Why you gotta be so ... scared?

It's funny when people say things to me like, "I don't know how you do it" and "you're so brave," and "I could never do what you do."  (traveling solo) 

Why is that funny? Because I'm the biggest scaredy cat and worrier on the planet. I worry about EVERYTHING. 

I don't think people realize (except for the ones who are close to me and hear this from me on a daily basis) just how freaked out I can get about traveling. Most of the fears are completely unrealistic. Some of them are realistic, but taken to the extreme... 

For this upcoming Asia trip, for example, I have already worried about getting through customs, getting detained in China, getting deathly sick from food/drink, etc. Currently I'm having anxiety about earthquakes, volcanoes, plane crashes, and radiation in Japan. Go ahead and laugh because some of it is completely ridiculous, but I was reading articles that talked about earthquakes and eruptions before the year 2016... which means they WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR IF THE THEORIES ARE CORRECT. (Especially with the latest that's going on in Nepal, I think I'm even more paranoid) 

So why do I do this to myself? If I know that I'm prone to worry and have anxiety over this stuff, why do I do it?  

Because I have to move forward.  

I want to travel. I want to see the world. And I can't do that sitting at home. 

I have proof time and time again...that every time I fear something, I come out at the other end feeling more confident and an overwhelming sense of being glad that I did it. It reminds me of the quote from The Circle Maker, "The older you get, the more faith you should have because you've experienced God's faithfulness. And it is God's faithfulness that increases our faith and enlarges our dreams."

I don't think fear is necessarily a bad thing...If I didn't have a single ounce of fear when I traveled around to different places, I think there would be something wrong with me. But fear can't overwhelm and dictate my life. 

#IKnowHowThisStoryEnds #ThankYouGod

Walt Disney World reflection

This has nothing to do with travel, but this is my blog and I can write about whatever I want to write about because I live in this amazing country! (Thank you, USA!)

I've never been a huge fan of Disney World... probably because I'm more into FTT (fast, tall, thrill) than imaginative fantasy worlds.

In 2011 my grandpa told people that he'd like to go back to Disney World again... and so in early 2012 we made that happen. My mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, their two friends, and my two cousins and myself all went to Disney. That was our last family vacation.

My grandpa died later that year... and I am so beyond grateful that we got to go as a family to Disney World one last time. Of course, at the time, I was greedy and selfish and didn't want to be there because I would have rather been jumping off of things.

We got to surprise them at their home down in Florida...and I can still see my grandpa's face and hear his laughter when he saw us walking into church.

There was something special about my grandpa. He was one of the most kind hearted people on the planet... and his love for my cousins and I was from a real deep place that you could sense and feel from miles away. Heck, he's the only one in our family that would proudly wear a sweatshirt with our faces on it! (Kidding, but seriously)

Maybe it's because my grandma is struggling so much right now that I'm feeling melancholy and remorseful and missing those days when we were all together... but I would do anything to go back to Disney World with all of them. (I would even pick that over an adventure trip!)

I'm still amazed that we had that opportunity to make that last trip, all of us, before he died. I'm thanking God for that. 

My grandparents got to spend the trip with their friends as well... which was super nice in hindsight. To their friends, it ended up being one of their last happy memories with my grandparents.

It's amazing how much has changed since then... it simply crushes my heart. (there have been good things too... like the addition of Janet and Beth!)

But this one is for my grandparents. I love them and miss them both so much.

Thank you, Disney, for being our final trip together. <3

Why are you afraid?

-I don’t want to travel by myself

More and more I hear people say, “I don’t know if I could travel by myself.”  

It’s not even about traveling… people won’t do anything by themselves anymore.  People are scared to sit in a restaurant and eat alone. Why is that? Because it’s awkward? Because it’s uncomfortable? Because you’re worried about what other people will think about you?

I guess when you really want something, the less you care about all of that. Would I like to travel with people? Yes. But traveling by myself is SUPER nice too!! I can do whatever I want when I want and I meet tons of people that I may not have met had I been with my friends.   

You are never truly alone. Ever. 

And yes, I did walk into a pub in London by myself, sat at a table, and ordered a ridiculously huge meal.  Hakuna Matata.

-I’m going to wait until I’m older/retire to travel

WHY?!!?

I know this isn’t sound financial advice, but my gosh! Don’t let money stop you from living and traveling and seeing the world!

NOW IS THE TIME!!!

I’ve heard stories from people who were planning on traveling and seeing the world once they retired…. And then the husband (or wife) got really sick and could no longer travel.  YOLO!

If money is an issue, I promise you there are affordable ways to see the world/do it on a budget.   Many times, you’ll even get more out of the experience because you’ll be forced to interact on a closer level with other human beings! (There’s an idea!)  J 
(This past trip when we were in Spain... I basically only paid for food, a few dollars here and there for the underground, and split the cost of a hostel which was super cheap. A lot of major cities have free walking tours which are actually pretty well done and allows you to see all the major sites!)

And do it before you get tied down! Another reason to go NOW!!!! 

********************************************************************************
Coming from someone who was (and still is) extremely quiet and has an introverted personality.... 

Coming from the person who gets super stressed and anxious and worries about every little thing...

Coming from the person who would rather stay in and have a day completely to herself....

FLYING SOLO IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I COULD HAVE DONE and it is my goal to get people out there exploring the world.

Last day in Espana!

I can't even begin to describe everything that I'm feeling right now. 

Physically, I'm pretty tired. For someone who is normally pretty reserved, quiet, sticks to the same routine, etc... this trip has taken a lot out of me. Leading up to the trip I was pretty anxious and there were a couple days in between that were high anxiety. Usually, it's just me being my normal self... making mountains out of molehills, but nonetheless I can't control how my body reacts. 

While that part is never fun for me, I enjoy all the VICTORIES along the way.  How many times did I jump on a bus or a train and figure out the metro system? How many times did I find my way around a city completely alone? 

At the same time, as stated before, I'm dreading coming back home. Traveling is a sort of addiction for me and I can't stop. I'm always thinking about where I want to go and what I want to see. Not only that, but the people! I LOVE talking to them and swapping travel stories. :D   

(which only further lengthens my list of places to see!)

Highlights from my trip:

It was so AMAZING to me to see the BIG landmarks. As cheesy and as tourist-y as that is... I couldn't help but just stand and stare. (Big Ben, Eiffel Tower, Sagrada Familia)  I also really enjoyed the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. :)

I talked to quite a few Aussies, a couple Americans, a couple New Zealanders, a couple Irish folk.... THEY MAKE TRAVELING WORTH IT. I love walking around the streets and being on tours with people from ALL OVER THE WORLD. That is such an amazing thing. 

Today was spent in Barcelona. As stated earlier, Sagrada Familia = AMAZING to see in person. We did 2 free walking tours. One was of the old city and one was a Goudi tour which was actually my favorite :)

Have a 9 hour flight to New York tomorrow and then gotta catch another flight to Cincinnati.  

                                    Hasta mañana. 

Hola from Valencia

Suprising fact: People in Spain are SUPER nice. Aside from Paris, Spain (as a whole) was what I was most worried about simply because I heard so many stories of pickpocketing. Spaniards are very nice and helpful... New Zealand/Australia still rank as THE nicest, but Spaniards are a close second! (Maybe Irish are #3?)

Anyway... This is day #2 in Valencia. We walked around on our own yesterday and saw a lot of the major sites.  Today we took another tour gratis (FREE!) and walked around the city again with some explanation this time! Valencia is a lovely city. I'm becoming obsessed with tapas !! I think I had crab the other day, which I otherwise would not have eaten in the states. I just grab whatever looks good even though I have no idea what it is. It's actually really fun. :)

So yes, Spain is going well.... I love being in a country where English isn't the first language. (As long as it's Spanish!)  Although, the other day, I honestly forgot which side of the road people drive on in the states... In Spain they drive on the right, but I'm so used to other countries being opposite us, I couldn't remember!  I'm also really, really, really dreading coming back home... 

There is something inside of me that dies a little when I return home. I love traveling, I love experiencing new things, I love being challenged, I love meeting new people from all over the world,  I love it, I love it, I love it. Ohio is just so... Ohio.  :(

Tomorrow we are off to Barcelona and I leave on Monday for home! This trip has been perfect in that it hasn't gone by too fast and it hasnt' gone by too slow.... I'm still not wanting it to end though.

Already working on two different trips for next year  !

España day 1 in Madrid

Yesterday I woke up at 3am. 

I waited in el aeropuerto for 4 hours. (2 in the beginning and 2 waiting for Carla)

During the time I was waiting for carla, I wasn't able to get currency with my credit card. I also didn't have wifi so I couldn't tell Carla where I was.

I also realized how little Spanish I knew. 

I was having a rough morning. 

But then Carla arrived and my day turned around. I honestly haven't laughed so hard in... who knows how long! We got lost on the train and I was in tears from laughing so hard. (If Carla wasn't there I probably would have had tears, but of another variety!)

We walked around Madrid a bit and took a tour gratis! (Free tour) 

Today we explored el ciudad (the city) some more and went to quite a few parques (parks) 

Tomorrow we are off to Valencia !!

Sleepless and day tour to Paris

This post is really weird for me because I'm blogging from my phone... I don't like it !

Why am I blogging from my phone? Because I'm at the airport and it's going on 5am! 

Yesterday I had a day tour of Paris... Woke up at 5 am yesterday and a quick day tour is exactly what it was... Had lunch on the Eiffel Tower, went for a river cruise, saw the major sites (including the Mona Lisa !) and made some new friends (American and Australian !)

Today I had to wake up at 3am to catch a flight to España! I'm meeting up with my German sister (the one I traveled with in NZ) and I couldn't be more stoked to see her !