The sand and water are as gorgeous as they appear. My work travels take me to some incredible locations, and this one was no exception. I didn’t mind the long teams meetings with this as my backdrop. Only here for one night, but well-worth the visit. This is the panhandle of Florida, specifically Gulf Breeze. A beautiful August day, with hot temperatures and a nice breeze. I am so grateful to have this opportunity and adventure.
Travel
Welcome to my adventures. Happy reading!
A hectic early morning in order to catch a flight to Cleveland, with one connection, for strategic planning meetings. My boys are on their way home from the Pharaoh National, and I’m off to a week of work in Cleveland and Chicago. It was an awesome few days at the National – and my boys did some great winning! But, for now, back to the real world and moving business forward. Not before stopping to grab a drink, capture a beautiful moment of rest, and remind myself how grateful I am to be living this life. Sometimes it’s the little things and the lychee in a stunning location with an antique chandelier. Cheers!
Santorini was by far the best part of our trip to Greece. It was so peaceful with stunning landscapes and architecture. Our resort was perched above the sea and afforded us beautiful sunrise and sunset views. I took this on our last day here, while we waited for the Uber to arrive. A short flight from Santorini back to Athens and then the long flight (11 hours) to Chicago. And, then another flight on to Denver. I’ll cherish this moment of serenity, and be reminded of all of those I’ve experienced this trip. A good week of recharging, and much needed! We’ll be back next year – girls trip 2.0!!
Michelle and me outside a nightclub in Mykonos, at what I’m sure was a very late (or early) hour – depending on how you look at it. Mykonos is beautiful but windy. I didn’t expect that. The nights are very warm. We walked into old town from our resort, about 25 minutes, all downhill. I think we’ll grab a taxi or uber back home. It was a tad precarious in my heeled sandals… adventures in inappropriate footwear continue! We’ve felt safe the whole time here. Met some great people, and enjoyed catching up with each other, planning the future, and laughing a ton.
With a limited amount of time due to work commitments and dog events, I found the perfect dates for my next adventure. The issues were where and with whom. So, I input the dates into Google Flights, and searched ‘anywhere’ from Denver – and voila, a decent deal came up to Athens. I booked the flight, got great seats, and invited a few friends. Can’t wait to relax in the warm Mediterranean sun and take in the sights.
not to escape life, so that life does not escape us. I am reminded, constantly, about what little time we actually have. It’s why I rarely watch TV, or sit on the couch, or scroll aimlessly on social media. When I’m not working, I’m usually at dog events or traveling somewhere on my bucket list. And, when I have down time, I read, I play with my boys, and spend time with my friends. It’s so important for me to invest my time wisely as we only get so much of it.
One of my favorite vacation activities is visiting wine country. Meeting the local people, hearing about the traditions, and tasting the food and wine. Having previously planned a trip to Portugal that COVID canceled, it was extra special to visit this winery in Quinta de Pacheca… a winery we were slated to stay in a wine barrel room. This winery is in the lovely Douro Valley and we stayed in the Vino Verde region. We loved our wine tasting here, and would absolutely recommend it. Staying here would be fun, too! Definitely going to put it on the ‘must return’ list.
On our way from Lisbon to Porto, about an hour from Lisbon is a delightful countryside village of Sintra. It looks like something straight out of a fairy tale novel in the 18th century… and there are castles galore. This is one such castle. We made it here after a lengthy walk from the town center, up the hillside, through the forest, and a short pedicab ride. Well-worth the price of admission and the adventure.
What else do you do when you’re recovering from surgery but book an international trip?
I know that planning these adventures, whether solo or with friends, helps improve my mental state and fulfill my goals and vision for my life.
I was angry – very angry – that I was forced to have yet another surgery at a very inconvenient time. Hell, I’m probably still angry, and yeah, I know I need to let that s*!t go. I will; just give me time. I looked into 2024 as the year where my heath would be at its best and life laughed at me. But, I made it through, and recovery is slower than I wanted, since apparently I’m older (big laugh!)
So, I booked a ticket for March and here we GO! Can’t wait to explore Portugal (which was a planned trip from May 2020 and we all know how that went.)
LFG – 2024! I’m here for the ups, downs, twists, turns, and living in AWE of these moments.
This gorgeous sunset was taken over the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt…after the most disastrous overnight train ride I’ve ever experienced. It was supposed to be a “luxury” train ride, and for $136 USD first-class ticket, that is what we expected. Oh my, were we sorely mistaken. If I could transport you to capture the essence of the experience, I would. You would beg to be sent back to reality immediately. Sure, it was only 10 hours from Cairo to Luxor, and yes, I came out of the experience alive… I may never want to get on another overnight train again. From the harrowing late-night experience entering the train station, to veritably freezing the entire 10 hours (luckily I had gloves, a hat, and was able to put on three sweaters and my rain jacket) – not to mention the bathroom that emptied onto the tracks below that contained at least an inch of standing ‘water’, at least I hope it was water… it was an experience I don’t wish to relive. We now know why the young Egyptian girls all wanted a picture with us – and why one of their mothers called us “brave.” We each booked a first-class cabin that contained a sofa, sink, closet, and upper bunk bed – lucky for us that we did. There was no possible way two grown women plus their luggage could possibly have fit into one of those cabins. We luckily booked adjoining rooms… which enabled us to commiserate and keep each other company. Let’s just say it was a rude awakening transitioning from the Ritz Carlton Cairo to this train. Despite the constant noise, smell of fumes, and dust from the drafty window… we made it to Luxor. Intact. We quickly hailed a taxi and arrived at much more luxurious accommodations that enabled us to check-in quite early in the morning and helped us find transport/guide services to the Valley of the Kings. After our sightseeing adventure and begging off the pushy sell of visiting the papyrus shop, we found respite at the lovely pool which was adjacent to the Nile. Our balcony overlooked both, and we captured this lovely sunset. All is well in Egypt. Pro Tip: Avoid the train. The 1 hour flight for the same price is absolutely worth the extra night in Luxor.
by