WALES, England

In Wales, you immediately notice the unusual Welsh accent, the hilly, dirt roads, and simplicity of life. A weekend escape in the country has never been such an experience of tranquility and stamina. At Preseli Venture in Wales, England located approximately 4 hours away from London, they give you the time of your life for a rather inexpensive price. The lodge is a very popular place for bachelorette and bachelor parties because they focus on team building exercises. It is also a great getaway for new friends because you learn together and get over personal fears together.

The lodge is known for its intense physical activities. While there, I went on an 8 mile hike throughout the country side. The hike was along the waters edge that cut through fields of cows and sheep. It was very muddy on the hike causing me to slip all the way down a hill which is always great fun, right? The setting was so natural and in one spot you could see the ocean and right when the sand ended there were cows grazing in a field. The next activity was Coasteering. It is when you jump off huge, natural cliffs into the Atlantic ocean. My group of friends and I went on the excursion with a group of Englishmen, and we cheered each other on and became such great friends just from one day in the ocean conquering our fear of heights. They chanted "TEAM AMERICA" whenever one of us jumped off of a cliff. The next day there we did kayaking and we kayaked in and out of caves and saw Portuguese jellyfish- which are deadly!

The experience was invigorating and the lodge has biking and surfing as options for physical activity. The lodge included 2 nights stay, 3 meals a day, 3 types of physical activity, and transportation to and from the lodge. It was a refreshing treat away from the city life that rid one of vanities, embraced simplistic living, and conquered challenges in a group setting. I highly recommend a trip to Wales, England.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (USA)

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas-ain't that the truth! The desert heat, the open liquor bottles, the gambling, and the huge billboards of Holly Madison, from The Girls Next Door, wearing next to nothing. Sin City, however, was a lot more beautiful than I anticipated. I stayed in the Bellagio Hotel right on the main strip. It was an absolutely gorgeous place equipped with an enormous pool area (6 + pools), an incredible casino inside handing out free drinks to anyone who was playing the slots, and the most beautiful suite with a gorgeous, marble bathroom including a jacuzzi.

Not to brag or anything, but I went to Vegas underage-making it just that much cooler of an experience by always feeling as if I could get caught. That's half the fun of drinking, right? The evenings out were absolutely perfect weather. Ladies, don't you hate it when you get all dolled up with a new dress on then head outside and your downright freezing?! I most certainly do. However, in Vegas that was not the heat. The dry desert heat makes it perfect temperature for you to prance around wearing your newest accessories and outfits.


Las Vegas nightlife is tailored for women. Ladies get in almost anywhere for free, and receive VIP tickets by simply walking up and down the strip. It's great. The clubs are enormous and I got in free to one where Lil Jon was the DJ-ing, and there were women standing in cages dancing, and bottle service everywhere that my eye could see. The clubs were a lot classier than I expected. Everyone was dressed up in gorgeous, formal attire as most places had strict dress codes that did not allow slovenly dressed people to enter. Check Vegas out-it won't disappoint.

Life's Road

Life is a journey-not a destination! As travelers in life, we must open our eyes to the world just to see exactly where we fit. Here are some quotes about travel that I simply adore, and will hopefuly spark the inner traveler within you to book an airline ticket to......who knows?!

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." -- Helen Keller

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain

"When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money." -- Susan Heller

LONDON, England

After spending 6 weeks in London this past summer, the city has completely stolen my heart from the fashion, historic sights, museums, club/pub scene, and the people equipped with that brilliant English accent!

If you're American you may think that there would be no language gap across the pond, however, take note of how different the language actually is. For example, bathroom is water closet, or loo. Soccer is Football-check out a game if you can! Drunk is Pissed. Keep your ears perked to find more differences!

London is most definitely fashion forward. Shops like Topshop and Primark are great if you're on a budget (especially since the pound is approximately worth two times more than the dollar) and still want to be the young fashionista you believe yourself to be.

There are so many things to do! Check out the London Eye which is pretty much like a huge Ferris wheel that can fit about 20 people and looks over the whole city of London situated on the Thames River. Definitely check out the marching of the (boring) guards everyday outside of Buckingham Palace. Sorry, I just need a guy with a sense of humour! All of the museums are FREE! There are Ice Bars and plenty of upscale pubs and clubs. I recommend that you learn the transport system BEFORE going to a far away club, because I didn't, and had to walk 4 miles IN HEELS at 5 in the morning, getting lost at every corner just because I thought it would be safer to stay with my guys friends then to take a cab back alone-a rather stupid decision on my part!

Most newspapers are free, and they're given out twice daily. The tube is a huge way of public transportation. It's easy to learn, but it does get really hot in the summer because it's not air conditioned. The double-decker buses are my favorite mode of transportation. I took one everyday to work and always raced to the top to get the front seat! Bring hand sanitizer with you when riding public transportation, cause it's anything but posh.

MIAMI, Florida (USA)

Miami, Florida is known for it's heat- from it's beaches to it's club scene I debate whether this city ever sleeps. Starting a vacation with an underage (at the time) pina colada with my best girls by my side, lounging directly on the sand, watching hot surfer dudes tear it up is the only way to start a vacation.

Miami was a dream cause the weather was so hot, especially coming from the north. The coffee shops, shopping boutiques, and large malls were fantastic-especially Bloomingdale's (where I bought my prom dress!) Also, jet skiing and riding the banana boat are huge adrenaline rushes for those thrill seekers.

Miami, distinctly South Beach, remains one of the most hilarious pictures of all in my mind. I say pictures because my girls and I stumbled across a NUDE BEACH while we were there. So, when in Rome, right? We stripped down, and joined all of the....gay guys. We were the only females on the beach as we watched all of the guys lotion themselves in places where I didn't even think lotion could go. As we laid there on the beach, naked, I sang "Welcome to Miami- bienvenidos ami ami!"

QUITO, Ecuador

I would like to start his blog post off by saying NEVER SAY "ESTOY EXCITADA" if you don't mean it. I was on a CHIVA bus in Banos, Ecuador(which is a party bus) with my sister when I screamed that phrase-trying to show off my Spanish, obviously! However, when I thought I was saying "I'M EXCITED!" every other person translated the phrase correctly, looked at me oddly, and laughed since I was unknowingly screaming "I'M HORNY!"

(picture to the left is my sister and I riding on the Chiva!)

I traveled to Ecuador last winter break, and it was quite a renewing experience. A culture like Ecuador's really made me appreciate the United States. Ecuador is a dangerous place, and my guard was constantly up. I didn't want to speak English like an American, because then I could have gotten robbed-especially once it got dark. I would not wear make-up or do anything that could make me stand out. I was completely reserved from who I naturally am. It was a very restricting feeling, because I was not use to the culture whatsoever. There are homeless people on every road in Ecuador, as the rich people beep at them to move out of the way in their Range Rover's. The gap between the rich and the poor is noticeable immediately. It was unreal. Most of the homeless and poor people are very friendly who are gracious even to accept just a warm smile.

Before you read this next story please, ask yourself what you remember from going to work with your father or mother going up? Reflect for a few moments, and then continue reading this post.

When my sister and I were waiting for the bus after buying souvenirs, we were standing on the side of a busy street questioning whether or not the bus was actually coming. My sister asked this man and his child if he knew whether the particular bus was coming down this street. The two of them had on the dirtiest jeans I had ever seen, and . The man said "Si,"but left us skeptical as to whether or not to believe him for certain.

While chatting, we found out the child was starting school soon, wanted to be a soccer player(like most) and that the kid had been going to work with his father. However, we had no idea what he did for a living. Then my sister gave the little boy a dollar for an ice cream. The father took it from him immediately -as if it were 100 dollars! When the bus we were waiting for actually came, my sister and I ran onto it. The father and son followed-only when we sat down, they stood in front of the bus, and the father said to the whole bus "Three trash bags for a quarter," while his son ran up and down the bus collecting quarters before giving out the trash bags. THAT was going to work with his dad! Then the father and son got kicked off the bus once the work was done, gave us a wink I will never forget, and got lost in the mass of people on the streets.

Another aspect to Ecuador that I witnessed first hand, was that since there is such a division of class, people judge each other very harshly. My sister's host mother would judge the friends that my sister had based on what their last name was. My sister befriended a person who was poor, and the host mother would not even shake his hand. However, when my sister befriended someone on the wealthy end of the spectrum-she gave him hugs! It was a very distorted concept in my eye. I know there is status in the U.S., but if you're friends with a person, then you just accept them.

Ecuador's culture, the various things to do, like zip-line through a cloud forest in Mindo or white water raft down a huge rapid in Banos, keep it distinct from any other place I have traveled to. You must experience it first hand!

Such is Life, Braa.

When travelling and spending time away from home, one can learn valuable life lessons, and learn how to appreciate the most minute things that make home special -like a big, comfy bed, the distinct photos scattered around your house that you can easily imagine in your head, or even the smell of the home you grew up in. It's only when one is missing home that one can truly appreciate it.

To answer a question brought forth by a post regarding the influence travel (in general) has on a person. I must say that there are many things one can learn about a place that never leaves them. It's life. Picture yourself, in any "normal routine" that you take on. Isn't it true that your worldly experiences are always affecting you in that daily routine? The experiences we gain from a world perspective change us for the better and help us develop into the people that we strive to be.

Of course, my travels from Nova Scotia to Wellfleet to Venice Beach are all incredibly different. However, they are all interrelated somehow because after experiencing one aspect of the world, I sought to explore another. For example, I personally know the cold winters in NH drive me crazy, so I sought after warm climate which drew me to visit California. Think about what drives you, and why you are where you are. Is it the culture, climate, or general type of people?

Bottom line: Life is a journey that is some beautiful, inconceivable cycle of events that influence you consistently from one viewpoint/goal to the next.

This concept doesn't only apply to life, but to relationships, jobs and goals. We are all on a course; we are all travelers, and our experiences traveling, working, playing, and living are all prerequisites to our next desired goal.

VENICE BEACH, California (USA)

If there could be a few terms to describe Venice Beach, California they would be insane, entertaining, crazy and hilarious. I lived in Venice Beach this past summer for 6 weeks. It was one of the best times of my life. I lived right across from the sand, and right in front of the crazy Muscle Beach Gym- where Arnold use to bulk up, and the guys show off their hot Cali bods- or lack their of.

A typical day consisted of running over to the sand in my bikini, meeting up with my sister and foreign friends, surfing, watching people preform tricks on the sidewalk, getting asked if I wanted to "see the doctor for my weed prescription" (that I never received) and ending the day to a concert with homemade drums on the sand watching the sun go down with a cold brewski in my hand. It is the funniest and most unusual place I have ever lived in. The characters you run into on the strip are either holding signs that say "Pregnant- Any food will do!" or doing flips in front of a crowd of 100 people asking everyone to "hold up one dollar-just one dollar will do!"

It's a place where the homeless run rampant and live- who are all incredibly friendly and have learned how to work the system. For example, there was one particular guy who was wearing these glasses that say "WINE-O" on them and was acting like a drunk. Now, obviously whenever one sees a homeless person we think, "we're just helping them get drunk," and you can't second guess me on that one! This guy was honest-or so we thought and was beating us to the chase. So obviously, I gave him some money for his clever idea, and told him I thought it was great. The man actually said to me "You know I've been sober for 7 years, but this is the easiest way to bring in the most cash." Can you believe that? Neither could I- I mean what a smart individual! There are also many vender's that sell overpriced jewelry on the Venice Beach strip like the lady shown in this picture to the right.

Venice is located on the famous bike/running/walking path that runs parallel to the Pacific Ocean. It's very close to Santa Monica, but worlds apart. It's a great place to star gaze as I say Matthew McConaughey biking. He was actually singing some loud tune, and I was annoyed that day, so I turned around and gave him a bad look. It was only after he passed when I realized it was him. Sorry for the look Matthew!

Anyways, back to the weed prescription thing-it's SO annoying to be asked when I am on a jog, or a bike ride if I would like to "see the doctor." There I am utilizing my lungs to their fullest capacity, and they're aiming to pollute them. Weed is legalized in California so long as you have a prescription. I went to check it out one day and asked a doctor how difficult it is to get one. He said to me, "You can say anything, migraines, chronic pain, and I'll give it to you." So, clearly it's a joke. There's a monthly fee to get the prescription, but if you get caught with it then your safe & sound. The benefits are unreal. You can get beer with weed in it; you can buy food with weed in it, and you can even pick the type of high you would like to get. For example, if you want a giggly high, then you buy weed x, but if you want a mellow high then you buy weed y. It's that simple ladies & gents. If you're into that, go and check it out!

The bars & clubs, beaches, random festivals like the one pictured to the right, and people are all truly amazing. Most people are very active and fun there. For example, one night my sister and I were sitting outside our apartment. We saw hundreds of bicyclists riding in the evening with backpack lights, laughing up a storm and enjoying themselves. We were confused, like what were hundreds of people doing up at 1 in the morning-let alone biking in the dark?! We started up a conversation with on of the bikers and found out there is a "bike" club that meets once a month at midnight. The people fill their backpacks with beer, and bicycle along the pacific. How cool is that? There are about 100 plus bicyclists. One evening I joined them, it's a great time, even if you just watch from afar. Venice comes highly recommend by me. Definitely check this place out at least once in your life!

Side Note

As I write about these travel destinations, I realize that a lot of my experience has to do with a complex number of things. For example, a lot of my observations could be dependent upon the type of group I traveled with, how old I was at the time I visited, my socio-economic status, and what I personally wanted to gain from the experience of traveling to a specific destination. Therefore, this blog is subjective in some ways because of those aspects. However, I do try to remain objective in terms of description of the places.

If my readers have any questions at any time about more specifics, do not hesitate to contact me.

Don't be a stranger- as the success of my blog depends on my audience's interest and involvement. Tell me what you think, what you want to hear, and post as frequently as you wish!

WELLFLEET, Massachusetts. (USA)

Wellfleet is a great little cape town located in Massachusetts. Each year in the summertime, I would vacation with my best friend’s family to this destination and experiences its unique, New England, nautical culture.

(photo taken by:http://www.wellfleetma.org/Public_Documents/WellfleetMA_WebDocs/about.shtml)

Wellfleet has a renowned drive-in movie theater, ice cream shops galore, an outdoor golfing range, art galleries, little shops, and the beautiful beaches equipped with large sand dunes that take a good ten minutes to walk up, but only a couple minutes to illegally slide down. In terms of activities, Wellfleet has a skate park, a harbor, and many lakes where one can go boating and sailing- and if you get to know the owners, one can boat and sail for free like I did. They also have square dancing new the harbor during the summer evenings. Older women and men, usually sporting cowboy hats, dominate the dance floor with their square dancing moves.

Wellfleet is fully equipped with seafood restaurants with a seemingly endless supply of shellfish and one cannot forget the famous and tasty “Wellfleet Oysters.” It is also a very short ride away from the colorful Provincetown which is guaranteed to provide awkwardness for some and great fun for others.

Wellfleet has been a large gathering place for my best friend’s family, and is home for many family reunions, and weddings especially in the summer months. It’s a great place to get reacquainted with small town, New England living. Most people know all of the people that live there year round as there are 3,500 year round inhabitants, but found on the Town of Wellfleet website, in the summer that number increases to 17,000. There are not a lot of hotels directly in Wellfleet that are near the ocean, so the majority of tourists rent out houses to make the vacation experience very comfortable and homey. Also, many people spend their time without their cars and use alternate means of transportation, like walking or riding bikes. Everyone you encounter is friendly, warm and happy to be there vacationing.

(map taken by:http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/north-america/usa/cape-cod/map_of_cape-cod.jpg)

NOVA SCOTIA, Canada

Nova Scotia is a great place to visit in the summer time. My family and I took the Cat ferry which left from Portland, ME and docked in Nova Scotia. It was a half of day journey on the ferry, and it was the best night of sleep I ever had. I slept sound on the harsh, cold Atlantic while other members of my family puked the night away! The way back was all during the day, so one could just kick back and reminisce about the trip.

The trip was 3-4 days, and it was a nice break from America. Although, I don't necessarily count Canada as another country since it's so close to where I live, it was refreshing to see the Queen's face on the currency as opposed to Washington's. We stayed two hours away from where the ship docked. It was also nice to hear the French accents.

We booked a hotel in Halifax. It was similar to a lodge, and had many activities for all types of people. The package we had included canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding in the lake, access to the pool, hot tub, and spa treatments-which are a girl’s best friend. Also, the hotel was right on the beach, and one could walk out on the shimmering sand on a hot summer's day.

There was actually a place on the grounds of the hotel where one could stand on a hill of sand and on one side of him/her was the ocean and the other side was the lake. It was breathtaking as one experienced standing in the middle of two different bodies of water that did not connect but each had their own unique beauty.

The funniest story about this vacation was that our hotel room phone rang and my sister answered it. We listened while she said, "Yup, yup, alright, okay, thanks! Bye." Twenty minutes passed as we forgot to ask her who it was because of some conversation we were having. When we asked her who called, she said, "Oh it was the front desk. The hotel's on fire, and we have to evacuate immediately!" Now this was a log cabin type place like I said before, so this was usual business for the hotel, but naturally we all panicked and ran out thinking we'd be stuck in there because of my sister's forgetfulness. We were fine, and passed the time while the firemen were putting out the flames by playing with the rabbits. Now, I don't know why there were so many rabbits and bunnies running around, but those little critters were so friendly and fun to play with. However, in retrospect, they probably had rabies. Regardless, they are a huge part of my Nova Scotia experience.

Besides fires, lakes and oceans, Nova Scotia was a great place for outdoorsy people who love working out, learning about new culture through historic tours, and the seafood was remarkably tasty. There are also many art galleries that I perused into that were unlike any galleries I had been in before because they were publicly private. What I mean is that one gallery was actually the painter’s home. His home was open to the public and every room was filled with his work to show the world. I know I would not be comfortable opening my home to strangers and letting them roam around, so it was quite a unique experience. Nova Scotia has lighthouses galore! One cannot get enough of them.
(photo taken by: http://www.mvscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/nova-scotia.jpg)

If you visit make sure to take a tour up a lighthouse. Each has its own history and story to tell equipped with a fabulous view of the Atlantic.

Travel to Nova Scotia! You may have traveled or are traveling to the same location I did, and came back with a completely different story. I’m interested, so share your tale!

So, why "Wind Beneath My Wings?"

Well, this is the name of a Bette Midler song that was shown in the movie Beaches. Seeing as beaches, in general, are such a huge part of my life as one could gather from the previous post, the name of the movie itself is very applicable to my life. However, it's the specific line that helps one to understand my desire to travel.

(photo taken by: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfc3owyebztyk2YIl8cpgcuAIIhUMkzTvDuWE1tyGkBqz5_SYFoS8DQPEGxNOJe7wr1zi2Vej3pIQ5pLomDb7PppNhwGWNlZlLF3whTr1T_p71HpNu-Qpz6gHPYDE-QoM-6LbUeDsppkKw/s400/10+Fabulous+Photographs+of+Birds+in+Flight+with+Web+Sources+7.jpg)

There has to be wind beneath a bird's wings in order to make it fly and keep it in flight. In my life, the actual wind is the family structure that I have. My family, especially my sister, are all my heroes. The are my backbone; they keep me going, and they are the wind beneath my wings. Although one leaves their family to see the world, my family is the wind that keeps me floating. I am so close to my family, and they want me to fulfill my dreams. I yearn to see the world, and experience it to the fullest. So even though they do not want me to leave, they want me to live the life I imagined and come back to share stories.

The wind is also ambition. I have a huge amount of drive within me to strive to be the best I can be. 21 years old is a great age, not only because one can indulge (heavily) into alcoholic drinks, but because I feel as if it is take off time! My whole life I have been taught in school, and there has been a set path I should follow. Now, everyone veers off track occasionally, but in general, I have stuck to the path. However, starting in the spring when I graduate and head off into the "real world," I will be ready for take-off because of the confidence and education I have beneath me. I have and my ambition to live the life I've dreamed, become successful in TV/Comedy writing and stay close to my family, always!

"Fly, fly, fly high against the sky,

so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you,
thank you,
thank God for you,
the wind beneath my wings."
-Bette Midler

HAMPTON, New Hampshire. (USA)

To begin this travel blog, I would like to say "Home is where the heart is," and Hampton, NH has my heart. It has always been the place where I have started, and the place to where I always return. Hampton, NH is a beach town located on the meager 18 mile coastline of New Hampshire. This past summer I was abroad, and I told an American that I lived on the beach in New Hampshire, and they didn't believe me. They said "There are no beaches in New Hampshire." I had to get out a map and point to the little strip of land to prove my well-educated friends wrong.

Growing up in Hampton was a blessing as I went to the beach everyday. What I mean by that is that every single day of my being, I spent watching or swimming in the waves of the Atlantic. I learned how to swim, surf, and flirt with the locals, lifeguards and tourists. my 21 year old friends and I love to buy rafts and use them in the ocean especially after Hurricanes. I fell in love by the ocean, fell out of love a mile away, and two miles away from where I experienced sex on the beach - in beverage form that is!


The ocean has always acted as my escape. It can be harsh; it can be beautiful. I always run to the ocean, and it never rejects me even in my ugliest sweat pants. Whether I be drunk with my friends on the sand in the summer; or be freezing with the heat blasting with a coffee in my hand, sitting in my car in winter. The ocean calms my soul, and gives me the power to carry on.

The beauteous part about Hampton is that you can spend the day on "Hampton Beach" eating fried dough, playing volleyball, going on the water slides, and ending the day by going to a concert at the Hampton Casino. There's such a high pulse on the "Strip"-which is where the pimped out cars with the under glow showoff in the summer time. There are many great seafood restaurants that serve endless amount of New England Clam Chowder- a must have for all you tourists.

The other thing that makes Hampton separate from other towns is that it has a tourist-ty section, but it also has private beaches for the locals. The private beachs are for the people who want to see people they see around town in the winter time, and hope to not be bothered by obnoxious tourists. I enjoy parcialling my time between both the rowdy touristy section and the calm, quiet townie section so I get the best of both worlds. The local beaches include North Beach and Plaice Cove. Yes, "P-L-A-I-C-E," not "Place." However, if you're a tourist- please stay away from them!