 Let's welcome in a new, fresh month. Hello! Can you believe it's August already? On the one hand this has been the longest year EVER! And on the other, summer just slipped by us. IDK... So much has happened this week, and I've only just now had a bit of a breather to catch up and blog. If you are not part of my community here, then welcome! I'm glad you are here! Leave me a comment and let's get to know each other - On this site I blog about life, review books and products, post a few easy, vegan recipes and share my passion for art and traveling. This is actually a travel blog, but with all that has happened this year my travel has been VERY limited. But we can still plan for future adventures and dream boldly! What's on your current travel bucket list? I'm ready to see some new places and revisit some old favorites...  Like London and  Cliffs of Moher, Ireland  Vienna, Austria  Seljalandsfoss, Iceland And while we are dreaming and planning these new adventures we can make art every day. I invite you this month to try different types of art projects. Think outside the box and expand your techniques, open yourself up to creating.   Try something new like paper crafts or calligraphy. This is a month to step outside the box and open our hearts to love and new experiences. This is a month to dream boldly.  Have a wonderful August!
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 Did that picture scare you? Hello, How goes it? October is almost over (insert scream here!) And while it almost feels sacrilegious to even think about Christmas, I am planning out my seasonal shopping and travel this week. I’ve already begun a gift list, started shopping & now its time to decide if we head to the snow or the tropics for the break.  But the holidays aren't all about shopping, there is food to consider too. I have even been researching some festive vegan desert recipes to try!  In my defense, because I know you’re all reading this post in absolute horror right now, it all started with trying to plan a holiday get away. I know, I should already have the shit locked down. To make it even worse, I have friends planning their 2020 holidays, asking me to rsvp to galas and crap, (damn overachievers!) Meanwhile I'm having trouble planning/committing to dinner tonight. Work has been good lately, but its left me too busy to even leaf through the many vacation advertisements I receive. So lets get planning now, because better late than never.  According to CNN (As of last November) the 15 the best places to have a Christmas break are:
 11. Salzburg, Austria - Love Austria and never get to spend enough time there. 12. Santa Claus, Indiana - How is it I've never been? 13. Strasbourg, France - Okay, we all know I will pick France. 14. Queenstown, New Zealand - On my list to visit soon. 15. Valkenburg, The Netherlands - Love the Netherlands, so a holiday visit would be cool. What do you think? What is your favorite holiday destination? Are you escaping the cold for a tropical vacation? I enjoy that myself - some years we have gone sailing to the tropics and others we have searched out the Christmas markets in Europe. Still not sure what direction we will go. I'd love to hear your suggestions  (Santa Fe, New Mexico) Then a again, we may stay closer to home this year...
 Hey! How are things? I'm in the middle of planning a trip today and was thinking about some of the more interesting questions folks ask me when I'm traveling. Now don't get me wrong, for me travel is a way of life and meeting interesting people and having adventures is part of the fun. But I must be very approachable, because people do not hesitate to ask me off hand questions at every turn. Is it just me or does this happen to everyone?  Most often asked question or statement:  "You don't look like your passport!" Said by every customs agent everywhere. I usually reply, "Thank God! Because I was ill then," or something like that. They have never given me any real grief over it, so I must not look THAT DIFFERENT, lol (The picture is rubbish and I will not post it, lol but take my word for it!) But I honestly don't tend to look the same in any pictures and since I color my hair as a hobby, I do tend to look different everyday. (As you may have noticed on here.) Next common question: "Where's your husband?"  They usually look uncomfortable when I tell them he has passed away. I don't get offended anymore when people (men) ask. I guess for some people (men) it's tough to imagine a woman traveling that much? Another really common question I hear is: "What are you doing here?" or "How did you get here?" People seemed surprised that anyone would visit their region or even their countries. Usually I answer pretty straightforward, by telling them a plane or a train or a bus or whatever. I always run into people who have never left their own countries and cannot image anyone coming all the way from America to see their area. Travel really is a mindset as much as anything else.   (Actual Rotterdam station) Leaving Rotterdam, Norway a youngish train attendant was talking to me about which route was best to take to get to the port and seemed to be caught off guard by me returning to America via a ship. "How long does it take? It takes 6 months, right?!" Funny but a lot of people still seem to think it takes months to cross the sea. #WTF?!  We are going on a bigger ship than this! It usually takes about 7 days to make the crossing from NYC to Southampton UK. It takes a bit longer from Norway but still not over 2 weeks even with stops along the way. The number one question French women ask me, when they find out I grew up in south Texas: "Are cowboys real?"  Yes, they are. But most of them are not like on TV. Another common question I hear is: "Is Trump for real?" It is usually asked by everyone who sees my American passport.  Your guess is as good as mine! Another common question or actual statement I hear often in England is: "There is nothing older than 200 years in America! Nothing there to see so you come to Europe!" Ugh! I usually just smile at this and walk away, because its not my job to educate people.  But if you want to learn more about ancient sites in America I'm working on another blog post... This is Chaco Canyon in New Mexico it was occupied from around 800A.D., to the 1,200s. There are plenty of Native American sites across America that are even older.
What are you often asked when you travel? I'd love to hear so leave me a comment below. See you at the airport!  I'm Currently in the United Kingdom :D Hello June! I hope your having fun & traveling well. These past few weeks I have (actually updated the blog) been traveling around Texas showing the sites to my visiting British friend. We have had a few awesome adventures, seen some odd shit and had overall a great visit. The weather was horrible with Texas getting record amounts of rain fall! #WTF? But between making a trip to the high desert, shopping and hanging out with my friends we barely noticed the rain storms. As I update this I ask myself, "How is it the year is now 1/2 over?" It seems like 2015 just started? So much has happened and so many people have touched my life this year. (More about that later-) I'm excited that for the next few months I will be in Europe exploring and reconnecting with my friends there. I miss my state side friends when in Europe and my European friends when in the states.. #CantWin :( There is a Scotland trip planned for next month with a visit to the outer islands and then I return to France in September for more adventures. I have no idea where we will be for Christmas or new Years Eve, but guess we better start planning now if we are going to book a place. #TooMuch2DO But I think for now I'm just gonna chill and visit the Lake District proper.  It may be cooler, but the view is divine!  And if you are really bored...you can follow me on Dayre - (It's not always the same things I post on here.) And truthfully I update more raw minute by minute on Dayre. #ImJustSayin
Thank you for reading this silly blog and supporting my adventures. Your kind words and suggestions for travel destinations mean a lot to me and I enjoy connecting with all of you. I look forward to another 6 months of adventures and can tell you now my Wander Lust is pulling me to new destinations. #YIKES! So hold on, I think its going to be an exciting next few months! See you at the airport-  *Warning Picture Heavy Post*  This is a continuation of an earlier post of our Dec 2014 Trip to Black Pool (UK). We spent 3+ weeks in the area shopping, eating & lazing about. The Irish sea was raging when we arrived & was gentle as glass when we departed.    Black Pool Tower         Dr Who exhibit~  Sadly it was closed :(   As day turned into night~      I was attempting to take a photo of the lights dancing on sidewalk #Fail  Darting snowflakes~      Shopping :D       People keep giving us these?   From my #Instagram   In for the evening & ready for a delicious quiche!  Also found while out shopping! :X  #Loot    Another day @ the end of the bus line     Walk to shore Christmas Day :D  Wild Weather/Seas    The Irish Sea   more wild weather ~               Tide is really high now!            A few days later the sea was at peace!          Breakfast on the train & off to the next adventure!  Most clicked (I didnt say Best written) for last month:
January Cruise Adventure pt 1 A Super Picture Heavy Post - Travel Black Pool UK pt 1 More random days spent traveling around Black Pool in Dec & Jan 2015 :D Free Birthday Stuff pt. 1 So I think we have all heard there are certain places that treat you to free stuff on your birthday. But is that for real? Yoga Equals a Good Day More random - WTF? Chasing the Sea Sunsets - lots of sunsets! :O Thank you for returning & reading this silly blog! :D I hope to catch up on the older posts soon - because Yes I will be leaving again soon! #Wanderlust See you at the airport!  *Warning Picture Heavy Post* Better late than never - here are the 1st round of photos of the January 2015 cruise Adventure - We left on the Queen Victoria (Cunard) ship out of Southa“pton UK at the end of January for a 2 week vacation/return passage to the US~ So we said Good Bye to the Winter & hello to being spoiled :D   Waiting to board the ship~      sailing off!  Still sad to leave the UK :(  Scones & tea help though-  What I eat while cruising ―  Lots & lots of fruit & veggies~     View  Food View - LOL  “Sometimes things become possible if we want them bad enough.” ― T.S. Eliot  OOOOO LA LA!!  People think it cost a fortune to sail -- which it can- but if you are diligent you can find budget deals at GREAT prices!  The ship is very posh        Shopping ~       Exhibits     Full of history too-         Shows!    Views!    Dinning -    Sunshine!     Island adventures    See you soon for part 2-   More random days spent traveling around Black Pool in Dec & Jan 2015 :D   There are over 2000 + hotels - B & B's - Holiday Houses @Black Pool - according to the taxi that dropped us at the wrong location :(          It was cold!      Sidewalk                The Tower      Subway :D    next post will continue us in Black Pool ~  HiYA!  *Warning another picture heavy post* We returned to London as I had business to finish up. (We were here on December 2nd for a few days. We left for a weekend in Wiltshire and a nice week long stay in Bath.) click to read what I have posted so far...Much more to come as I sort the pictures.  Our View!   My London Adventure Continues  High street   I like that small funky shops are mixed in with the high- end retailers. You never know what treasure your going to find. #BreakingBad There also cafes, pubs, clubs and markets scattered about.    Shopping at whole foods.   Bought much more, but forgot to take pictures,    There is a sign that reads "no pictures" is that a challenge or what?       Cow~    High street    Inside Kennington gardens.  Where?      "look! A tree!" We enjoyed a picnic lunch despite the cooler temps.   & Relaxed a bit~      Happy Hoilday decor!    I attempted to book a last minute holiday apartment on line.  This was our place :D   Its Never a easy tasks and much more difficult during the holiday season. Incredibly two apartment mangers tried to tell me they were full, but just come over & bring cash. (Raised eyebrows at that..) and of course I didn't do. If you will not take a secure credit card payment on line, then your not going to get my business. Thankfully I finally found a open one that didn't try to squeeze more cash out of me. After the other two I admit to being dubious about it. To my surprise it was in a fantastic, safe neighborhood and was quite spacious for a center of London studio.   2 full beds!   I was able to cook! YESSSSSSS~  I booked this car service & it was great!  It was really good trip!  Whole Foods Loot!  view ;D  Packed up for adventures!  Ready - set - go! Happy holidays & talk soon!
 We spent a fun weekend exploring Wiltshire (England) earlier in Dec  "Wiltshire is a county in South West England with an area of 3,485 km2 (1,346 square miles).[2] It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshireand Berkshire. Until 1930 the county town was Wilton but Wiltshire Council is now based at Trowbridge. Wiltshire is characterised by its high downland and wide valleys. Salisbury Plain is famous as the location of the Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles and other ancient landmarks and as a training area for the British Army. The city of Salisbury is notable for its mediaeval cathedral. Important country houses open to the public include Longleat, near Warminster, and the National Trust's Stourhead, near Mere." --WIKI I left the links active if you want to read more about them.     Down town Wilton   I was told over & over to go see this church - so I did  WOW~             There isn't much information that I could find on this church, "The history of Wilton dates back to the Anglo-Saxons in the 8th century AD, and by the late 9th century it was the capital of Wiltunscire, a shire (or 'share') of the Kingdom of Wessex. It remained the administrative centre of Wiltshire until the 11th century. Wilton was of significant importance to the church, with the founding of Wilton Abbey in AD 771 and a number of other establishments. In AD 871 Alfred the Great fought and lost an important battle there against the Danish armies, leaving him in retreat for several years. Despite further attacks, Wilton remained a prosperous town, as recorded in the Domesday book. The building of Salisbury Cathedral nearby, however, caused Wilton's decline, as the new site of Salisbury, with a new bridge over the River Avon, provided a convenient bypass around Wilton on the trade routes. Wilton Abbey was surrendered to Henry VIII in 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and in 1541 much of the estate was granted to the Earl of Pembroke, upon which Wilton House was built" - wiki  I was already told it was closed - for repairs :(  We have already done all the "must see sights" listed above.  A quick walk to look at all the pretty trees!     Love the super clear water!    A quick bite :D   Still at it!  Back to the pub :D  For a tea break :D   We left for a week @ Bath - UK  Taken on the train ride to Bath :D    I always say Im going to take pict of all the stops & never do-  I still have to write about Salisbury yet...so there will be a part 3. Catch you later-  |
Author Welcome to my (I used to travel) blog, my healthy Vegan lifestyle blog and my life! It's a lot, but it's my passions and I just love to write about it. Here I share tips, stories and photos from my adventures and life. This is the place where people can find daily inspiration to travel and motivation to live healthier lives and laugh a bit too! 
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