 “To be or not to be,” we ask ourselves. In the United States, today, we may change our answer often. Perhaps this is due to the power of the response, “I am.” Is that not the America dream, to be able to answer, “I am,” as you wish?
I did it again. Almost a decade later, I sold my car and moved across the Atlantic. But this time, I was not alone.
“What are your goals?” He asked me over our first beer in Amsterdam.
Sick of travel? I do not think so. Sick from travel? That is a real possibility. I just got over a nasty cold that lasted two months (12 plane segments in 14 days in Argentina started it all). As friends and family back in the USA are shivering in single-digit (Fahrenheit!) temperatures with snow, I thought it would be a good time to share two of my favorite soup recipes!   It was my third visit and his first. It certainly will not be our last. Here are some moments from our 2017 adventure in Argentina.
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.
Sometimes it is not about going somewhere new. Sometimes it is about returning. In a different season. With someone new. With a different perspective. Upside-down. But no matter the change we choose, the greatest experience is to allow ourselves to be changed.
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). Gift Guide Part 2: Give the Gift of Understanding (English)  The worst part about not understanding a foreign language is not knowing when to laugh!
Okay, perhaps you may first want to learn how to find the bathroom, how to order a beer, and then how to ask for the check. But then you will want to learn when to laugh. Because people are funny! Gift Guide Part 1: Give the Gift of Health  Last year's 30-hour 30th birthday on 3 continents! It's my birthday week!
I may not be able to share my cake, but I can share some sweet deals with you. First up, give the gift of health this holiday season! Wherever your next adventure, at home or away, your body is the best piece of equipment in which you can invest! A portion of all sales in December will go towards Aldeas Infantiles SOS. It wasn't such a bad thing that my mobile phone died on day 5 of our 15-day journey. I only lost my cockpit selfie. But what did that matter? “What possible relation can there be between living something and telling it?” – Carlos Fuentes 
It's Fit to Fly Friday and here is your workout! Sorry for our delay. We were traveling, and trekking. 
Sometimes the best advice for training is to KISS - Keep it simple, stupid.
Just go walk. Or run.
Here is a recap of the Fit to Fly workouts for October, as well as how to begin adding kilometers or mileage to prepare for your upcoming trek.
It's Fit to Fly Friday and here is your workout!
Complete three sets of the following;
1 push-up, 2 squats, 3 sit-ups 2 push-up, 4 squats, 6 sit-ups 3 push-up, 6 squats, 9 sit-ups 4 push-up, 8 squats, 12 sit-ups 5 push-up, 10 squats, 15 sit-ups Rest 2 minutes and repeat
In Spain, they call it Verano de San Miguel. Also known, in the U.S., as Indian Summer.
We may be lighting pumpkin candles and cooking pumpkin soup, but we are still wearing tshirts in the afternoons and no more than a sweatshirt at night, if that. So what better time than this for a throwback to the actual summer of 2017. 
It's Fit to Fly Friday and here is your workout!
Follow along with the video, if you’d like. Keep the volume on; there is no music, but the interval timer is audible so you do not have to set your own timer.
20 seconds of work 10 seconds rest Repeat the same exercise for a total of 8 sets Rest 1 minute, then move to the next exercise
There is a difference. To say, “I have arrived,” is not the same as, “I am present.” To be present is to submit, to let go of the past and not question the future.   The mountains, wreathed in clouds, revealed their grandeur at dawn. The high peaks were not visible at all the night before, but one could feel their presence. Last night, she saw only the foothills, and this morning, the mystic, majestic mountains, some of the highest in the world. Then, nothing. The ceilings dropped, heavy with rain. There was no way to know you were on a mountain, yet you knew.
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.
It's Fit to Fly Friday and here is your workout!
30 seconds squats
30 seconds alternating lunges 30 seconds jumping lunges (continue with lunges if unable to jump) 30 seconds squat jumps (squat if unable to to jump) Rest 2 minutes and repeat, trying to complete more reps in your second set than in your first Note: this will burn! It is a great finisher after a run or paired with a core workout, like this one or this one. Be sure to stretch and drink plenty of water after. “What possible relation can there be between living something and telling it?” – Carlos Fuentes  Borgarnes, Iceland 2015 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
It's Fit to Fly Friday and here is your workout! Sometimes all you want to do is run. It is a great way to prepare for a long hike, to explore a new town, or just to disconnect from work and avoid the crowds at the gym. Tap into more energy systems than a steady state jog by trying one of these sprint/intervals running workouts.  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.  Like Goldilocks, shoulder season is just right. Photo by @naser_co_fr
It's Fit to Fly Friday and here is your workout!
1 minute sit-ups 1 minute flutter kicks 1 minute Russian twists 30 seconds glute bridges 30 seconds supermans 1 minute sit-ups 1 minute plank More advanced athletes may rest 1-2 minutes and repeat "What is a typical day like in Spain?" Such a basic question that I somehow fell short of answering throughout my six-ish months of weekly (yes, weekly) trips across the pond and since my move here, a year ago. (Note: Time only matters when you are actually flying the airplane, so all timelines are approximate). Here is our first attempt to show you.  "This is so much better than what you made in the U.S.," my mother declared after taking a bite of my tortilla.
Last spring, my mom visited us, here in Spain. Angel and I offered many options for food and activities, but tortilla was non-negotiable, because one cannot refuse a dish that can be complemented only by, "Muy rico!" because very delicious are the only words you can mutter between bites of devouring this plate. "Yes, mom," I told her, smiling, "the ingredients are much better here. Plus, I was just learning to make tortilla when I first made it for you. It only gets better with practice." She declared that she was not hungry, but consented to a tortilla of her own after we assured her that it would not go to waste and I would finish it for breakfast. The three of us sat at the round, kitchen table for dinner, each in front of potatoes and eggs muy rico. |
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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