The Beginning

“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

Having come from a small mountain town of about 2500 people in northern California, with the closest city of any remarkable populating being over an hours drive, I always felt trapped. Noticing at a young age that your reality is only product of your surroundings, I soon developed an urge to get out and see what was beyond the wall of pine trees that was my prison.

At about 11 years of age my mother took my older sister and I on a road trip down the coast of California. At the time I was studying the Missions that dot the coastline and so we planned to visit as many as we could. So we set out in a mini van, loaded with food and no real plans, looking back, this was the start of my thirst for travel. On that trip we slept a few nights in cheap hotels, but most of the time my mother would park our van somewhere next to a beach and the three of us would fall asleep on the floor of the van, or in one of the front seats. After a few hours of anxious sleep we would awake to the smell of the ocean breeze and the sounds of crashing salt water.

After this trip my mom made impromptu trips to random destinations, usually on the California coastline a habit. Sometimes deciding to leave with no plans or preparation after having a late night movie marathon. Later i would realize that this was what sparked my love for travel, not even for the destinations but for the actual act of traveling. I love the beautiful chaos that is the unknown, I thrive on it more than anything else I have ever experienced in my life. The rush of going somewhere new mixed with not knowing anyone or having anything to fall back on truly awakens my heart, and I’m guessing that if you’re reading this, you share my passion. Since those childhood road trips I have lived in 3 countries, traveled to over 10 and every chance I get to leave, I take it.

With the rest of this blog I hope to highlight some of the places I’ve been, the food I’ve eaten, the things I’ve seen and experienced, and the strangers I’ve made into friends, while also taking a dip into my wish list of places and experiences I have yet to have. So please enjoy, and if you have any secret spots, suggestions, or questions please send them my way!

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