Travel Bucket List of the Week: Holidays RTW!

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Maria Alexandra

To learn more about #TravelBL Wednesdays, click here

Happy #TravelBL Wednesday peeps! The items on this week’s travel bucket list are related to Christmas and the holidays. So grab a pen and keep expanding that travel bucket list of yours!

travel bucket list, Loi Krathong festival

Loi Krathong festival, Thailand (Photo: Robert Pollai)

Holiday travel bucket list item #1: Loi Krathong festival, Thailand/Laos/Burma

I had no idea of this Thai festival’s existence until I heard it was on one of my fellow tweeps’ travel bucket list yesterday at the #TravelBL chat. Happening on the full-moon night of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar (usually sometime in November), krathong rafts are released into the water as a way of “paying respects” to the spirits of this element. Fireworks and a huge party are typical of this celebration as well. Who wouldn’t want to go?!

travel bucket list, Vienna Christmas market

Christkindlmarkt in Vienna, Austria (Photo: Manfred Werner)

Holiday travel bucket list item #2: The European Christmas markets

I have heard so many things about the wonderful, magical Christmas markets in several cities across Europe. However, the one that has mostly resonated around me has been the one in Vienna! Although also Luxembourg…and Prague…but they are all close by so I’ll probably cross them all off my holiday travel bucket list at once! 😉

Australia Day fireworks in Perth (Photo: Nachoman-au, Wikipedia)

Holiday travel bucket list item #3: Australia Day, AUS

We all know that Aussies really know how to party. Then, imagine how it would be to celebrate the first settlement in Port Jackson (nowadays, part of Sydney) with them?! A whole different story! I plan Australia Day celebrations to be top-ranked among the best parties ever experienced once I finally crossed this one off my travel bucket list. When will this happen? I was planning for 2012 or 2013, but it seems that Egypt & the Middle East are calling my name strongly once more. But behold my fellow Aussies, I shall join you soon enough!

Holiday travel bucket list item #4: Christmas in Bethlehem

Some call it West Bank; others Palestine. Tensions keep rising. Regardless of your political views, a vigil on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day celebrations in Bethlehem will definitely take your breath away. The aura and air simply smell differently; the surroundings charged with spiritual energy. I was really close to crossing this item off my travel bucket list 3 years ago, but I ended up spending Christmas in Puerto Rico instead. I, however, plan on joining the solemn vigil & celebration at the place most believe Jesus Christ was born in the future. Can’t wait for that day 🙂

Holiday travel bucket list item #5: The Chinese Lantern Festival

I have always been infatuated with this Chinese type of lanterns–they are romantic and add spice to any room’s decorations. Now, put thousands together and let them fly up into the sky, all during a traditional festival that has been celebrated for more than 2000 years — now that’s just something else! Oh btw, it is to scare the ghosts away, too 😀 it happens on the 15th lunar day of 7th lunar month, which will fall on February for the next 3 years. I wanna go in 2014, just because it falls on St Valentine’s Day — how romantic would that be?!

Want your travel bucket list items featured next week? It is simple: Post your travel bucket list items on your blog, post the blog post link in a comment below, tweet that post with the #TravelBL tag and then cc @latinAbroad (moi!) on it. Y listo! I’ll RT and feature the post on next week’s Travel Bucket List Wednesday. What if you guys take a vacay and I don’t have any new blog posts and lists to feature? I simply go around the Internet browsing and reposting the best of the best for our travel bucket list. Moreover, don’t forget to join us on Twitter #TravelBL chat every Wednesday at 12 & 6:15 pm (EST)! 😀

What’s on your holiday travel bucket list?

Where to go? Get inspired by the travel bucket list of the week!

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Maria Alexandra

What’s Travel Bucket List Wednesday about? Click here to learn more!

Woot woot it is #TravelBL Wednesday peeps! Yaaaa, the travel bucket list! Week 8 ova here, inspiring each other to see more of the world and simply take in the beauty of this beautiful planet we were blessed to live in for a couple of decades 🙂 To join is simple: Post your travel bucket list on your blog, , comment below with the link, tweet that post with the #TravelBL tag and cc @latinAbroad (moi!) on it. Then voilá! I retweet + I feature on this post. If not? I just go around the Internet trying to find the best of the best for our travel bucket list and introduce it to you! Plus don’t forget about the Twitter #TravelBL chat every Wednesday at 12 & 6:15 pm (EST)! 😀

"Wanna race?" -Tourist2Townie

* Thrill junkie travel bucket list item…!

So I don’t even know what’s the name of this thing: Downhill sledding? Just sledding? Huh say what? But I do know it is the *perfect* addition to any thrill junkie’s travel bucket list! I found it inside one of Tourist 2 Townie’s Facebook pagealbums and you can do it in Park City at the Park City Mountain Resorts in Utah, USA. Who’s in!?

Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt! Visited in 2009 🙂 (Photo: Marine Begault)

* 10 Most Beautiful Oases RTW – Nature lover’s travel bucket list

I have been obsessed with oases ever since I first took a glimpse at one when watching The Mummy Returns as a tween (yes, this movie basically changed my life lol). Then, I had the privilege of seeing the oasis that actually inspired the computerized version of the movie when I lived in Egypt (Western Desert). And then, I stumbled upon this travel bucket list of oases. The amazing photos and locales all over the world simply make you go Ahhhh. Can.Not.Wait!

the EPIC Silk Road - red for overland routes and blue for sea route. AH-MAZING!

* For the epic journeys travel bucket list – Essential backpacker Trails, LP

Mention any ridiculous, seemingly-impossible-by-Western-standards journey to me and it is a guarantee that I’ll add it to my travel bucket list. There is something about that word, that adjective, epic, that I simply can’t resist! I mean seriously: The Banana Pancake Trail? Count me IN!

Giant at Swarovski Crystal World, Austria (Photo: EuropeanTravelista.com)

* Bedazzling travel bucket list – The Bizarre World of Swarovski

Ok I must admit – I actually got MAD when I first read this article because I was in Innsbruck, Austria & all over Europe when I was 17 and somehow missed this!!! I actually visited a Sawvroski store but in a different European country. UGH! So now I have a great excuse to go back to the lovely European Alps not only to learn how to skii and snowboard, but also so I can cross the Swarovski Crystal World off my travel bucket list. I mean seriously – a WATERFALL in the form of a FACE with water flowing out of the mouth AND Swarovsky-bedazzled eyes!? WHO wouldn’t want to see THAT!?

Lord Howe Island, located between Australia and New Zealand on the Tasman Sea

* New on my travel bucket list: Lord Howe Island

Sure, it is Australia. Sure, Lord Howe may seem “just another island” to most. Oh my, but does it call my name. Any island with rugged terrain or oddly-shaped hills and mountains, bathed by lighter-than-the-sky waters, excites me…and arouses my little heart and makes me want to swim right to it. Or arrive on a seaplane. Yes yes…

For more items of my own travel bucket list, you may click here

What are you waiting for?! Write down that travel bucket list, publish it on your blog and then come back here to share it with us. Be part of the epic Travel Bucket List Wednesdays! Oh and I beg you, overuse the hashtag #TravelBL. Include it when you tweet about your travel dreams & cc @latinAbroad – I guarantee an RT!

“So live that your memories will be part of your happiness”
-Unknown

What’s on your travel bucket list?

Travel bucket list inspiration – it’s TravelBL time! Week of Nov 9th

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Maria Alexandra

What’s Travel Bucket List Wednesday about? Click here to learn more!

Happy Travel Bucket List Wednesday y’all! We are celebrating week 7 of this travel inspiration series, sharing travel bucket list items I have found around the web. Remember that yours can be featured here, too! Simply write down your travel bucket list, post the link on a comment below, along with your Twitter if you wish, and DONE! There is no limit: As long as you have new items on your travel bucket list weekly, I can feature it every Wednesday. So get writing, get inspired and inspire others as well! Plus join us on the Twitter #TravelBL chat every Wednesday at 12 & 6:15 pm (EST)! 😀

* Chérie’s travel bucket list, aka the “EpicQuest”

The moment I stumbled upon Miss Chérie’s Twitter account, I was instantly inspired: “I am a Deaf Travel blogger that simply adores Traveling.. My objective is to help other Deaf travelers. Let’s break that language barriers, shall we? :)” Who wouldn’t be?! That made me want to quit my job and go around the world to volunteer right then. Why? Because she reminded me, once again, that we put so many barriers in front of us, so many excuses on why we can’t do what’s right, what’s burning in our hearts at this very moment and keep…waiting…and waiting…or remain in a state of paralysis for years. This girl didn’t even allow one of the senses get in the way. She is out there. She is conquering. And she is one of the most up-beat persons you will ever chat with. I can’t wait to meet her face-to-face one day. Now becoming fluent in sign language is on my travel bucket list as well! Thank you Chérie — keep inspiring us 🙂

* Sleep in treehouses around the US – Tripadvisor’s travel bucket list

I am subscribed to Tripadvisor’s newsletter and while most days I only get traditional (aka over-hyped, common) destinations and “lists,” this week they pleasantly surprised me. They sent the top 10 treehouse rentals within the US. While the list only includes Uncle Sam’s territory (read: Great stops for that American road trip of your dreams), my brain automatically thought, hey, they got plenty of those around the world, too! Thus, I also thought to myself, whoa, that would be an awesome, quirky journey and mission: Travel around the world, only sleeping in treehouses. BAM! I’ll do it one day…*writes it down on her epic journeys travel bucket list*

me at the Blue Lagoon Geothermal Resort, Iceland

* The amazing pools travel bucket list – BootsnAll

Once again, a BootsnAll list makes it to travel bucket list Wednesday. This photo essay includes many amazing pools in properties I would probably never be able to afford on my backpacker budget. However…isn’t dreaming a big part of what travel bucket lists are about, though?! I did splurge once for the Blue Lagoon btw…armed robbery, but glad I did it once! 😀

* Nocturnal festivals travel bucket list – NatGeo

National Geographic has published a fantastic list of festivals around the world – all which should be in the travel bucket list for the party animal inside of us. And you know, the excuse that it was all done for “the sake of culture” is guaranteed to fly 😉

* New on my travel bucket list: Destinations for daredevils

While I’ve heard of many of the destinations listed, I certainly didn’t know of other life-threatening activities I could engage in. This list gave me many new ideas on how to involuntarily attempt suicide – awesome

For more items of my own travel bucket list, you may click here

What are you waiting for?! Go run to your site, type down that long travel bucket list of yours and then come back here to share it with us. Be part of the inspiring #TravelBL Wednesdays! And please, overuse the hashtag #TravelBL. Include it when you tweet about your items & cc @latinAbroad – that’ll guarantee an RT from me!

“The normal make a living, the deranged make history”
-Unknown

What’s on your travel bucket list?

Europe: Through the eyes of a 17 year old (photo essay, pt 2)

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Maria Alexandra

For Travel Tuesday this week I decided to resume the mini series of journal entries/photo essays I published back in 2005 on Kiwibox.com from my first Europe trip travel journal. Back when I was a newbie 17-year-old blogger with no real English training or travel experience. Back when I went outside Puerto Rico and the U.S. for the first time! Hope you find the photo essay cute and humorous =P Below, part two!

[for PART ONE of this photo essay, click here]

Please note, I have not edited the grammar nor writing style: That’s the whole point of the post! Yeah? 😉 🙂

Oh and don’t forget: Click on any image to enlarge! 🙂

Posted on 06/20/05, 4:38 PM on Kiwibox.com

After around 4 hours, we are out of the castle! We took lunch first, then we had to *walk* to the castle for like what, 45 mins.!? And YES, a super-huge hill all the way. But, all that heavy walk (or hiking) was REALLY worth it! The castle was just *gorgeous*, and the views all over simply *breath-taking*. Oi! And I finally got the name right! Schloss *Neuschwanstein* 😀 Schloss is castle in German, btw. And Neuschwanstein means New Swan Stone. The king was obsessed with swans or something; they were *all over* the castles furniture, paintings, etc. I also bought some lil souvenirs, like postcards and patches (1 of Germany and another 1 of Austria), which I’ll now start collecting of every country I visit. Btw, thats all I could basically buy during the entire trip! All of my money went mostly in food (which was DAMN expensive) and the most rest to excursions/museums :/ it sucked, I wanted to buy soo many things, and sp a better thingy for my bff Clody! 🙁 oh wells.

Laurie and me in front of our hotel back in Rothenburg, the morning we were off to the castle

Neuschwanstein Castle! Oh and, did u know this the the actual castle in which is inspired Disneys?

Neuschwanstein castle, different angle

entering Neuschwanstein! =D

Just an example of the spectacular views from the castles windows

more spectacular views from the castles windows

Some other yellow castle that could be seen from down there

closeup of yellow castle

Taking supper now @ Ausburg. Oh and @ this Italian ristorante, I *finally* found someone nice! Germans were starting to piss me off, sp when they looked Laura oddly (ya know cause of her dark skin). Anymoo! It was a super-cute Italian waiter, *so* freakin nice and sweet. We would talk in Spanish and he would reply in Italian, and we could understand each other really well! Btw, we saw a dangerously-HOT German (about 19-2O-ish) there: DAMN! The funny thing is that he was with his *fiancée* having a family dinner for her rents approval, or so it seemed. And still, we checked him out BADLY. We are bad girls [:p] It was sooo funny, her rents looked us *quite* hostile, haha! :p about the food, it was awesome and quite yummy; the ristorante persé was *really* purdy as well. For dessert, we got ice-cream around the corner. I got a latte-something flavor: that was outstanding! I FINALLY tasted *real*, yummy coffee like back home: very rich and sweet, an super charged of flavor, just like an actual coffee should be, not all watery and flavorless like American or German coffee (no offense!). Then, we finally hit our hotel. Btw, the only thing I liked was a chair and curtain @ the end of the hallways of every floor; my room was just *extremely* small (I had to put my luggage in the closet cause there was no space to walk! So u can imagine), and the had a lot of stupid rules and we couldnt even go walk outside. I disliked it VERY much. Rothenburgs was WAY better, and it wasnt in the city! So yeah, I like Germanys countryside much better, or at least for now. Its 1O:3OPM so Im going to sleep now; we are off to Munich tomorrow.

June.12th.2OO5

Just took breakfast, now we are on our way to Munich. Btw, I just met an American hottie named Mike (lol), from Indiana. Oi, he IS good looking. Hes on another different EF tour, but staying another night just like we are so Ill prolly see him again tonight (we were looking at each other non-stop during the *whole* breakfast, until my group left. I then stayed, walked up to him and said where are u from? he told me then I answered back and he loved the fact Im from Puerto Rico :p then we asked each others room #s and that was it :p).
Soooo then the bus was off to Munich. Omg, that was SUPER! I felt like if I was in London! The whole buildings and stuff, everything was gorge. Now my view of countryside Germany and the city are pretty similar :p we went to some palace (where I froze my booty off; that must have been the coldest time while in Europe!) before going to the BMW museum and Dachu Nazi concentration camp. Couldnt see much because the movie the showed us was so graphic and Laurie felt sick it affected her too much, so I wanted to be a good friend and accompanied her outside until the tour was over. We walked through the gas chambers and everything. very very emotional…
Later on, we went shopping and to the Hard rock café and HB, were most of my classmates (and even TEACHERS!) nearly get drunk drinking strong German beer [:p] about me well, I had a yummy German sausage for lunch! *nods* oh and, finally, I bought a li something for myself: a pink Heartbreaker top @ Hard Rock which also has a big 71 in burgundy in the back and also says Munich. Then, when we arrived to the hotel @ like 9PM, I met Mike again and we went to the Eia (?) Tutti Frutti café around the corner and ate some ice-cream together and talked some more, then same thing back @ the hotels lobby. Guess what!? Hes a CHRISTIAN! I mean he is even in a *Christian* METAL band called Bloody Sunday, and he is the vocalist.

Me in front of the palace

another view of the German palace

by the palace balcony and garden. Oi, that garden and palace are sooo big its GORGE

MUNICH! Who took the pic cut off the nice big clock tho! =(

around Muncih

what's that? I dont remember...(Munich)

Mike and me, that day. Turned out like crap *shrugs* hes much hotter in person, btw

bye bye, Germany! Next stop Austria and ITALY!!!!! =D

Europe adventure to be continued on a different Travel Tuesday! …

#Travel bucket list items, photos, video: #TravelBL week of Nov 2nd!

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Maria Alexandra

What’s Travel Bucket List Wednesdays? Click here to learn more

Wepete! This shall be the 6th weekly Travel Bucket list Wednesday! I’ve decided that the weeks I don’t get many submissions from you, I’ll complement the entry with interesting travel bucket lists I find around the web. Remember: If you wish to be featured next week don’t forget to submit your travel bucket list, links of your travel sites and Twitter handle on a comment below. There is no limit: As long as you post new items on your travel bucket list every week, I will feature you every time! So c’mon, get greedy here. And don’t forget to join us on the Twitter #TravelBL chat every Wednesday at 12 & 6:15 pm (EST)!

One of my favorite things about this travel bucket list is how you can see a bio (and thus later Google stalk) the explorer who gave the Ultimate idea!

* NatGeo’s Ultimate Adventure Bucket List 2012

Quite cocky if you ask me, for NatGeo to use the word ultimate on their 2012 travel bucket list…but they did it because it is. They interviewed 20 of some of the world’s best athletes and explorers and asked them: What travel bucket list items are in your wildest dreams!? Diving frozen waters of Antarctica, kayak circumnavigation of South America and kite skiing in Kamchatka peninsula (northeastern Russia) are some sample items you can find on this extreme travel bucket list. So umm, Ultimate? Absolutely!

me taking a nap as the felucca drifted down the Nile - Egypt, 2009

* Lonely Planet’s travel bucket list – 8 Voyages of a Lifetime

Featured on CNN Travel, these voyages take us through some of the world most legendary waters. I myself have drifted down the Nile and I can tell you that the mix of history and relaxation is an undisputed champion. What I love the most about this travel bucket list though is that they made sure they covered almost every continent – so you should definitely be able to cross one of these items off within the next year (or sooner)!

Vipassana meditation in one of India's most dangerous prisons (Photo from "Doing Time, Doing Vipassana" documentary, found at Roxie.com)

* World skills’ travel bucket list – BootsnAll

While the article is titled 11 Skills to Learn on Your RTW Trip, the first thing that came to mind when I first got a glimpse of it was “11 skills that should be on my travel bucket list.” As I scrolled down, I was happy to notice I got some of those skills already. However, the list did inspire me and aroused my creativity, making me write down places where I would love to sharpen the skills I’ve already acquired, while going into a boot camp abroad for those I haven’t learned. Indeed, a different kind of travel bucket list you should start today!

Plitvice Lakes National Park walking path, Croatia

* Hiking travel bucket list – 8 of the Most Unique Walking Paths RTW

I just kept stumbling upon awesome travel bucket list items on BootsnAll this week. I discovered so many places I had never heard about – or amazing attractions I somehow missed out in countries I had already visited. A perfect example is this list, which informed me of the existence of a surreal walking path in Negev, Israel – a country I visited twice, the last time on a 3-week hitchhiking and couchsurfing feast that (I thought) covered every corner of the Holy Land. There was even another awesome walking path in Iceland! Granted, both were pretty impulsive, plan-as-you-go trips. Still, I was heart broken I missed out! *sigh* these were welcomed reality checks though — and another brilliant excuse to go back to Israel, Iceland and visit the other places listed.

New travel bucket list item: Flying trapeze

Flying Caceres, Ringling Bros Circus (Photo: Tammy Biondi, former About.com Guide)

* New item on my own travel bucket list: Flying trapeze

I didn’t even know you could do this unless you were some elastic Asian (or Russian or Eastern European) that had been working for a traveling circus since age 5. But apparently, it is possible for us average Joes! (Note: This isn’t a no-fall guarantee, though). Thank you for the inspiration, Ms Tiffany! Oh, I still gotta ask you how I can cross off this new travel bucket list item of mine, since I only saw the awesome photos you posted on #TravelBL chat this week! 😉

For more items of my own travel bucket list, you may click here

What are you waiting for?! Go run to your blog, put together that awesome travel bucket list of yours and come back here to share it with us. Be part of the new, exciting #TravelBL Wednesdays! And of course, feel free to use hashtag #TravelBL any other time of the week when tweeting your items – you’ll get a guaranteed RT from me!

“LIFE, if well-lived, is long enough”
-Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

What’s on your travel bucket list?

#Travel bucket list items & photos of the week – it’s #TravelBL time!

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Maria Alexandra

What’s Travel Bucket List Wednesdays? Click here to learn more

Epa! This shall be the fifth weekly Travel Bucket list Wednesday! I’ve decided that the weeks I don’t get many submissions from you, I’ll complement the entry with interesting travel bucket list items I find around the web that week. Remember: If you wish to be featured next week don’t forget to submit your travel bucket list, links of your travel sites and Twitter handle on a comment below. There is no limit: As long as you post new items on your travel bucket list every week, I will feature you every time! So c’mon, get greedy here. And don’t forget to join us on the Twitter #TravelBL chat every Wednesday at 12 & 6:15 pm (EST)!

In Lola's travel bucket list: "New Year’s Eve in St. Barts with Beyonce and Jay Z" (Photo: Tripadvisor.com)

* Lola’s travel bucket list
You’ll be inspired by her list if you’re interested in: Celebrities, parties & sun

travel bucket list: Mount Huashan, China

On any thrill junkie's travel bucket list: "A trek with a difference: At one point one kilometer above the ground, you have to traverse a slim wooden plank stuck to the face of a vertical cliff" -by Ivy Zhang, Jane Leung & Tim Cheung, CNNGo.com

* Trill seeker’s travel bucket list – CNN Go
You’ll be inspired by this list if you like: Heights, magma & dangerous animals

In any European travel bucket list: Gaudi's Barcelona! (Photo: La Sagrada Familia church, Wiki Commons)

* Spain’s travel bucket list – Global Grasshopper
You’ll be inspired by this list if you’re interested in: Spain’s 10 most beautiful places

A must-add to any outdoors travel bucket list: Helicopter ride over volcanoes & lakes in Kamchatka peninsula, Russia! (Photo: Helen Flamme, sputnik_mania on Flikr)

* “Middle of nowhere” travel bucket list – Lonely Planet
You’ll be inspired by this list if you’re interested in: Beautiful desolation & nature

Thuringia, Germany: Added to my travel bucket list!

* New item on my own travel bucket list: Thuringia, Germany
Thank you once again, Lonely Planet! I just stumbled upon this destination & got so excited about it. I had never even heard that name before, ever. Officially “The Free State of Thuringia,” it is located in central Germany & is the sixth smallest by area. Also, it happens to be the home of Germany’s most infamous hiking trail: Rennsteig (Wiki). However, what sold me about Thuringia is the spectacular mosaics and architecture of 900-year-old Wartburg Castle. Thank you for the travel bucket list inspiration, Lonely Planet (and photographer Mr Matt Munro)!

travel bucket list: Schmalkalden, Germany

Thuringia town Schmalkalden, as photographed by Matt Munro

For more items of my own travel bucket list, you may click here

“LIFE, if well-lived, is long enough”
-Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

What’s on your travel bucket list?

Europe: Through the eyes of a 17 year old (photo essay)

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Maria Alexandra

Happy Travel Tuesday everyone! As I went through my travel memories vault today, I blew some dust off my 2005 travel journal: The first time I traveled outside of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Mom, knowing her daughter so well, gave me the gift of a lifetime: My very first trip to Europe! I was not savvy or knew much about how to travel the world on a budget back then, so I simply went on a 10-day graduation trip through EF Educational Tours, which was organized by my high school. We went though Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy–and I was an ecstatic 17 (soon-to-be-18) year old!

Not only was this trip challenging because I had never had an actual conversation in English with a native speaker in person, but also because I had never been outside of Puerto Rico for more than a week (even though I had already been to Disney as a child, NYC and Chicago through my local theatre company). Surprisingly though, I was not nervous or scared, but rather excited and could not wait to practice my conversational English skills! This innate, uninhibited drive I have always had reminds me each day that traveling and languages are such deep parts of me; that I must make a career out of them.

So! I’ve decided that for the next few weeks, I’ll be featuring some pages of this old travel journal on Travel Tuesday! It will be a mini series of journal entries/photo essays I published back in 2005 on Kiwibox.com. Back when I was a newbie 17-year-old blogger with no real English training or travel experience. Hope you find them cute and humorous! =P Below, part one! Please note, I have not edited the grammar nor writing style: That’s the whole point of the post! Yeah? 😉 =)

Oh and don’t forget: Click on any image to enlarge! =)

Posted on 06/20/05, 3:58 AM on Kiwibox.com

NOW! =D the TRIP! That’s all u are waiting for. So, the format might seem a bit weird, changing between present and past, but the thing is that Im typing all this directly from my EF *travel journal*, which means I was writing about everything *during* the trip, so I wouldnt miss a thing. I wont post everything @ once, since I warn ya its pretty lengthy, but Ill split it up in few days during this week, and the same with the pictures since I took a *LOT* (about 2OO aprox, without including the ones left taken with other cams when I ran out of memory). So, here are my European trip ramblings! Hope u find them descriptive enough, and enjoy the pictures below that! =D

Group picture before leaving to Europe from Puerto Rico airport (me on the far right, white polo)

June.9th.2OO5

So, on my connecting flight to Newark right now. I already laughed a lot by the silly doings of my classmates (yeah, the fun already started!). Right now I’ll see yet another mag, this time from the actual airline, which has some pics of Italy! *Quick note* – Continental Airlines meals + in-flight mags are much better and entertaining than American Airlines.

We are in Europe! Frankfurt from the air

June.10th.2OO5

Streets of Rothenburg!

In Frankfurt, we just saw the airport and highway. Note: I only got 7O-ish euros for 1OO American bucks; THAT *SUCKS*. From there to Rothenburg were *3 hours*. Me no likey the highways view for now; didnt feel in Germany, since all I saw were just TREES. And even more trees. Then, we went on tour through Rothenburg; yes, with all of our luggage still in the bus. So, this lil medieval town was very nice and cute, and some *cute* pics were taken. We went to a Kriminal Museum and then just around town looking and shopping. I bought most souvenirs (which were very few, since everything was DAMN expensive and so the food, so I had to save MADLY) and something called Snowflake balls in nut chocolate flavor, sprinkled with hazelnuts as well; that was YUMMY. After that we went to take supper @ a pasta restaurant; we had lasagna. It was different, but still good. Theeeen, around 9PM, we *finally* checked in @ our hotel (it was 3AM PRs time). By then, we had all been *31 hours* without a bath; dont worry, we still didnt stink, by miracle *lol*.

Cool building at a plaza in Rothenburg!

These kind of houses are the trademark of this medieval town I believe. Or at least one of them. (Note photo-bomber on the far left. Ha)

yummy snowflake balls, made of soft wafer strips, then covered with chocolate or other toppings. They were *everywhere*

I just found this big teddy bear too freakin cute! I think these kind of bears are another trademark of Rothenburg

Me (left) and Fefi (Stephanie) @ the entrance of the Kriminal Museum, in some cortacabezas. I look freaky. Really freaky.

Chastity belts. I found them interesting. They should be used nowadays. They are DESPERATELY needed for girls ages 12 and up. Todays world is just too tough.

Me in front and beside weird cages used in ol times. They are scary.

Me in front of our 1st hotel in Germany. It was around 9PM by then

Me trying to take a pic of myself in my room with my retarded camera, which always takes about 3 secs. to actually take a picture. Dont know why.

June.11th.2OO5

So, the guys in the back are now testing a German condom they bought @ one of the restrooms out of curiosity, which seems to be more thick in size than Americans. Oh! Yarielis just tested it with her nails and it still intact. Wow, those seem to be better than Durex, the girls over there just said. Anymoo, right now we are just arriving to the castle. As for what I see from here, its gorge! Right now Im trying to get a good pic of the Alps, which are pretty much seen from here.

Best pic I could take of the Alps alone, in the bus

For part two of this photo essay, click here

Travel bucket list photos & #TravelBL AIR chat recap – Oct. 19th

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Maria Alexandra

To learn more about #TravelBL Wednesdays, click here

Missed #TravelBL aka the Travel Bucket List chat yesterday? No worries! Here’s a recap of what happened on both sessions so you get a taste of the fun. Don’t forget to join us next week at noon and 6:15 pm (EST), using #TravelBL so you can share your travel bucket list items and get inspired by others!

This week’s theme was UP IN THE AIR. Grab a pen and add your favorites to that travel bucket list of yours! **Questions formulated by yours truly, @latinAbroad =)

micro flight over the Victoria Falls, Africa (Photo: ospkw.com)

Q1. Most exciting activities you’ve done “up in the air”?

“I did fly in a scary itty bitty plane above the Kenyan valley. Sounds simple, but was scary to me lol” –@CaroBotelho

“Bungee, sky dive etc and I hate heights!” –@timteece

“Helicopter rides over 12 Apostles in Oz and ovr Franz Josef glacier in NZ” –@ilivetotravel

“I’m doing hot air balloon in the Jordan desert next week!” –@gogogasti

“This #travelBL discussion is terrifying. I will stick to roller coasters…” –@sickontheroad

paragliding over the Norwegian fjords (Photo: Ben, Flikr)

Q2. What “up in the air” activities are in your travel bucket list?

“Definitely paragliding and hot air ballooning” –@goodtravellife

“Next on list is chopper (helicopter)! sweet! […] (also) would be interesting to bungee jump out of a hot air balloon” –@timteece

“All the hot air balloon answers, make me want to get in one now. 🙂 Would love to go over San Francisco & Napa Valley” –@elatlboy

“flight over Nazca Lines, Peru. That’s exciting and scary! Wanna do it again!” –@CaroBotelho

Emirates airlines' private suite, first class (Photo: Emirates.com)

Q3. Got any airline-related items in your travel bucket list? What would your ideal flight include?

“Definately those cool planes you see with beds- like singapore airlines always look awesome” –@MexicanAtHeartJ

“Would love to fly 1st class one day” –@sickontheroad

“Basically, I would clone Air Force One. lol” –@latinAbroad

“I’ve been fortunate to do Emirates, Lufthansa, Air Canada Bus.- lie flat with amazing” –@marktravel

flying over Bora Bora, French Polynesia (Photo: Eyelands.blogspot.com)

Q4. If you had the ability to fly, what would you do?

“Dodge passport and visa checks by flying from one country to another” –@deesomera

“Two words: water balloons. Or charge for rides… ” –@CancunGringa

” I would probably fly through a hole in a mountain like this guy:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t0xqNln5RU” –@sickontheroad

“Fly around the world in 80 days lol” –@CaroBotelho

Dave Salmoni: Added to my travel bucket list--among many other "to-do" lists (Davidsdialogue1.blogspot.com-photo)

Q5. If you were Batman, who would be your Robin? Which city would you protect? Why?

“Being Batman is so much pressure… But I’d pick Lady Gaga to be my Robin. She’d distract the evildoers for me” –@ilivetotravel

“Dave Salmoni- the Lion walker, he’s hot! Vancouver- it has mountains, ocean, wildlife, and fabulous food!” –@goodtravellife

“@MalloryOnTravel” –@roniweiss

“Hey big guy I don’t play Robin to anybody’s Batman, even yours :p good job Batman has many personas” –@MalloryOnTravel

Vancouver calling Batman--really (Neomagic.deviantart.com)

* Submit your travel bucket list, website, and topic suggestions HERE *

Fun, eh? Join the travel bucket list chats!

Wednesdays @ noon and 6:15 pm (EST), only on Twitter #TravelBL

Solo travel (photo essay of my epic adventures)

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Maria Alexandra

Today FriFotos celebrates ONE year – Happy Anniversary Mr Epstein! =) Great concept, I follow it religiously since I discovered it. And so, fitting it is this weeks theme: ONE. It could mean a variety of things, depends on one’s POV, which is why I love it today – such a variety of photos I’ve seen on Twitter! Woman solo travel it is, then 😀

As for me, this FriFotos theme was a perfect “excuse” to make a photo compilation of some of the journeys I’ve embarked on solo – my many experiences as a solo woman traveler. Please note, this is only meant to be a “teaser” or photo summary – full stories of each journey will follow soon! Conversely, if I have already written about a particular topic, click on the in-text link to read the respective post. Hope you enjoy and have a wonderful weekend! =)

Cancun & Chichen Itzá, Mexico – March 2008

I tried to get a group of 16 of my college friends together to head out to Cancun for my last spring break before studying abroad. Didn’t work out, so I said screw this, I’m going solo! And this is what they missed *evil grin*

View from my hotel room. 'Cause I'm a baller

I, however, always make friends rather quickly…

aaand hijacked a kayak

Aaand wore a *cough* thong *cough*

"Paparazzi: No photos, please!"

Plus spotted some bad-ass Mayan architecture at Chichen Itzá during a day trip that week

What a pyramid!

Washington, DC – June 2008

Shortly after my Spring Break stint, I headed to Washington DC for the Scholarship Convocation of that sweet deal I earned thanks to months of essay-writing and years of good grades . You know, that $20,000 study abroad scholarship to study Arabic in Egypt for a year? Yeah, that one =D Of course, I had to head out to DC solo, got a sweeeet room all for myself right by the Capitol at The Liaison Hotel, and met some wonderful brains in the process. With them I walked around the Mall & marveled at the sights for the first time in my life. Fun times!

woman solo travel Capitol Hill, Washington DC

Me @ Capitol Hill!

woman solo travel Library Of Congress, Washington DC

Library of Congress - with all those amazing books & architecture, truly HEAVEN ON EARTH!

Egypt, Israel, Jordan – August 2008 to July 2009

Just two months after DC, I departed for my greatest solo adventure to this day: Egypt and the Middle East! For a full grand year, I got to enjoy the most stigmatized (imo) region in the world. Furthermore, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that what the Western media says about the fascinating Arab world is quite skewed. Sure, there are problems (aren’t they everywhere tho!?), but I honestly felt more secure walking through the streets of Cairo at 4 AM or the streets of Jordan at 11 PM by myself than doing so in Puerto Rico or Tampa at any time of the day! If you have been avoiding this region because of what the news say, let me give you a news flash myself: JUST TAKE THE PLUNGE ALREADY! It is FASCINATING!

me @ the Great Pyramid, Giza, Egypt

I rode camels – several times over…

woman solo travel Great Pyramids camel ride

umm yes, that's me

Me (left) on a camel safari to Ras Abu Gallum reserve. About 1.5 hours EACH way from-to Dahab on a camel...hurts...but the views + snorkeling at the reserve were STUNNING

woman solo travel Ras Abu Gallum camel safari

I'm prepping on the left (pink tank top, WHITE camel!)

Wandered through historical, ancient cities & sites

Medinat Habu temple, Upper Egypt. Def. my favorite - SO colorful!

me wandering the streets of Islamic Cairo

Mohamed Ali Mosque from Al Azhar park, Cairo (Photo: My friend Marta Carelli)

The Treasury, Petra, Jordan

me in Jerusalem - golden Dome of the Rock and Wailing Wall in the background

Climbed many historical sites, all while mingling with locals (and other world adventurers)

ME on top of the Petra Monastery - a BEDOUIN made me climb! =D

Bedouin girl fixing my headscarf. She led the trek that day, amazing!

Witnessed history buried underwater…

Travel bucket list item: Shipwreck diving - CHECK! (Thistlegorm)

even floated on historical waters…

me (far left) and other travelers floating on the Dead Sea (one kind man took photo for me)

…and, as a dramatic farewell, embarked on an epic 5-week solo Middle Eastern road trip, which took me to dozens of cities, spanning 3 countries, hitchhiking and Couchsurfing all the way. AH-MA-ZING!

Ramses II, your ego is truly heavy (me at Abu Simbel Temple)

me drifting down the Nile on a felucca - look at those Nubian eyes!

by the Egyptian-Israeli border - AMAZING!

“The Transatlantic Tour” NYC, London, Spain – August 2009

The Middle East wasn’t enough to satisfy my wanderlust, oh no – I had to study abroad again in Africa, this time a little west, in Morocco. En-route, I went on what I called “The Transatlantic Tour,” with stops in NYC, London, Spain & 2 cities in Morocco before arriving to Ifrane.

Statue of Liberty, NYC

Big Ben & me - London

Me (right, skirt) with some travelers I met up with in Madrid

Morocco – August to December 2009

I briefly visited Casablanca and Fez, but that first day in Moroccan lands was so erratic, I couldn’t really take many pictures (click here to know why).

And so! High in the Atlas mountains, I studied Arabic language, Islamic history and World Religions at Al Akhawayn University for 4 months.

Library (left) and part of the mosque (right) at AUI. Photo by fellow student Jonathan Jacobs

It wasn’t all books, though – I befriended a great entourage from West Point (yeah, that bad-ass school) and together we took road trips around Morocco and have quite a couple of stories to remember! (to read more, click here)

secret beaches...

...ancient doorways and kids...

...dangerous roads...

...and interesting characters! (umm, the COBRA is real, by the way...)

During my Moroccan stint, I even got to go to Europe for a 3rd & 4th time!!

Party I attended by the Colosseum, org by Couchsurfer I stayed with!

me at Blue Lagoon, Iceland (OK this is cheating, I did have a travel buddy this time, who took the pic)

Panama – March 2010

Ater heading back to the US of A in January 2010, I realized my last college Spring Break would be 2 months later, and so I planned my next journey: PANAMA! I traveled solo, met some great travelers from all over the world at Aqua lounge Hostel in Bocas del Toro and then heard some interesting stories from US diplomats on a chartered, 8-people, 4-day sailboat trip through the San Blas Islands by the Caribbean coasts of Panama. Yes, epic should be my middle name -I know (because clearly, modesty isn’t. LOL!). For a full trip report of this journey, click here!

View of Aqua Lounge Hostel's "pool" from my bed, I mean HAMMOCK ;)

FriFotos Aqua Lounge Hostel

From left: American, Puerto Rican (me!), Australian, American, Israeli @ our Panamanian over-water hostel

The sailboat - Andiamo!

view of Kuna Yala from my sailboat cabin (San Blas islands)

And then…I stay put for a while. I haven’t embarked on any crazy solo journey ever since, except for the occasional weekend Couchsurfing in Orlando, FL for some concerts and Miami, FL for Latin spice and extra fun in the sun. Oh, WAIT! There’s ONE MORE!!!

Me celebrating New Year's Eve in Times Square, from VIP lane!!! (after midnight, ppl could cross, thats why you see many ppl in the photo)

Ummm, yes, as the photo caption suggests, somehow I flirted my way to the VIP lane and could get first-row-seats (I mean, standing spot) with even a private bathroom at the Ball Drop in Times Square for New Year’s 2011. Probably not too legal, thus the covered NYPD Officer’s face so the poor kind man doesn’t get in trouble! (to read more about this epic Times Square NYE, click here)

And behold, my loyal followers – the next epic adventure is set and the wanderlust shall continue!

Next?

*happy sigh of relief*

What was your definition of ONE for this week’s FriFotos? Share in a comment below!

LatinAbroad

Travel blog of a Puerto Rican translator

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