Back to blogging, traveling

It has been a while since I've written about my travels. Since the beginning of the pandemic, my approach to or classification of travel has changed. I earned my Colombian drivers licence and purchased a car; this enabled me to explore more local destinations and ease my way back into being away from home. I have been to páramos and cloud forests, hiked up and kayaked in the mountains, been to resort-style fincas and farm-style fincas. I am pretty sure I have seen more of Cundinamarca than the average Colombian or person, in general.

A sample of what I was up to during 2021

Finding the inner peace to be okay with leaving home for periods of time is made difficult from the monthslong isolation during the earlier months of the pandemic in addition to the two cats I adopted whom bring me so much joy. The travel bug has existed all this time, though. After three summers of less-than-ideal travel [2019 marked a quick move from Ecuador to the USA to Colombia over a three-week span; 2020 saw no international travel due to covid; 2021 was when I returned to WI for the majority of the summer], I am doing what I want to do and that involves an expedition. Behold my summer plans




I have had my share of preoccupations with this upcoming trip. The last time I attempted traveling solo for an extended period of time was in 2016. While the 2016 trip opened my eyes and mind in new and unchangeable ways, it was physically and mentally and emotionally challenging. A major difference between then and now is that I will have at least one activity pre-booked and paid for each day of my trip this summer, which will help motivate me to keep moving forward and give me a reason to get out each day. With some effort put into planning the future, all I have to do is show up and be open to an experience. 

I also hold a belief in myself that this is going to be an exciting and life-changing adventure. The growth and self-improvement I have invested in myself over the years will be put to the test and I know I can conquer any challenges.

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