On our way back from a hot, tiring, self-guided tour of Valley of the Kings, our driver took us to this spot for some pictures – not before getting us these lovely lemon sparkling waters, which were our fav (aside from the wine, of course.) We jumped out of the air conditioning to snap a couple pics, and then quickly got back in. There’s so much to see, and this is a vacation after all. Often running from sight to sight is too much – and you need downtime. Sometimes, you just need some pool time with yummy food, great company, and a good book.
Friends
Welcome to my adventures. Happy reading!
One of my favorite parts of any day is watching the sunset. Someone once told me “you only get so many sunsets” and I make sure to enjoy them.
This particular sunset is from the club lounge at the Ritz in Cairo, overlooking the Nile. Despite being late October, we had lovely weather of 80s-90s and clear skies. Looking forward to more relaxing sunsets in Egypt with Kayla and amazing sights. Cheers!
Having spent some time in Munich back in January when Matt and I were en-route to the Maldives, I figured we could retrace some of our steps and get a taste of Munich with our 8-hour layover. We hopped the train, got a little off-track, and ended up in the city center. Kayla and I had a lovely dinner at a Thai place that accommodated our gluten-free restrictions and her vegetarian requirements. It was the perfect meal before our late-night flight to Cairo. And a beautiful fall day in Munich.
I spent a few hours today with one of my besties planning our trip to Egypt in October. In less than 3 hours we scoped out the itinerary, booked (bougie) hotels, and even an overnight train. We’ll be hitting up Cairo, Luxor, and Alexandria. While we’ll be on the move, there’s still plenty of relaxation and downtime in each locale. Never underestimate the time spent planning your next adventure. Can’t wait to see the sights, experience history, shop the markets, and take in the Mediterranean.
Last night I could barely sleep in anticipation of a dream come true – seeing, touring, and photographing Machu Picchu!! While the trek sounds like a great adventure, albeit grueling, we didn’t have the desire or time to do that. 4 days of walking with a myriad of bugs and no running water – hmmm, hard pass. So, we stayed in the quaint town of Aguas Calientes last night, at a lovely hotel. Had a great dinner, and are well-rested for today’s adventure. Our hotel arranged a guide for us and we’ll be off on a bus shortly. Sure we could have walked a couple hours in the forest to get there, but that bus looked much better and easier. The bus ride was very easy and we were there in 25 minutes, with what looked to be near-misses on a narrow road.
It was overcast and a bit foggy as we entered the gates. We were so hopeful it wouldn’t rain! The steps approaching the top were narrow, uneven, and at some times nonexistent. After an hour of walking, we encountered alpacas – a strange surprise! And moved towards the plateau to overlook the citadel. Our guide was a wealth of information and regaled us with great stories, interesting tidbits, and pensive theories. We waited on the plateau for over an hour, with groups of others, each quardened off in a white circle on the ground for COVID measures. As the fog cleared and the sun peeked out, we got our first view of the citadel – and it was breathtaking. I may have teared up! Our guide captured this pic and it captures the slow reveal of the treasures beneath.
Oddly enough we have better cell service up here than at my house. Can’t wait to share more of this fab day!!
A dream come true happens today! Michelle and I planned this trip for over a year, and it was upsetting to have it cancelled in 2020 – understandable but upsetting. We’ve planned every detail and the excitement is uncontainable!! Today we fly from Denver to Houston, then onto Lima. We’ll nestle into our lay-flat seats for the 6.5 hour flight and arrive into Lima around midnight. Luckily we passed our COVID tests and are prepared for our adventure! Oh the sights we’ll see: Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Puno, Paracas, and so much more. And, the adventures, laughs, and awe we’ll share! Paddington Bear was my absolute fav book as a kid… and I’ve long imagined what Darkest Peru will be like. Now, we’ll find out. Hopefully my Spanish skills aren’t too rusty!!
If you’ve followed my angst over traveling to Africa, you’d know that it was a last minute addition of my friend Curtis to join me.
Since inquiring minds want to know, here’s some answers to your questions.
1. Am I still married? Yes. And no I’m not leaving him or dating – it was cute to get some messages inquiring though.
2. Who’s that dude? His name is Curtis, he lives in Montana, and he’s the partner of a very dear friend of mine.
3. Have you traveled together before? NOPE! It’s a big, huge gamble to travel with someone for 13+ days and not know whether you are compatible travel companions. But, I’ve known Curtis almost 15 years and have stayed at his house countless times — he’s stayed at mine countless times, including when I’ve been out of town. We have mutual respect, a shared love of animals, and of course we are both crazy dog people.
4. Why? It has been Curtis’ dream since he was a young child to see Africa and go on Safari. The timing, opportunity, and cost were right.
5. How did it go? OMG – it was awesome! Curtis was so helpful with me (see post on my illness before the trip), he was FUN!!, we laughed SO much, and guess what? He’s Jack Hanna – no, seriously. He knew every animal and all about them. I’m still in awe at the depth of his knowledge. Best of all Curtis was OK with my organization, planning, and schedule. My vacations are often called amazing races… and this one was no exception.
Back to the title of this post – we seriously, as a society, need to normalize traveling with friends. Let me start: it is OK to travel with your friends. Go as far as you can, on as many adventures as you can, and just dive in! Life is meant to be shared and lived in community. Also, stop judging people. I’m not a bad person/wife for traveling. My husband didn’t want to go, and that’s OK too. It is NORMAL for married couples to have other interests and still be married. Sharing my adventures with my friend were wonderful. If travel renews your spirit, like it does mine, then do it!
In closing, get out there!! I thoroughly enjoyed our trip and we are already planning the next one.
Y’all! We had a truly awesome time during our 2021 girls getaway. I am so grateful to know these two phenomenal women for nearly 20 years now. Supportive women are the BEST and they have always been there for me unconditionally.
We stayed at a darling VRBO in Napa proper, went to several wineries, and spent quality time with each other. The best news is that they didn’t have to endure my snoring since I had a separate bedroom.
I cannot recommend Napa Private Tours enough! We thought we’d just spend a few hours on this decadent tour, but once the wine, laughs, and specially made nuts started flowing… well, we powered through nine incredible hours. Every detail, experience, and accoutrements was impeccable. Our lunch spot accommodated our gluten-free and vegetarian requirements, making this day even better. Javier made this day so special and we cannot thank him enough.
Javier is to thank for this picture. Although I didn’t like how I look (we are our own worst critics), I love this moment so much. We were laughing so hard and just so you know…. Sheena was a man.
John, Robert’s husband, called me to tell me that Robert had a massive heart attack, died, was revived, and now in surgery. I felt sick, and could hear the fear in John’s voice. I assured him Robert would be OK – he’s a fighter, he’s strong, and he has much more to do on this planet. SO MUCH MORE!
To even describe who Robert is to me, what he means, our close friendship, how we text daily… it would take several books. He is the reason I have Cayman, and now Cayper. He’s why I became a lure coursing judge. And, why I’m still in Pharaohs today.
I adore this man and I cannot imagine my life without him. If you feel inclined, please send positive vibes and thoughts his way. I know he belongs here, at least for a bit longer.
Words cannot describe the feeling of being in Bali, Indonesia. Today we ventured all around Bali with our wonderful guide and driver, Wayan. He took my ‘plan’ and made it even better than what we had in mind! Although, he was a little freaked out by all the sights I had packed into the plan.
This picture was taken at Swing Bali – quite the sky-high adventure. While it was overrun with instagrammers trying to get their ‘best’ pic for the ‘gram, the experience was unforgettable. The three of us did not don flowy dresses, hair extensions, or copious amounts of makeup. Nor did we hire a personal photog to pose us. Instead, we took each other’s pictures, braved the heights, and laughed a lot! The men working the swings were helpful and hilarious… “next pose” is something we will never forget.
High above the jungle tapestry, this bed swing was comfy and not at all scary compared to some of the other swings. It was an amazing view and feeling… just soaring above the trees — and what a pic! Don’t worry we were ‘safely’ roped into the swings (note the light-colored rope in contrast to my black dress. I’m so glad we forked over the $30 a person for unlimited swinging and a light lunch.
by