Planning is guessing. Expectations present an opportunity for disappointment. But intentions...those are personal choices. The magic of travel, the lasting transformation, begins in your mind, right where you are. Thank you to Katie, from Wanderwell, for these pre-travel journal prompts. We depart tomorrow to begin the journey to Everest Base Camp.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas! As we enjoy the last week of 2017, here is a look back at some of our favorite moments from the year. Thank you to everyone for all of the love, laughter, and lessons.
Gift Guide Part 3: Give the Gift of Inspiration It's my birthday week! But this deal lasts all month. For all of December, with any canvas gallery wrap purchase, receive a free travel consultation (20-minutes via Skype). Smile. Be kind. Eat pie. Often you do not know why someone is traveling. It could be for celebration or mourning, for business or for pleasure. Or for pie. Small rural airports have some of the best homemade pies. I once flew across Ohio for blueberry pie, landing just 10 minutes before the KTSO restaurant closed. The owners insisted on brewing a fresh post of coffee and even offered to stay open and cook us dinner. Respecting their time, we thanked them profusely and took off for home, racing the thunderstorms, carrying a whole blueberry pie and two steaming cups of black coffee to celebrate my first 100 hours of flying. The aviation community often extends so much kindness, perhaps realizing that we could, one day, be flying their mothers or children. Two years and some hours later... Sometimes we fly to share breakfast with people who have become our family. “What possible relation can there be between living something and telling it?” – Carlos Fuentes The meal that may have changed my life. I placed my hand on the napkin blanketing the loaf of white bread and found it still warm! Our host baked us fresh bread, and prepared a spread of food to satisfy every taste. Maybe having someone to share breakfast with is not such a terrifying idea. - Christine 2015
Shoulder Season is like Goldilocks. It is not too hot and not too cold in most of the world, with often not too many crowds and not too terrible prices. Kids are in school, so mid-career professionals can often capitalize on their vacation bidding at this time. Some pilots and flight attendants may even be able to take an entire month off, sometime after Labor Day and before Thanksgiving, if they fly until the FAA tells them to rest throughout the summer.
Many would argue that one's ability to adapt is most important for traveling. Growing American brands look for the same quality of adaptation in their leaders. Emotionally intelligent leaders hone their adaption in order to improve themselves and to simply live well. But beyond adapting to life on the road, on the other side of the pond, or across the street, is the traveler's ability to learn. On a recent trip to Ohio, I asked my best friend’s husband what would be appropriate attire for church on Sunday. I then remarked, “Isn’t it interesting how we all want to fit in when we are someone’s guest? Yet when we are in our own homes and towns, we want to stand out.”
"You eat the last piece of jamón," Angel would tell me, each week, before I would fly back to the U.S. "I can eat it tomorrow. You can't." I hated hearing that. Thanks to a pork-sniffing beagle in the customs hall at JFK, jamón was one of the few things I could not take with me, unless I wanted my passport flagged for the next six-months of travel. So, finally, I just moved to Spain.
Now, we look forward to friends visiting and insisting that they eat the last piece of jamón. Here are some of our go-to recommendations for friends visiting town.
Kilometer zero. All roads begin here. This is at Plaza del Sol.
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AuthorsChristine & Angel Aisle or windowHe likes the window; she likes the aisle. Match made at FL350. Here are some other travel preferences. Full disclaimer: These are affiliate links, meaning the authors are rewarded for referrals (usually in the form of a credit to use more of the product/service themselves). Pinky promise: Recommendations are simply the best.
The Art of Strength is our sister site, with all of your fitness needs. Whether you are training for your next adventure, to avoid shopping for bigger clothes so that you can save money for your next adventure, or to have more energy with your kids, there is a training program for you. Click the photo below for the latest training special.
When we are not hitchhiking through the airport and landing in foreign lands, Christine is teaching English in Spain. She also offers classes via Skype, allowing you to learn from the comfort of your home, with flexible scheduling. Click the photo below for more information.
We are in the coffee business. Because wherever we go, we drink coffee. And let's face it, some hotel coffee leaves a lot to be desired. So now we can pack our own. Click the link below to have your coffee delivered to your home, to drink there and on the go.
Away makes thoughtful luggage featuring unbreakable shells, interior compartments, and built-in USB chargers. Click the image for $20 off your order.
Airbnb is the preferred accomodation for Christine & Angel when they want to connect with locals, want to keep their entire group under one roof with the privacy of separate bedrooms, or when staying in a place known for expensive hotels. Click here or on the photo below to save on your first stay.
New users, click the photo below, or sign-up with code christineh8502ue to get your first Uber ride for free.
Make your travels meaningful with Pack for a Purpose. Simply use a small amount of space in your luggage to pack supplies needed by community projects around the world. Click the photo below to find a project in your destination.
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