Very long story short, in May of 2010, I stalked the world’s number one travel blogger, Gary Arndt. Happily, instead of getting tossed in jail, I ended up being invited to travel with Gary for a week in Spain, fully funded by the Valencia Ministry of Tourism!
It was fascinating, fun, and full of flippin’ fabulous five-star food.
In yet another stroke of generosity, Gary just changed the guest posting policy for his blog to allow a photo-filled article I wrote about [...Read More!]
The Spanish gentleman pictured to the left is stroking his calloused finger against 6,000-year old paintings at Cueva Remigia, Spain. Such cave art stretches across swaths of Spain, and is considered, collectively, a UNESCO world heritage site.
In my last week in Spain before flying home, a group of us climbed a bright green, sun-drenched mountain to emerge an hour later at the ancient paintings pictured here! …and at first we couldn’t see a darn thing.
It took a good half hour of [...Read More!]
We don’t condone narcotics, but strangely strong feelings of euphoria are okay if they’re natural and healthy, right?
So here is a secret formula to get your brain feeling amazing: Go away from home for a really long time, and then come back.
YUM!
Nine months is the longest I’ve ever been away from home, and in this whole week since coming back to Boston after circumnavigating the globe, I have felt cerebrally heavenly. Why? Because when you are truly HOME with YOUR [...Read More!]
You do not realize how much you will forget.
I returned from nine months around the world with a giant grin and a million hugs for loved ones… and then proceeded to not be able to find a thing.
When you are getting ready to leave the country, you assume you will be able to find your favorite shoes multiple months and a head full of Asia, Africa, and Europe later. Trust me: you will not be able to.
Here are some [...Read More!]
I was just about to bang out a post on ways to make it through nine months of travel without being robbed, when I decided to take a quick unpacking break.
Ten minutes in, it became clear: my secret stash of Travelers Cheques was gone. After thirty minutes of searching, I called the American Express hotline.
“Hmm,” said the helpful agent, “our computers are showing that all those checks were cashed in early April.”
“ALL of them?!” I gasped.
“All ten of them,” he [...Read More!]
What you are about to read is geeky, but don’t run away! It has direct applications to your non-techie life… just wait.
A WordPress “Plug-in” is defined as an outside program you can search for, upload, and install into your WordPress blog for added functionality. One Plug-in example is the cute “Share and Enjoy!” bar you see directly below this article. My WordPress theme didn’t come with this: I had to find and install it. And now you can easily share [...Read More!]
I am drooping like spinach in a frying pan right now due to jet lag… but I haven’t missed a single day of blogging since that night I was ill on Ko Phi Phi in Thailand, seven months ago (and before that, even longer) so the show will go on! Commitment feels good.
I am OVERJOYED to be back home in Boston with loved ones, after nine great months abroad. Now, as you already predicted would happen, you smart thing you, [...Read More!]
One of many festivals in Valencia, Spain!
Tomorrow, volcano permitting, I fly home to Boston! And thus we can begin zillions of reflective posts. Let’s start with the following realization:
A months-long Around the World voyage is not a vacation. Want to know why? Because it it were, you would die. On vacation, by definition, you indulge in anything and everything and you laze around like a jellyfish. So let’s be real here: if you did that every day for a multi-month [...Read More!]
If you are a Twitter master, this article will be a tad, “Ho hum yawn yawn.” Therefore, just look at the pretty pictures from Alicante, Spain and go along your merry way.
If, however, you are like I was a few months ago and really don’t get what all the fuss is about, regarding that strange blue bird-ed site called “Tweetah” or “Twadder” or something, here is a concrete list of four specific ways that Twitter has enhanced my life in [...Read More!]
Oh, I am abuzz with pride! Afire with joy! Aflutter with excitement!
I have accomplished something I never thought would be possible, given the particular configuration of my brain: I have migrated my blog from Blogger to WordPress!
Now, for those of you outside the supremely geeky world in which I now live, this will necessitate the following two background tidbits.
Q: What is WordPress?
A: It is a heavenly realm where websites go to get awesome, and it is ridiculously complicated to [...Read More!]
My name is Lillie and I thank you for reading and taking part in this journey.
I'm the Boston coordinator of a national event on extended travel on 9/14/10. Sign up for details at: MeetPlanGo.com!
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