Humanity Through the Lens of a Traveler: 12 Lessons from 12 Months on the Road
It has now been a year since we sailed off to our new adventures - leaving behind the comforts of "home" to explore Europe and its wonderful people, cultures, and landscapes. The past year has reshaped my view of myself, humanity, and life in general - in more ways than could ever be listed. In this post I try to touch on some of the core realizations and insights I've assimilated into my consciousness. I am still trying to integrate these into my daily life as often as possi
The Most Profound Workaway Experience at a Tibetan Buddhist Center in Austria
While all of our Workaway experiences so far have been amazing, our experience at Gomde was a truly unique treasure for many reasons. We were so enchanted by this magical place that we came back to volunteer again - and brought my mom and her partner with us to help as well! I have always been fascinated by the philosophies of the East, including Buddhism. After reading several books related to Buddhist philosophy, including one my favorites by the Dalai Lama (The Universe in
Winter Wonderland Walk in Austria
Our two week Workaway in southern Austria in the middle of November was truly a blessing. We stayed in the small town of Millstatt with a wonderful couple from England, helping to look after their two sweet cats while they were visiting England. As Christmas season approached, we were excited to check out the local traditions and festivities. Our hosts told us about an Advent Walk nearby. Only about a 30 minute drive from the house, in a ski resort town called Katschberg, we
Humanity Through the Lens of a Traveler: Five Lessons from Five Months on the Road
This world is as beautiful as a planet in our galaxy can get - but the magnificence and depth of the human soul is marvelous beyond words. Travel expands our concept of life on this earth. It broadens our perspective, our awareness of what it means to be a member of team humanity, and allows us to remain in humble awe at the beautiful puzzle we all create together.
It turns our conceptual knowledge into wisdom through experience and many times results in a shift in how we vi
Greek Workaway: Living on the Fragrant Island of Chios
Arriving late in the night at the smallest airport we have ever seen, we were greeted by our kind host Yannis who came to pick us up. After having our first true Greek kebab on one of the side streets of Chios town, we headed to our new home for the next 3 weeks. About an hour of driving up and down the mountains on narrow curvy roads, we arrived on the north side of the island, a few kilometers past the town of Volissos. The air was filled with the most unique blend of a swe
Harvesting Olives in Greece: A Labor of Love
When you drizzle that liquid gold on your salad and enjoy its countless health benefits, do you ever think about the process that goes into getting the olives from the tree into your bottle of olive oil? We will never look at olive oil the same way. After being part of the olive harvesting process at our Workaway on the Greek island of Chios, we now realize the labor of love that is involved. While the trees must be maintained throughout the year, the hard work usually begins
Six Months of Adventures in Review
As we get ready to continue our adventures, here is a look back at the wonderful six months we have just been blessed to experience: So after visiting all these destinations, how has that changed my definition of home? Whether soaking up the sun on the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, wandering through the Alps of Austria, or exploring the fjords of Norway, I am home. The universe is my home.
My body is my home.
Nature is my home.
Kind people are my home. My heart fills with
Travel the World While Volunteering: What Is Workaway All About?
You find yourself in a that country that you have always wanted to see more of. But now instead of being the tourist looking at your Google Maps to find your way around the place, you are hanging out in the coffee shops and restaurants with the locals and eating the traditional foods they eat. You are joyfully partaking in the customs that they have always followed and observing their daily way of living. You are soaking in the new culture, learning new skills and sharing the
Our Tuscan Workaway Experience
The world is wide, its people are beautiful, and every landscape has its magic. We were extremely blessed to come across a last-minute Workaway opportunity where we created friendships of a lifetime and made memories that we will never forget.
We helped our lovely hosts Tommy and Camilla with tasks around their beautiful villa "Tomilla" as I like to call it. From installing light fixtures (Bryan's specialty) to putting together wardrobes and refinishing furniture, there was
GALLERY: A Morning Stroll Through Florence
There is no better time to explore a large city than in the early hours of the morning.
Before the tourists have even started waking up. The only traffic you see are delivery trucks and business owners heading to open up their stores.
The smell of pastries still being baked and coffee being roasted fills the air. The cleaning crews are still working on getting the streets ready for the new day. How refreshing to see everything before throngs of tourists (like us!) gather in
