Find Your "Why"

There are a million reasons to travel. To find adventure, take a break from reality, escape your troubles, see new places, try new things, challenge yourself and so, so, so many more. That reason, that incentive to travel is your "why." And I think it's really important that as you embark in your travel journey to find your why.

For me, my "why" is to fulfill my soul. I know that sounds incredibly cheesy. I was debating deleting it and trying to rephrase it, but I'm going with it! It sounds weird, but it's true. I grew up traveling around the world with my family. We lived in Holland for the first 6 years of my life and we were constantly on the move. I loved every second of it! Once we moved back to the states, we continued to travel, though mostly within the U.S. Even as a kid, I would count down to our next family trip. The excitement of a new place, the unknown, the adventure! I couldn't get enough. I honestly think I am happiest when I'm wondering around a new (especially foreign!) city. Unfortunately, my Dad had a nasty ski accident when I was 10, and my family was unable to travel for the next 10 years. I didn't even think about trying to study abroad in college. There was simply no money. All of that lack of travel really built up and now that I'm older, all I want to do is travel! My soul is happiest and most fulfilled when I am on a new adventure. Fortunately, my husband is on board and with any luck, we will have many years of travel ahead of us.

Speaking of my husband, his "why" is different than mine. While he definitely enjoys far away travels, his main drive is to get a break from daily life. For me, it's almost like my everyday life is just counting down to my next trip. I truly live when I travel. For those of you who aren't born with that innate wanderlust, don't worry! Your "why" is just as important as mine or anyone else's. I believe with every fiber of my being that there is always something to be learned or gained by travel - no matter how near or far you go. Traveling opens your mind, challenges your routine and expands your horizons. You may not even know what your "why" is! And that's ok. Sometimes it takes traveling to learn more about yourself, and that is the beauty of travel.

My Favorite Hostel in Florence

I've stayed in hostels all over the world, but the one that sticks out the most is the Hostel David Inn Florence in Florence, Italy. Florence itself was beautiful and my experience was made even better by staying at this particular hostel. Nadia greeted me by name with cookies at the ready. She was very welcoming, the beds were clean, the people were nice and there was a kitchen available for my use. I personally like to have a kitsch available so I can save some money and cook my own dinner

I really connected with the other guests and actually wound up going out to eat with people from Canada, Japan and Korea too! It was a really amazing experience. It almost felt more like staying at grandma's house than a hostel.

Here I am (right) with Nadia (center) and a new Canadian friend!

The hostel was much smaller and intimate than most hostels I've stayed at. I actually found that I liked it! The only downside was there weren't any lockers available and I tend to like to lock up my bag before heading out for the day. Other than that, it was great! It definitely helped that I was staying with a great group of travelers, but Nadia (the host) was very sweet and even offered to do my laundry at no charge because it rained and I got soaked! I ended up just line drying my clothes, but it was a very genuine and kind gesture.

The hostel was also remarkably close to several must-see sights! It was a short walk away from the legendary Duomo and it was literal steps away from the museum where the Statue of David was housed. Nadia was always ready to offer advice on where to go, what to see and of course, help us find the best gelato!

All in all, Florence was a wonderful experience, and I'm lucky to have found such a welcoming and affordable place to stay. If you'd like to plan your own adventure to Florence (hostels or hotels) I'd be happy to help! MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

Rotterdam - Every Bit as Beautiful as Amsterdam

Holland will always have a special place in my heart. My earliest memories are of riding my bike along the city streets and skating on the canals when they froze over. I grew up just outside of Amsterdam, and had an AMAZING childhood enjoying the beauty that is Holland. Recently, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with some old friends who have actually made the move over to Rotterdam. I've stayed with them a few times, and I must say - I love Rotterdam! It's gorgeous!

This was the view from where I stayed.

The back of a nearby windmill! 

I was even lucky enough to get to visit right around Christmas time. The beautiful lights were spectacular! I had a great time walking through the streets and admiring the sights.

The architecture in Rotterdam is every bit as beautiful as Amsterdam and well worth a visit! There's even the famous Euromast, which is pretty awesome in and of itself. 

The Euromast!

In Rotterdam, you'll still get the full dutch experience, but it's much less touristy. One of my favorite things about travel is going off the beaten tourist path and really diving into the culture. Rotterdam is still a city, so it's easy to get around and see a lot, but it's so unique! It is a major shipping port and there are beautiful boat tours where you view everything. 

If you're interested in diving deeper into culture and not just tourist areas, I'd love to help. Check out my travel company at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com!

Shark Cage Diving in South Africa

We left Cape Town bright and early to drive up the coast to go shark cage diving! We actually got a call the night before that we would need  to leave one hour earlier than originally planned to try to beat an incoming storm. We made our way down to the lobby of our hotel and stumbled into the van. After a few hours through the dark country side, we were ready to pay a visit to the Shark Lady. Apparently that's actually what the shop is called! So funny! They sat us down for some breakfast and  briefed us on the rules and tips etc. Everything was pretty common sense and I was excited! They even had pictures up on the wall who had gone shark cage diving there, like Prince Harry and Tom Cruise!

They gave us bright orange waterproof coats, but unfortunately ran out so poor Schuyler wound up getting pretty wet! 

 These are our super-pretty early morning smiles through the lens of our GoPro.

We set out on SUPER rough water and even tried heading to different areas but weren't really having any luck. The waters were throwing us around and I think literally half the boat got sick... including me. I was doing alright until we threw anchor and wound up spinning in circles while rocking. It was still pretty great, but we ended up not being able to put down the cage. It was pretty lame, but I don't really want to die so, ya know. Probably the right decision.

Still got a pretty cool picture of said Shark Diving Cage!

Still got that morning smile. I love it!

We did ultimately get to see some Great White Sharks in the water because a nearby boat was throwing chum in the water. None really came up to our boat, unfortunately. But still! I got to see Great White Sharks out in the wild off the coast of Africa! That's still awesome! Ya win some, ya lose some. I'll have to try again one day!

Don't forget to check out my travel company at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com!

Elephant Reserve in South Africa

While in South Africa, we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit the Knysna Elephant Park. It  was a beautiful reserve where the elephants are treated very well and get to live in HUGE pastures. So huge that you can't even see the fence.

That thing in the background isn't actually a fence. It's where they go to stand if they want to be fed. It keeps them from stealing the whole bucket of fruit that tourists hold to feed them.

My sister is a veterinarian and absolutely loves elephants, so it was a dream come true for her!

We even got to feed the elephants! They really liked grabbing fruit out of our buckets. 

There were also scientists sitting and observing our interactions, which was neat. I think it's amazing these gorgeous animals have somewhere safe to live and eat tasty treats.

Overall, this experience was amazing and I'm so glad we had the chance to meet these beautiful elephants! 

Don't forget! If you want to learn more about my travel business, visit MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

Camping Retreat in the Mountains

First and foremost, I've started a travel company! It's called Miles Into Memories Travel, and we arrange international trips and tours for everyone from families to sports teams to groups of all kind. I'm really proud of our quality trips and would love for you to check out our website: MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

Keep an eye on this space for more travel stories - I've gone on several truly epic adventures over the past few months (blog posts are coming, I promise!) but I wanted to kick back off with my most recent trip. A couple of friends and I decided we needed a little break from the city life. Sometimes, it's easy to find yourself stuck in a rut. When that happens, I like to shake things up and go on mini adventures.

In this case, that meant a quick weekend trip to the mountains. I've lived in North Carolina for years, but haven't really had a chance to "leaf peep." Yes, that's a real term, believe it or not. So here we are!

We opted for a remote camp site and it was beautiful, but definitely a hike. We knew it would be a ten minute walk, but they didn't mention that it was straight down (and thus straight back up to get to our car.) Talk about a work out!

So beautiful.

We brought two pups with us! This is Lambda. She's only 3 months old and, turns out, she's scared of bridges. We went on a 5 miles hike and both dogs did great! Lambda managed to overcome her fear of bridges and had a blast!

And this here is my guy! Miles is 10 years old and sweet as can be. I carried him over some rocks and rivers, but he definitely had a ton of fun trekking with his buddies.

Where we camped out!

Me and Sky! Why my hat is crooked, we'll never know.

Family picture! (Pictures are hard when you're a puppy)

To sum up, we had a blast, got away from the city and ate some s'mores. We had a great time hiking, lighting camp fires and just getting away from screens. We barely had any cell service and in a way, that was really nice. It forced us to talk and relax and enjoy nature. Adventures don't always have to be big and international to be fun. 

My Favorite Places in Barcelona

I have been spending quite a bit of time in Barcelona as of late. I feel like I’ve really come to learn the city. I know where things like the grocery stores and Laundromats are and I have favorite hot spots and restaurants. I really feel like I know if better than I know Baltimore or DC which Iived 30/45 minutes outside of for almost 10 years!

I can list off the best tourist sites and the slightly hidden gems. I know the best fresh juice stand at La Boqueria (open air market of La Rambla) and which one over charges you. I can get around the metro like its my job (it kind of is haha) and I just feel comfortable. I can understand super basic catalan signs and speak well enough Spanish to make dinner reservations and coordinate with bus drivers and soccer team facility managers. I have picked up tickets for concerts, tours and soccer games in various locations around the city. I know which streets are a bit dodgy at night and which sections aren’t so bad. It’s a really cool feeling to have a city so far from home that I feel so comfortable in.

Some of my absolute must see spots are:

La Sagrada Familia – The massive church a little ways outside the city designed by Gaudi (Who tragically died when he was hit by a tram on one of his daily walks. They thought he was a homeless person for a few days before he was identified as the city’s greatest artist). It’s beautiful beyond all belief and MASSIVE. It’s still under construction and won’t be finished for another ten years or so.

FC Barcelona’s Stadium Camp Nou – I love this stadium. I love this team. Let’s go Barca! So much passion and history behind this awesome place. Definitely a must see museum/tour. And holy gift shop! Three floors!

Park Guell – Another Gaudi influence. This park is so pretty with tons of trails that you can hike for free. You can enter the main sector for a small fee and the view is breathtaking! Though the line can be long so buy tickets ahead of time!

La Boqueria – This is the open air market off La Rambla (often referred to as Las Ramblas by the locals). It is so neat! There are tons of fresh fruits, juices and candies. It’s also right next to La Rambla which has some neat shops, street vendors and of course Crepes! The Crepes on La Rambla are probably my favorite crepes I’ve ever had.

There’s so many sights worth seeing but those are probably my top 4!

A Wonderful Life - How to Not Feel Homesick on Prolonged Travel

I love to travel, but even so I still appreciate home. I was feeling just a little homesick tonight (Skyping with your puppy will do that to you) but here are a few tips for prolonged travelers missing home, but loving life:

1) Skype home. Skype is a beautiful thing. You can have real conversations with the ones that mean the most. I try to make a point to talk with people back home as often as I can. The App WhatsApp is a great way for quick messages to keep in touch too!

2) Do something you would do at home. Something bordering mundane. For me I took a walk to the mall next door and ate some pizza and gelato (okay gelato is still quite travel-y but I mean... gelato. I have a strict "Eat Gelato At Every Opportunity" policy, so let's move along) and just walked around the mall. Sure the language will be different, but the people are the same. Teenagers trying to fit in and twenty somethings desperate for the next Lush product. Although please note trying to read Lush labels in another language is quite challenging... especially when you aren't sure if its in Spanish or Catalan haha!

3) Make the hotel like home. For me that means sweats, country music and a bubble bath! Traveling and exploring go hand in hand but every now and then you need to take a day or an evening off and just be a human. Put your feet up and read a book, ya dig?

4) Watch your favorite TV shows that you've missed while traveling - there are tons of apps that help with this! As for me, I use Xfinity. It gives you a sense of normalcy.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change a thing about what I've been doing and where I've been going. I'm just lucky enough to have a wonderful home to miss.

Here's to a quiet evening and much more adventure to come! I'm off to Madrid in the morning.

Malena

Venice to Florence 1/5

Today was the greatest. I managed to navigate my way through the city and find the most beautiful bookstore I have ever seen. It was just absolutely unbelievable. I can't believe how many books there were! They were stacked all over the place! They were stored in random things like bathtubs and gondolas! This may be my favorite part of my whole trip. I grabbed me a beautiful old book by Sinclair Lewis as the perfect souvenir. When I went to cehck out there was a cat eating breakfast where you should pay and a very Italian man smoking away. He told me "If women are flowers, you are a bouquet." Craziness! There was also a weird erotica section... It was quite the experience and probably my favorite part. It was quirky and literary! There was even a staircase built of books out back so you could climb up and watch the gondolas go by! BEAUTIFUL. You could also watch the gondolas from the best reading nook in the world...

Anyway, afterwards I husteld back to my hostel and grabbed my stuff and headed off to Florence! I got to the train station alright and boarded with no trouble at all - except apparently I left my toiletry bag... Womp Womp. I have everything else including my makeup and liquids. I'm really just out my shampoo bar (Which wasn't all that great actually - I don't think I like this variety as much as the green kind), my deoderant, tooth brush and toothpaste, and my hairbrush. All in all less than $10 worth of stuff. Hey if I have to lose something that's the bag I would choose to lose. I must have missed packing it in my bag. You can bet I'll be triple checking when I pack up from Florence!

Once I was in Florence I got to my hostel, no problem. My first stop was a grocery store to stock up! Now I won't have to buy breakfast, lunch or dinner for several days. That will save me a ton! I wandered about the Duomo and even bought myself a nice fancy leather jacket! I'm so excited about it. I have been trying to figure out what I want my big souvenir to be and I think I found the perfect. one ;)

Anyway, I go to see the statue of David first thing tomorrow morning so it's bed time for me!

Lots of love,
Malena

Venice Day 2

 Today was a pretty great day. I started off on the right foot by going up the Campanile Tower with hardly any wait. I got some pretty phenomenal photos! Afterwards I headed over to Doge's Palace and again had no wait because I booked online. I had a wonderful time. I just went my own pace and took in the beautiful art. On top of that I got to go to 3 more museums for the cost of the one! And even then it was discounted because I'm under 26. SCORE! One of the bonus museums was even a historical library which is pretty darn awesome in my book. I definitely enjoyed today. I came back to the hostel for dinner and ran into some nice girls from South Korea and Michigan. The Korean girl had had her entire luggage stolen! But from the street, not the hostel. She left it for just a few minutes to get a coffee and it wasn't there when she came back. I felt bad for her, but hopefully she learned not to trust cities! She still had her passport and she has a friend in Milan who speaks Italian so she has some help in filing police reports. 

Me and the girl from Michigan tried to help her out a little - she had just been in Australia and South Africa or something so she had a skirt and flip flops in her purse which she had with her. So she has that and what she was wearing and that's it. The other girl gave her some pants and a flannel and the hostel even let her dig through their lost and found so that was really sweet of them. I luckily had an unopened toothbrush that I gave her so I'm glad I could help at least a little bit!I felt so bad for her. At least she had her passport in her purse. That would have been a disaster.

She also had her phone and charger so that's good! The Michigan girl told us about this beautiful bookstore in Venice so I think tomorrow we are going to try and go find it!!

I need to leave the hostel for the train station by 11am so hopefully we can make it!

Hostels are really a wonderful place.

Malena

Wanderlust

I know the stereo-type is for a 20-something to want to get out and explore, but for me (to be cheesy) the struggle is real!

I recently stumbled across a Bucket List I had made a while back - majority of it is definitely travel-based!

As you can see quite a few things have been crossed off. In the next year I am hoping to cross off a few more! I am backpacking Italy next January and maybe next July I'll go to Greece or Austria. In fact, this August the company I work for has a tournament in Florida and rather than take my bonus and go traveling, I think I might go skydiving! It would be sort of like a birthday present to myself. It's something I've always wanted to do and if not now, when? We shall see.

Right now I am focusing more on Europe-based travel simply because finances are tight and I spend a lot of time there for my work so its cheaper for me to travel close to those spots. As I get a little more established (think build up my savings account and pay off my car) I plan on exploring Africa, Asia and Australia more! In fact I have ambitions of bungee jumping in South Africa. How amazing would that be?

My big problem is that every time I travel, I end up adding more places to explore on my bucket list!

Malena