I first conceived of the idea for this blog back in 2019 while solo traveling to Paris from Miami, Florida. It was my first solo trip abroad, and I was equal parts excited and equal parts scared out of my mind. I knew very little about international solo travel and yet I dove in head first–sometimes, that’s the most effective way to learn something new. My trip didn’t go exactly to plan and I ended up being pickpocketed within 24-hours after landing in Paris. Rookie mistake, I know. Without my phone to guide me through the remainder of my journey, I felt lost and hopeless. I almost let this hiccup ruin my first solo trip abroad, which I had spent several months organizing and coordinating. Life sets us back and throws obstacles our way. In most cases, it is how we bounce back that is the greatest measure of our character. With no phone in tow, I bought a notebook and tried my best to keep a detailed log of my travels to look back on and reminisce. Even though I don’t have many photos, my writing serves as a testament to my lived experiences on that trip. Writing carried me forward, not just in this situation but in many that preceded it and followed it, as well.

I first became serious about updating this site in mid-2021. Ironically enough, once I started building up readership and viewers, I clicked a few wrong buttons on the back-end and deleted everything on accident! The worst part? I hadn’t even thought to back it up prior… at all. And none of my work had saved to my desktop. Another rookie mistake, I know. It was a tough pill to swallow and it hurt to see all of my hard work gone in an instant with no chance of recovery. I lost some pieces of content that I was really proud of, and hundreds of dollars immediately went down the drain. Needless to say, I will never make that mistake again. I could have easily thrown in the towel after the accidental removal of my site. I could have thrown everything out the window and just walked away. But writing, and more specifically travel writing, is my passion. It’s what I enjoy. To walk away after my heart was so deeply invested would be doing myself a disservice.

I say all of this to convey that I am still learning and growing. Making mistakes and attempting to remedy them. Nobody is perfect, and I am not even close. This blog is the outlet through which I will share that growth with my readers. Life, and travel, involve growth of mind, of body, and of soul.

Thank you for following along with me on my journey.