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Snapshot Sunday: Cuban Market
Finding Gratitude at the Cuban Market I wrestle with the emotions surrounding seeing real struggles while abroad, like the embargo up close when I visited Cuba. The stores are fairly barren, nothing like our massive grocery stories in the US. Food is rationed for locals, the stores have empty spaces on dusty shelves. Here you’ll find a lot of canned goods or prepackaged items. Waiting in line to enter the store, checking your bag and having little choice, food felt more like a luxury than a necessity. There are some free market stores but they are more expensive and your average Cuban will have to shop for beans, rice, bread,…
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Cuba 101: Things to know before you go
Cuba seems to have topped the destination bucket list and with fast changes between US and Cuban relations the island in the Caribbean is a hot spot for upcoming travel. Here are my tips on things to know before you go, things I researched before I left and things that I wish I would have known before I landed in Havana. Get all of the planning out of the way so you can enjoy your Cuban holiday! Currency in Cuba The Plastics So as an American citizen, you currently can not use your US debit or US based credit cards in any establishment or at any ATM once in the…
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Snapshot Sunday: Norwegian Fjords
I’ve been a tad obsessed with my recent shots from my time in Norway this summer, but for good reason. Norwegian fjords and landscapes are so stunning I keep going back to my photos in disbelief. I knew what a fjord was visually, but I couldn’t have told you what the land mass was by definition, aside from some large mountains surrounding some small waterways. Fjords are formed from glacial erosion, so being in a boat, looking up, stretching your neck to take in these massive rock formations was all the more impressive. Pictures don’t do the scene justice, the icy glaciers atop the mountains, the cascading waterfalls pouring into…
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Conscious Cruising & Fathom’s Unique Approach to Cruise Culture
I never thought I’d be a “cruiser”. I’ve wanted to give it a shot, but in a more responsible way, conscious cruising. When planning a trip I never had the desire to book a cabin on a ship to the Caribbean, quickly stopping at each location. The strictness of the itinerary, the quickness of the journey and the typical lack of genuine local interaction always turned me off. It’s basically the opposite of travel opportunities that I usually seek out. Then I met Fathom, and just like your mother warned, don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Disguised as a cruise, Fathom has many of the same amenities of a…
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A Day in Leon, Land of Volcanoes
On the roof of the church we finally had the chance to feel the sporadic breeze sweeping over the stark, white roofline. I shifted my weight occasionally, trying to avoid overheating the pads of my feet on the warm cement, kicking up light clouds of chalky dust as we walked through the maze of whitewashed domes. It felt like a scene from Star Wars, other worldly, and far from the Nicaragua I’d come to know. The blazingly bright, clean white against the backdrop of the tin rusted shacks and dirt roads offered a contrast I had yet to see in this country. I stood silently, nearly visualizing the gusts bouncing…
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Queen of the Watering Can: Immersion & Volunteering in Nicaragua
I climbed into the front seat, “Me llamo Oscar,” he introduced himself, a friendly smile on his face. “Abbie” I responded pointing to myself, “No habla Espanol.” It turned out Oscar knew as much English as I did Spanish, so we shared several short sentences and many smiles throughout the ride on the way to La Mariposa getting ready to begin my time volunteering in Nicaragua and learning a new language, Spanish. A warm summer day with no AC, the windows were down and we bounced along the dusty road, the cement feeling more like a cobblestone sidewalk, unlike smooth paved US highway roads. With Managua in the distance and…
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It’s Better in Baja; A Wildlife Weekend in Mexico
His eyes widened, almost animated and appeared to lock onto mine. His ebony pupils dilated to an obscene size and his flat, thin lips slowly opened and closed in an almost rhythmic motion. We gazed at each other for a moment, my hands gently bobbing on the surface of the water, his spines creating pressure against my palms. What an expected surprise, to be treading in crystal blue sea of the Loreto Bay, face to face with a porcupine fish. With the careful instruction of our naturalist guide, I slowly released the fish and he quickly swam off into the coral reef below. Is Handling Marine Life Responsible Wildlife? So…
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Snapshot Sunday: Spying on the Neighbors in Granada
What a pleasant surprise Nicaragua has been. I have met some of the friendliest people, the photography has been wonderful in both the cities and in nature so it’s safe to say I’m quickly falling in love with this region. I’ve taken to getting up really early each morning for long walks with my just me and my camera. It has given me time to get lost and experience Granada in an amazing way, void of the tourists crowds who are still resting in their beds while the locals are up heading to work or the market. With the constant pressure to be busy and active, it’s a good…
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Hidden Paradise in Vietnam; Phu Quoc Island
A Vietnamese island, off the coast of Cambodia, in the Gulf of Thailand, it sounds like Phu Quoc is having a bit of an identity crisis. With the beautiful beaches and off the beaten track location, it’s easy to loose yourself here. There are enough things to do in Phu Quoc, however the serenity of ocean front living will tempt you to do just about nothing. Ahhhhh, island living, it’s quiet and beautiful. Phu Quoc is the place to retreat and relax. Aside from exploring the national park jungle the spot to be here is with your toes in the sand at the beach. Snorkeling and diving are popular activities…
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15 favorites of 2015
Ok, so it’s a good thing the years keep getting bigger in number because my opportunities and experiences keep getting better. The end of the year is the best time for me to reflect on what I’ve worked for each year, and look back on the opportunities that make me feel the most thankful and happy. Up, up, up AND away in Myanmar, Spain AND Turkey The first 31 years of my life I had lived without stepping foot into a hot air balloon and just like that, I got the chance to take not one, not two, but three incredible rides. Each overlooking a different landscape, iconic and unique…
