
- Seychelles


5TH LEG  (Asia)
- Maldives
- India/ Taj Mahal 
- Nepal/ Mt Everest 
- Thailand
- Cambodia / Angkor Watt 
- Vietnam
- Singapore 
- Malaysia / Pretorius Towers 
- Indonesia (Bali) 
- Philippines 
- Hong Kong 


6TH LEG  (Asia/Australia/South Pacific)  
- South Korea 
- Japan 
- Brisbane / Great Barrier Reef 
- New Zealand 
- Fiji 
- Samoa 

#LifeIsAJourney

Off to my next journey... 

Be sure to visit me on Instagram  Facebook  Blog  GoFundMe