While 2020 was certainly chaotic and nothing like we planned, I still found so much to be thankful for this year and I hope you did too!

I traded group outings for solo camping and big festival trips for road trips with my sister. The year may have been flipped on its head but here are a few of my favorite travel moments that made me extra thankful for the year 2020!

Campervan Road Trip Up The North Shore

This trip was incredibly special. It marked the first time I got to travel with my big sister Amy since we were kids!

Voyager Campervans allow you the “rent the van life” and there is no better place for a campervan road trip than Minnesota’s gorgeous North Shore!

Read: 3 DAY MINNESOTA NORTH SHORE ITINERARY WITH VOYAGER CAMPERVANS

Read: THE MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE PLACES ALONG THE MINNESOTA NORTH SHORE

Guiding A Month Long Group Road Trip Across The USA

Before the pandemic broke out, I was guiding month long road trips across the USA!

Fortunately I got do to one last EPIC trip in January which took us line dancing in Texas, spotting alligators in the Florida Everglades, boat rides in Miami, helicopters over the Grand Canyon, a jeep in Monument Valley and so much more!

Read: EXPLORING MONUMENT VALLEY WITH SIMPSON’S TRAILHANDLER TOURS

Van Life in Australia

I firmly believe there is no better way to see Australia than to hop in a camper van and road trip around the country! We had no set plans but every day was an adventure. It was such a freeing way to travel!

For one glorious month before the pandemic broke out, we lived carefree in Australia.

Read: VAN LIFE IN AUSTRALIA: DON’T FORGET TO PACK THESE 8 THINGS!

Read: 8 PLACES IN AUSTRALIA THAT LEFT ME SPEECHLESS

Exploring Honolulu, Hawaii

My best friend Morgan and I spent a glorious week in Hawaii. We attempted surfing. (I was terrible!) We made new friends when we hitchhiked across the island and couchsurfed with an awesome local. And we attended our first luau!

Read: 12 TIPS TO TRAVEL HONOLULU ON A BUDGET

Barcelona in the Springtime

I was fortunate enough to live in Barcelona with my friends for a bit just before the pandemic broke out. We would have stayed longer but with the situation spiraling out of control and borders beginning to close, Morgan and I chose to fly back to America for the duration of lockdown.

But before we flew back, we had so many great adventures around Spain from watching the sunrise over Park Güell to taking the train to Sitges and Montserrat.

Read: CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: TRAVELING HOME FROM SPAIN DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC

Read: BARCELONA: THE BEST SPOTS FOR SUNRISE & SUNSET (AND HOW TO GET THERE)

The White Sand Dunes In New Mexico

The White Sand Dunes of New Mexico had been at the very top of my bucket list for several years so I’m sure you can imagine my joy when we finally made it there this summer.

Best of all, I got to share it with a best friend of mine who I hadn’t seen in many months.

Read: WHITE SAND DUNES OF NEW MEXICO: THE NEWEST NATIONAL PARK THAT NEEDS TO BE ON YOUR BUCKET LIST

Solo Camping Around Minnesota

I wish I had kept track of how many nights I spent in a tent during this pandemic because I spent the summer camping all over Minnesota, my home state!

I hiked solo, bought my own tent and tackled my fear of sleeping alone in the woods. It. Was. Awesome.

Read: THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO CAMPING SOLO IN MINNESOTA

Top Travel Moments from 2020

Read: THE BEST EASY BUT SCENIC HIKES IN MINNESOTA

Read: CAMPING SOLO AT BLUE MOUNDS STATE PARK

My First Backpacking Trip

I had always wanted to go on a multi-day backpacking trip but it wasn’t until the pandemic cleared my schedule that I found time to get out and spend 3 days thru-hiking the Superior Hiking Trail.

I learned so much… how to do a bear hang, how to properly fit and pack a backpack, how to filter & purify water from a stream…

This trip was life changingly amazing and sparked a new passion of backpacking. More trekking trips will be coming in 2021!

Read: SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL: 3 DAY ITINERARY

Top Travel Moments from 2020

Read: SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL BACKPACKING CHECKLIST: EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR 3 DAYS ON THE TRAIL

Read: 8 AMAZING REASONS TO TRY BACKPACKING IN MINNESOTA

Glamping in the Great Smoky Mountains

If you read my blog or follow me on Instagram, you probably already know how much I love glamping and the national parks! Well Under Canvas combines these two for an amazing, unique experience.

I was very fortunate to stay here with a best friend and her daughter during the summer.

Read: GLAMPING AT GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK WITH UNDER CANVAS

Read: GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK – 18 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Exploring My Beautiful Home State

I would have never spent so much time back in Minnesota if it weren’t for the pandemic and truthfully, I am so thankful I had this opportunity.

Finding hidden gems all over Minnesota was truly a highlight of 2020. It gave me the chance to spend more time with family as well!

Read: THE BEST MINNESOTA TRIPS YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY TAKE THIS SUMMER

If you were part of my 2020, THANK YOU!

I can’t wait to see what 2021 has in store for us and mostly, I can’t wait to start traveling with you guys on my group trips!!

Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to make sure you’re included in any group trip announcements!

The post My Top Travel Moments from 2020 appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

My Worst Travel Moments
Of All Time

My Worst Travel Moments Of All Time

If you’re sitting reading a travel blog, we can assume you love inspiring tales of wanderlust, travels that changed your life for the better and breathtaking vacation photos as much as I do.

But the reality is, behind all those glorious travel moments… there’s a whole lot of travel FAILS.

For every “high-on-life-I-want-to-travel-forever” moment there is that “what am I doing here/why didn’t the bus show up/ I just wish my parents were here to solve this” situation.

And after several years of non stop travel, I have had my share of fails. Some funny, some scary, some weird and some kinda gross. Well here you go, the not-so good, the bad and the ugly of traveling!

Survived 4 earthquakes in Indonesia

In 2018, I spent the month of August in Indonesia. If you remember hearing about it on the news, there were an insane amount of earthquakes that caused mass destruction on several islands and took many lives.

1. The first earthquake occurred while we were still in the air flying to Indonesia. We were right about to land in the airport in Bali when it happened. But since we in the sky, we felt nothing. It wasn’t until we landed that we found out an earthquake had happened right below us.
2. The second earthquake happened while I was on a sailing ship out at sea. With the rocking waves and being on the water- AGAIN I couldn’t feel that we had just been through an earthquake.
3. The third occurred while we were pulling up to a bank. Everyone ran outside yelling and because we are Americans, we thought the bank was getting robbed at gunpoint! So we dashed to our car amidst all the yelling! I mean, we saw everyone running out of a bank looking terrified- what would you have thought?! The employees had a good laugh at our misunderstanding after the earthquake passed.
4. The fourth earthquake happened while I was asleep in a villa in Bali. All the other guests were woken up from the shaking except me. Everyone else ran outside to safety. Fortunately, I wasn’t harmed as I continued to snooze through the tremors.

Fell off a villa ledge in Bali

Bali is known for its stunning villas with open, boho-chic designs. I was staying in a villa for a week while taking a blogging course.

And while everyone gathered around a computer during class, I backed up…. without realizing how close I was to the edge.

I fell a full story to the rocks below. It was painful but fortunately I didn’t need serious medical attention.

Missed a flight into Israel by seconds

The first time I missed a flight I was flying out of Los Angeles and because construction was so bad, I got stuck in standstill traffic and missed my flight by a few minutes. I swore that would never happen again.

Fast forward a year and I’m sitting in terrible traffic in Krakow, Poland on my way to the airport about to miss a flight to Israel…

We arrive at the Krakow airport with a few minutes to spare, race through security and manage to arrive at our gate just as the man is closing it down.

Now I love Poland but Polish people aren’t know for their friendly nature or helpful customer service. We pleaded with this man to let us through since we missed boarding by less than 20 seconds. But he refused.

I always arrive at the airport really, really early now.

Got denied at the Israeli border because they believed I was a victim of sex trafficking

After the first missed flight into Israel, we hopped on a train to catch a flight out of another airport in Poland.

We bought our tickets on the train ride there. (Little did we know what a problem that would cause…)

I was with my British boyfriend at the time who was living Poland.

After missing our first flight to Israel, we were highly stressed. Yet we made it to the other airport just in time.

But when boarding began, my ticket flashed a red X across the machine and I was immediately separated from my boyfriend by airport security for questioning.

An Intense Interrogration

“What is the nature of your relationship with this man?”

“Why are you traveling to Israel?”

“Can anyone confirm your arrival?”

“When did you meet this man?”

“Is he your husband? Boyfriend?”

‘How long have you know him?”

The questions didn’t stop. They kept asking me over and over again. Similar questions with slight variations about the nature of my relationship with James. I was scared, crying and super confused about what was happening.

For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why they cared if we were dating until they mentioned that Israel has a massive problem with women being sex trafficked.

And because we bought last minute flights without a tour group and I was an American woman traveling with a British man from Poland to Israel.. it set off all kinds of red flags.

They thought I was being sex trafficked by my boyfriend!

They questioned James about the nature of his work for so long, that we ended up missing our second flight to Israel. And no, they didn’t offer to bump us to the next flight. We had to buy a whole new ticket when they finally believed that we were just a regular couple traveling to Israel for fun.

Since no flights were leaving that night, we had to spend the night in the airport. And the cherry on top? They were testing the emergency alarms all night in the airport.

How to avoid this happening to you?

If you’re flying into a country with a strict border patrol like Israel, you need to arrive EXTRA early at the airport and check-in with someone in person. Don’t do online check-in. If you are a foreigner, questioning may be required. It depends on the airline. But you need to allow for enough time for the potential questioning to take place.

Read: ISRAEL- 11 THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I WENT

Hospitalized in a horrifying (haunted?!) Venice hospital overnight

While traveling Italy, I woke up in the middle of the night in Venice to the horrifying realization that I could barely breathe. My throat felt as if it was swelling shut.

In hindsight, I should have woken up the people I was traveling with but I didn’t want to bother anyone. So I thought I would just walk myself to the ER and get it checked out.

I crept out of our Airbnb overlooking the canals and began to follow a map to the hospital. Well, if you’ve ever looked at a map of Venice, it looks like a plate of spaghetti. It’s full of twists and turns and dead ends. I’m already not great at following directions. Much less when it’s pitch dark and I don’t speak any Italian.

A seemingly abandoned hospital

When I finally found the hospital nearly two hours later, I was wandering around what appeared to be a deserted building, empty halls and no workers anywhere!

I was calling out for help (“Scusi? Is anyone here? “) but the only sound I heard was the faint sound of opera music coming in over the speakers.

It seemed like something straight out of an apocalypse film.

Finally after walking around the hospital alone in the dark for what seemed like ages, I found a room with nurses, none of which spoke any English. I pantomimed that my throat was swollen and I was having difficulty breathing.

They hooked me up to an IV and had me spend the night in the hospital until they could figure out what caused my throat to swell shut.

They released me from the hospital just in time to see the sunrise over the canals as I walked back to my Airbnb.

It ended up being one of my favorite mornings in Venice. I could breath again and I got to experience the entire city in the soft morning light without any tourists around. Despite the dramatic evening, I was joyous on the walk back.

Followed by a man on the street in Egypt

Of all the solo trips I’ve taken to foreign countries, this was the one time I felt truly unsafe and scared.

I left the my hotel in Cairo, Egypt thinking I was dressed modestly enough but I wandered into a market area where the only women I saw were fully covered in burqas and accompanied by a man.

With my forearms showing, I might as well have been caring a sign that read “SINGLE FEMALE TOURIST.” The amount of attention I received was uncomfortable, but the worst of it was when I realized I was being followed.

Now I can’t speak to this man’s intentions. For all I know he was working up the courage to speak to me. Several men said it was surprising to see a young, Western female alone in the market and naturally, they were curious.

Lost in the market alone

However having this man trailing behind me while I was lost, absolutely terrified me. Turning and winding down different streets, suddenly switching directions, abruptly crossing the street….the guy was still several paces behind me- keeping tabs. On top of that, my phone was dead.

Desperately searching for a taxi to get out of there, I stumbled down a street and saw it was a dead end. I sprinted back the other direction before I found myself alone on an empty, dead end street with my follower.

Finally I dashed across traffic and hid behind a column of a building. When I mustered the courage to take a peak- he was standing in the street turning every which way looking for me.

Confronting the man

Heart racing, I stepped out from behind the column, tossed back my shoulders, made direct eye contact and mouthed “Stop following me!” while holding up my arms in an X shape. Then ran the other way until I could locate a main road and call a taxi.

I spent over an hour lost in that massive, outdoor marketplace. There were no indoor shops to step inside and get away from my follower. And no one I felt comfortable asking for help. I had wandered far from the tourists sights and no one spoke English anyway.

Thank god, nothing happened beyond giving me a scare. When I made it back to my hotel room shaking, I curled up in a ball under the covers and had to take some serious time to myself to decompress.

How to avoid this situation?

Always travel with a charged phone and portable battery. Have your hotel address written down on a piece of paper so even if you don’t speak the language, you can show someone where you are trying to go. Visit the Egyptian markets with a guide or companion.

Important to note

Ladies, please don’t let this single scare I had deter you from solo travel or Egypt in general. I have traveled the world by couchsurfing, hitch hiking, making friends with people I just met… I frequently put myself in the trust of strangers and I am constantly learning how good and kind people everywhere are. After 33 countries and nearly 3 years of travel as a single female, I have only had two encounters that made me feel truly uncomfortable. It is my belief that people are generally good so keep exploring

Read: EGYPT- 18 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Attempted to cross country ski the American Birkebeiner with no previous experience- OUCH!

You guys, I am a bad cross country skier. It’s fun, but I definitely wasn’t good at it. I had also borrowed a pair of boots/skis that began to crack and break part way up the trail. So now mix my already wobbly legs with weak equipment.

I truthfully spent more time toppled on the ground being passed by little kids than actually skiing. I also ran into a tree or two. (Or three, but who’s counting?!)

I barely made it out of there with all my limbs.

Severely sick after my first time scuba diving

When the company I was working for in Mexico sent me on a free scuba diving excursion, I was thrilled!

I had never been diving and I couldn’t wait to learn.

But truthfully, the class we took beforehand felt a little…incomplete. The instructor also didn’t speak the best English. My two other coworkers opted out of diving because they felt unprepared. Meanwhile, I decided to go ahead with the dive by myself.

While I was slightly anxious the first time they said “Alright, we’ll be down there for 45 minutes. Hop in!” I managed to relax underwater and only had the occasional thought of “oh my god what happens if I can’t get any air and drown down here”. Overall, I loved it.

After the dive was complete, I started walking back to our resort by myself. I was totally on cloud nine from the thrill of my first dive!

Suddenly, I was so weak I could hardly stand

But that’s when it hit me. Suddenly I felt so tired I could barely stand much less walk. I dragged myself to the nearest bench, unsure if I was going to faint. With no cell service and no cars passing by, I couldn’t even hail a cab home.

I half stumbled to my hotel room as the nauseous was setting in. When I got there, I vomited. Immediately after, I crawled into and slept for a full 24 hours.

I felt fine the next day but I’m still a little unsure what happened. Was I just dehydrated? Or did I come up too quickly and get the bends? Either way, it was scary.

Hopelessly lost in Germany

I have been lost in a lot of countries. But for some reason, I have spent more time lost in Germany than anywhere else. Fortunately people have always helped me out.

Whether it was walking me to my train, letting me use their cell phones or helping me read a map entirely in German… I have a lot of people to thank for getting me all around Munich, Berlin and Stuttgart!

Crushed my laptop on a train to Milan

While traveling from Rome to Milan with my travel buddy Morgan, I cleared my spot to allow another couple to sit down.

As I was shuffling our things around on the train, I sat back down in my seat…only to hear the crunching sound of a broken laptop beneath me. It was broken beyond repair.

Bed bugs in Turkey

After working at an Oktoberfest campsite for two months, we were exhausted and really in need of a nice shower at a good hotel. When our group arrived in Turkey, Morgan and I couldn’t wait to go to sleep. We’d been camping for 6 weeks in Germany without a proper bed!

Finally, we got to the hotel…collapsed into bed with all our clothes on …. and accidentally slept all through the day, the night and into the next morning… that’s how sleep deprived we were!

But in an unfortunate twist of events, the first real bed we slept in for two months had a bed bug infestation!

The good:

Because we were so exhausted, we didn’t even touch our suitcases or unpack. They sat a safe distance away from the bed in the corner, untouched by the bed bugs. So we didn’t bring them with us to the next hotel!

The bad:

Because we were so tired, we slept in that bed for nearly 18 hours. Imagine how many bug bites you can get in 18 hours! Poor Morgan had it worse than I did and was itching her arms throughout our time in Greece.

Getting the 24 hour bug in Mexico and vomiting on the streets of Akumal

We all know you’re not supppsed to drink the tap water in Mexico. I foolishly brushed my teeth in the shower one morning and hopped on a crowded, bumpy bus to Akumal.

The bus ride was horrible. I was unsure if I was going to have to ask the driver to pull over so I could crawl out and vomit on the side of the road. Somehow, I managed to make it to the town of Akumal.

But the moment I stepped off the bus, I vomited everywhere all over a crowded street to the reaction of many disgruntled pedestrians and stray dogs. I spent the rest of the night alone in a hostel throwing up.

It’s no fun being sick but especially when you’re alone in a foreign country.

Robbed in Mexico

Oh no, Mexico makes it onto the list for the 3rd time!

While staying in Tulum, my credit card AND debit card were stolen.

I’m unsure how it happened. Either they were stolen from my hostel room or I was pickpocketed.

Without my cards, I had no way to access cash for the last two weeks I was there. It was incredibly inconvenient. I was having to borrow cash from people in my hostel and Paypal them back until the Western Union transfer from my parents came through.

Thank goodness for money orders!

How to avoid this happening to you?

Always store your cards and cash in different places. Never bring all your money/cards out with you at once. Have a backup hidden away in your suitcase with a lock!

Read: TOP SAFETY TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO MEXICO

Driving Blue Ridge Parkway with zero service, a crying baby and only the 8 minute remix of ChaCha Slide on repeat

Alright this one wasn’t so terrible but it was pretty funny. I went on a camping, hiking, road tripping adventure to the Great Smoky Mountains with my best friend and her baby, Presley.

YEP! We took that little nugget all on sorts of crazy adventures. She did remarkably well, loved the time outside and hardly ever fussed. But when you’re driving along Blue Ridge Parkway, you hit some massive elevation gain.

Presley is used to being at sea level in Florida so we think the fact that our ears were popping had her feeling upset. She did well on the way up the mountains but…

Picture this scene…

The sun is setting uh-oh… we wanted to be off the roads by dark because the roads are so winding and narrow! Our ears are popping like mad and Presley begins to cry either from the altitude or the fact that the grown-ups in the car are visibly stressed.

It’s taken much longer to drive Blue Ridge Parkway than Google Maps suggested.

Leigh was also pregnant at the time and experiencing mood swings. So she’s crying, Presley is crying and I’m freaking out about being stuck on a mountain in the dark with a car that suddenly has failing headlamps.

Finally Leigh suggests that music usually calms Presley down. But because we are in the mountains, we have lost service. And for SOME UNKNOWN REASON, the only song Leigh has downloaded on her phone in the ChaCha Slide. You know the one….

To the left
Take it back now, y’all
One hop this time
Right foot, let’s stomp
Left foot, let’s stomp
Cha cha real smooth

So for the next hour as we stress and panic, the only thing that keeps Presley happy is the Cha Cha Slide on an endless loop.

I can’t hear that song at weddings anymore without thinking of being lost on a mountain in the dark with bad headlamps and a crying baby.

Read: GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK – 18 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Well there you have it. Some of my worst travel memories.
Want to hear about my best ones now?

Read: AFTER 2 YEARS OF NON-STOP TRAVEL, THESE EXPERIENCES WERE MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE!

Looking to take the stress out of travel? Booking small group tours is an easy way to ensure things run smoothly. Check out the deals on TourRadar.

The post My Worst Travel Moments Of All Time appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

After traveling to 30 countries in the last two years, people always ask me, “what’s your favorite destination?” And truthfully, everytime I answer I pick a different country. Somedays I say South Africa while other days I pick Indonesia or Poland. It’s too hard to pick a favorite country! But it’s much easier to narrow my list of all- time best travel experiences.

So if you’re looking for some inspiration for your future trip, these were some of the most unforgettable memories.

My Best Travel Experiences

Sailing the Indonesia Islands with Star Clippers Sailing

Why I loved it so much: One of my first international experiences included a sailing trip around Indonesia with Star Clippers Sailing. Our days were spent exploring different islands and each night we would watch the sunset and star gaze from the boat.

The smaller ship size gave it a more intimate feel than a mega cruise ship and the itinerary was epic. This is easily one of my best travel experiences to date! I can’t say enough good things about this company.

More on this topic:

• STAR CLIPPERS SAILING: EXPLORING ISLANDS OF INDONESIA
• 5 REASONS TO PUT STAR CLIPPERS SAILING AT THE TOP OF YOUR BUCKET LIST
• INDONESIA’S PINK BEACH- EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!

African Safari at
Gondwana Game Reserve

Why I loved it so much: This luxury safari park exceeded my expectations from the moment we arrived and found our accommodation surrounded by dozens of zebras. The expert, friendly guides made each and every safari informative, fun and a thrilling adventure as we sped along the African plains.

More on this topic:

• A COMPLETE GUIDE TO SOUTH AFRICA’S LUXURY SAFARI PARK: GONDWANA GAME RESERVE
• BIG 5 AFRICAN SAFARI- 7 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
• 9 REASONS SOUTH AFRICA SHOULD JUMP TO THE TOP OF YOUR BUCKET LIST

Dog Sledding in Sweden

Why I loved it so much: Racing over a frozen lake in a winter wonderland is only made so much better by dozens of friendly huskies who can’t wait to lick, snuggle and love you! From the moment we arrived at the kennels, the dog’s excitement was palpable.

I don’t know who enjoyed the excursion more: us or the dogs! They were bouncing off the walls with anticipation while the mushers tried to harness and ready them for our trip. And they were all just so loveable! Top this off with the fact that northern Sweden is absolutely stunning in January and you have a travel experience that can’t be topped!

More on the topic:

• DOG SLEDDING IN SWEDEN- WHERE TO GO AND HOW TO GET THERE
• 25 PHOTOS TO INSPIRE YOU TO GO DOG SLEDDING
• HOW TO FIND WORK WITH A DOG SLED COMPANY – AND WHERE EXACTLY TO APPLY

Van Life in Australia

Why I loved it so much: At first, I was nervous when my friends suggested we travel across Australia with no set itinerary. But once we picked up our JUCY campervan, my worries were quickly forgotten.

I loved being able to wake up each day at sunrise, google what national parks or landmarks were nearby and just head off in our van. Blasting road trip tunes and having a ball as we went, this laid back approach to traveling Australia was perfect.

More on this topic:

• 8 PLACES IN AUSTRALIA THAT LEFT ME SPEECHLESS
• VAN LIFE IN AUSTRALIA: DON’T FORGET TO PACK THESE 8 THINGS!
• CHASING WATERFALLS IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA- THE PERFECT 1 DAY ITINERARY
• GREAT OCEAN ROAD: YOUR ULTIMATE 2 DAY ITINERARY
• VISITING THE MAGICAL NOOSA HEADS FAIRY POOLS

Working As A Spring Break Host in Mexico Twice

Why I loved it so much: An entire month living at a resort in Mexico…what’s not to love?! This was also where I discovered how much I love mixing travel with work. By working jobs around the world, you get to vacation with a little more purpose. I was getting to have moments of great relaxation by the ocean but still feel like I was contributing to something. I was also living with coworkers which meant I had friends to explore and travel with as well.

More on this topic:

• HOW TO FIND A PAID TRAVEL JOB IN PARADISE: SPRING BREAK STAFF
• 25 PHOTOS TO INSPIRE YOU TO VISIT CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO

Sunrise at the Taj Mahal

Why I loved it so much: Some things are just unforgettable. This morning was one of them. I’ll never forget eagerly standing in the dark at 4:30 am waiting outside the gates to enter the Taj Mahal for the first time. As the sun starting coming up and we entered into the mausoleum, my jaw dropped. There stood the Taj Mahal glittering in all its glory.

More on this topic:

• HOW TO GET A PHOTO ALONE AT THE TAJ MAHAL
• INDIA: 10 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED
• INDIA: YOUR COMPLETE PACKING GUIDE

Road Trips on Route 66

Why I loved it so much: During my time working as a tour leader with Topdeck Travel, I did 4 month long road trips across America on Route 66. Plus 3 shorter road trips down a shorter portion of the infamous “Mother Road.” I have come to love Route 66 with a passion! It’s full of history, natural beauty, adventure and great stories.

More on this topic:

• EXPLORING MONUMENT VALLEY WITH SIMPSON’S TRAILHANDLER TOURS

The Holy Water Temple in Bali

Why I loved it so much: This experience for me was highly transformative. I remember feeling as if the entire world had faded away and there was nothing else but myself, the cleansing water and the Balinese ritual we had been taught. Over and over I dunked my head into the water. And in that moment, I felt such clarity about the kind of life I wanted to live and an intense connection to the present moment.

More on this topic:

• WHERE TO STAY IN BALI TO AVOID THE CROWDS
• 10 THINGS I LEARNED HITCHHIKING IN BALI

Living in Krakow, Poland for two months

Why I loved it so much: After bouncing around to so many countries in the past two years, I have found that slow travel is the best kind of travel. Getting to really know a new country is so different than doing a quick tour and day trip. While I was living in Krakow, I had my favorite coffee shops and bars. I made friends with locals and went out with them on the weekends. I had a favorite pierogi shop and took countless day trips from Krakow and really got to see Poland properly.

Taking the time to properly explore and live in this country gave me a deep appreciate for it. I tell people I miss Poland all the time! I probably wouldn’t have such a strong connection with it if I simply stay for 2 days and hit all the tourist hot spots. Slow travel really opens you up to transformative experiences and meaningful connections abroad.

More on this topic:

• 10 REASONS TO WORK AS A PUB CRAWL GUIDE WITH KRAWL THROUGH KRAKOW
• 25 PHOTOS TO INSPIRE YOU TO VISIT KRAKOW, POLAND
• 7 MUST HAVE FOOD EXPERIENCES IN KRAKOW, POLAND

Sailing the Nile River in Egypt

Why I loved it so much: As a young girl, I was always fascinated by the ancient Egyptians. In 5th grade, I even went as Cleopatra for Halloween. So to finally travel down the Nile and explore Egypt by boat felt like history coming to life! A totally one-of-a-kind experience, I am so thankful for our time in Egypt.

More on this topic:

• EGYPT- 18 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
• WHAT TO WEAR IN EGYPT: A WOMEN’S GUIDE TO FEELING COMFORTABLE AND FASHIONABLE WHILE TRAVELING EGYPT
• HOW TO TRAVEL EGYPT ON A BUDGET – 8 DAY GUIDED TOUR WITH TOURRADAR

Backpacking Europe on a Budget

Why I loved it so much: If I’m being totally honest, I blew through most of my travel funds in expensive countries like Africa, Iceland and Israel. But no matter how little was in my bank account between travel jobs, I always had a BLAST backpacking around Europe on a budget. Whether I was couchsurfing in Paris, staying in a hostel with my best friend in Rome or volunteering in Germany I had just as much fun on these trips as I did during my more luxurious vacations.

And over time the more I traveled, the more friends I had in Europe. It finally came to a point of simply visiting and staying with friends while back in Europe. It felt like “easy” travel. Like coming home.

Read more on this topic:

• HOW TO GET A FREE ALL INCLUSIVE STAY IN EUROPE
• PARIS ON A BUDGET: 3 DAYS FOR JUST €100
• HOW TO DO MUNICH’S OKTOBERFEST ON A BUDGET
• HOW TO VISIT ORVIETO, ITALY ON A BUDGET

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The post After 2 years of non-stop travel, these experiences were my all-time favorite! appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

How I Got Paid For 2 Years Of Non-Stop Travel:
A Complete List Of Every Travel Job I Have Worked

Get paid to travel

For the first 26 years of my life, I barely traveled anywhere. My passport sat essentially empty. And on top of that, I had barely explored my own country.

Yet when I was a young girl, traveling had always been a dream of mine. So what happened?

When I took an honest look at my life and my choices, I realized I hadn’t prioritized my dream. I never made an actionable plan to travel. I spent my money elsewhere. Essentially, I dreamed about it without pursuing it.

But in 2018, I decided that I wouldn’t let another year go by without traveling. I was finally going to see the world.

But when I looked at the year ahead, I had no idea how to fund an epic around-the-world trip. I knew I wanted to travel for at least a year even though I had very little money saved up to cover plane tickets, accommodation, train rides and excursions.

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My Solution: Get Paid To Travel!

If I didn’t have the money for an extended trip, I decided I would find another way. I would get paid to travel!

I began researching travel jobs & volunteer positions around the world. Since I wanted to see as much as possible in my first year, I wasn’t interested in travel jobs that required a long commitment.

So I ruled out year-long positions teaching English abroad. Even though that’s a wonderful option for many people, I had itchy feet and knew I would want to explore a great many new places in the year to come instead of just one place!

So I began looking for short-term freelance travel jobs or volunteer positions. This would greatly reduce my costs, allow me to have incredible experiences with locals and still see a variety of countries.

In addition, I was interested in slow travel. I didn’t only want to only sight-see briefly in each country. By volunteering for a few weeks, I would get to immerse myself in my new surroundings.

The first position I landed was with Stoke Travel.

Guide with Stoke Travel For Hogmanay–
The New Year’s Eve Festival in Scotland

This was an excellent introduction to the world of travel jobs. I was assigned to guide a party train on New Year’s Eve from London to Scotland for the annual festival Hogmanay.

So I booked my flight to London using points from a credit card sign up bonus and prepared to go abroad. It was my first time in Europe, my first international trip (aside from one family trip to Mexico) and my first ever solo trip. I was so nervous/excited I could hardly stand it.

I explored London for the week leading up to the festival and couchsurfed to save money on accommodation. And on New Years Eve, I reported for duty to help serve breakfast and welcome the guests. A few days prior, I had been trained on how the day would go.

My job at Hogmanay: Welcome the guests, help get all 300+ guests checked in, serve breakfast and drinks then lead everyone to the train. Once on the train, collect the necessary information, pass out welcome drinks and assist in letting the party rage!

By the time we arrived in Scotland, everyone had already had a sufficient amount to drink for the festival. It was a wild, unforgettable New Years Eve!

And if you can believe it, I didn’t take a single photo of the experience. My first travel job, I just soaked in the experience & loved every second of it!

But a video recap was made, check it out!

English Speaking Volunteer with Diverbo

After my time in London and Scotland, I boarded a cheap flight to Frankfurt with little more than my backpack.

Again, I couchsurfed for two nights in Germany to explore before reporting for the first day to volunteer with the program Diverbo.

This program provides free accommodation at a resort, 3 delicious meals a day & free drinks at each meal in exchange for speaking English all day with foreigners eager to improve their conversational English. I absolutely loved my time in Germany at Diverbo.

Read more about it here.

Spring Break Host with STS Travel
in Cancun, Mexico

This was my first travel job where all flights, accommodation and food were included.

And on top of that, it was a paid position! I only made $200 a week in cash stipend but my round trip flight to Mexico was covered. And I lived at the Grand Oasis, an all inclusive resort, for a full month. (Meaning all alcohol and food was 100% free!)

In addition, the company sent me on my first scuba diving excursion totally for free!

So what was my job exactly?

Read more about it here.

But essentially, I welcomed the spring breakers as they arrived, was in charge of wristbands, assisting at major events and leading nightly trips to party in downtown Cancun.

I lived at a resort for a month in paradise and left with $800 in my pocket still in shock that I could get paid to travel!

Festival Crew at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany

While this is a volunteer position and not paid, I wouldn’t have traded this experience for the world!

Yes, we were camping in Germany for nearly 6 weeks.

Yes, we worked some very long unpaid days setting up the festival.

But working with Stoke Travel as part of their festival crew during Oktoberfest, introduced me to my new group of travel friends.

My best friends back home could never be replaced but until this experience I didn’t have any friends who were able to go traveling for weeks on end with me!

While just working festival crew isn’t paid, there are some other perks:

• Fun loving, party atmosphere of workers from around the world
• Commission sales when people book with your promo code
• Free unlimited beer, wine and sangria
• Accommodation (which is a tent at this festival!)
• A trip to Greece at the end of the season that is half paid for by the company

Things to note: You can make good money selling trips through Stoke Travel if people book with your code. There are also paid staff positions if you accept a year-round job. While I chose to work a short term, volunteer position it is possible to actually get paid to travel with this company!

Read more about working at Oktoberfest here.

Assisted With Looking After Sled Dogs and Photographing Our Experience
in Ottsjo, Sweden

The next travel job I would work involved helping out at the kennels for Wild Spirit Sled Dogs and assisting the company by taking photos for their social media.

While we were only visiting for a few days to see our friend Adrian and to help out in exchange for accommodation, he was actually working as a paid full-time employee with the dogs.

Working or volunteering with a dog sledding company is a great travel job you can find all over the world in places like Iceland, Sweden, Canada and Alaska.

Read more about how to find work with a dog sledding company here.

Pub Crawl Guide in Krakow, Poland

I loved every minute of this job. The housing we were provided with wasn’t great but we were having too much fun to care. It honestly only added to the fun.

Not only was I living just a few blocks from the main square in Krakow but I was there with my friend Morgan who I had met during Oktoberfest. We would go on to travel together non-stop for 2 years and still do today!

During the day we explored Krakow by going on walking tours, taking day trips to nearby cities and eating more than our fair share of pierogi.

And at night, we worked on the pub crawl guiding travelers from around the world through Krakow’s legendary network of bars and nightclubs.

Read: 10 REASONS TO WORK AS A PUB CRAWL GUIDE WITH KRAWL THROUGH KRAKOW

Spring Break Host with STS Travel in
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

In 2019, I returned to work with STS Travel in Mexico. But this time, I was being sent to Cabo San Lucas instead of Cancun and I recieved a pay raise as a returning employee.

I was thrilled to explore the oppossite side of Mexico.

Again, I lived at an all inclusive resort and managed the guests who booked spring break packages. We attended concerts, parties and even got sent on an ATV excursion.

Leading Road Trips Across America with
Topdeck Travel

Spring 2019 brought a big change! I flew back to the USA from Poland for a final interview with Topdeck Travel. I landed the job and began a month long training process on the road to guide road trips.

Over the course of the next year, I would go on many road trips ranging from 10 days to a month long all over the USA.

From hiking in Yosemite National Park to listening to jazz on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, it was one adventure after another.

Favorite Topdeck adventures included:

• Jeep Tour of Monument Valley
• Party Bus in Las Vegas
• Hiking in Yosemite National Park
• Sunset cruises under the Golden Gate Bridge
• Line dancing in Texas
• Snowmobiling in Colorado

All my flights, hotel rooms, meals and excursions were covered. On top of that, I received an hourly wage, health insurance and daily stipend.

This job had insane perks. But it was also a TON of work. I was the only one in charge of groups of 30-50 people. While sometimes it felt like vacation, it also frequently meant running around like crazy making reservations, dealing with crazy issues that come up on the road, taking care of drunk guests etc. I wasn’t just getting paid to travel. I was paid to be a tour guide, counselor, therapist, friend, DJ on the bus, entertainer and just about everything else to the guests!

Travel Blogging On My Personal Site

Travel blogging is not easy money. There is a lot of work upfront before you ever see a dime. And usually when you start making money, it’s still just pennies compared to the hours you have devoted to your blog.

So you’ve got to make sure you go into travel blogging because you love it and want to share your passion not because you’re looking for a get rich quick scheme.

That being said, I do make money through my site from various affiliates. People may click and purchase a product I recommend or book a trip through my site (at no additional cost to them) and in return, I make a small commission off each purchase.

In addition to affiliate links, I may be offered free or sponsored travel in exchange for sharing my honest opinion about it on my blog.

When I was first starting out as a blogger, some of my first “free” trips included:

• This hostel in Jerusalem
• And this train trip through Colorado

I was careful to never accept anything I wouldn’t have already been using or paid full price for myself. And all of my reviews were my own honest thoughts.

(I think it helps to be transparent and honest about which trips I’m paying for myself and which ones are hosting me!)

Once I arrived back in Minnesota during the coronavirus pandemic, I was able to take time and grow my blog further which resulted in a number of local partnerships with truly incredible companies.

Recent Minnesota Sponsorships Included:

• Voyager Campervans
• Gunflint Lodge
• Covington Inn
• Kerfoot Canopy Tour

Party Crew with Stoke Travel for
Barcelona Boat Parties

After working with Stoke Travel in Scotland and Germany, I knew a lot of the company members so I was able to stay in Barcelona for free and help out at the spring and summer boat parties.

All we had to do was set up for the party and hand out drinks while the guests were onboard! This left plenty of time for exploring Spain with my friends.

Freelance Travel Writer For
My Life’s A Travel Movie

Once the coronavirus pandemic broke out, I was staying at home and putting a pause on all my travels. Fortunately, I was still able to work through my travel blog.

I wrote both for my own site and as a paid guest blogger for Alyssa Ramos of My Life’s A Travel Movie.

Freelance jobs are a great way to help support your blog in the early stages!

Read the articles I contributed to or wrote below:

• https://mylifesamovie.com/best-photography-poses-in-2020/
• https://mylifesamovie.com/airlines-offering-discounts-in-2020/
• https://mylifesamovie.com/empty-cities-during-lockdown-in-2020/
• https://mylifesamovie.com/eat-pray-love-drinking-game/
• https://mylifesamovie.com/15-family-movies-to-inspire-wanderlust-at-home/

Future Travel Jobs I Would Like To Work:

So what’s next on my bucket list? After traveling so much am I ready to settle down in one place? Not yet

Here’s a few more travel jobs I would like to work in the future. I share these because you might be interseted in applying as well!

Guiding Sail Croatia

I think I’d like to live onboard a ship that sails around the Croatian islands for awhile, wouldn’t you? I’ve also found I love working as a trip leader so I look forward to applying to work this job in the future.

One Life Adventures

This company does epic itineraries around Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Philippines and Japan. And while I’ve been to India and Indonesia, I haven’t traveled the rest!

Even if you don’t apply for this company, check out their awesome trips!

Intrepid Guide

This is a favorite company in the travel community! They lead smaller group trips on amazing itineraries around the world. Great to work with and great to travel with as a customer, check them out!

Volunteer with Animal Aid India

You might have seen this company’s viral videos on Youtube of miraculous animal rescues. They are quite popular on social media. But as a volunteer, you can help out at the center while the animals recover.

“We want YOU to come to Animal Aid and join in the magic that is animal protection and care. Animal Aid is a happy place where animals are healing and loved. Whether you have technical skills with animal health care or whether you are a motivated animal lover who wants to help by giving tender loving care, Animal Aid has the right animals for YOU!!” – Animal Aid India

Follow in my footsteps to do your own gap year!

Feel free to apply for these jobs and volunteer positions or reach out and ask me questions!

I share all this information to be fully transparent and show how I, a girl from a small town who had never traveled and didn’t have a lot of money saved, was able to travel for 2 full years non-stop.

It is my hope that no matter the size of your bank account, you’re able to travel for as long as you desire.

Whether it’s for a few days or a few years, I’m here to help!

Things to note: Even if you can afford to pay your entire way for a gap year, you might find you love giving back and volunteering and building a connection with a destination that goes deeper than fly-by sightseeing.

Have you worked any travel jobs you loved? Let me know in the comments how you get paid to travel, I love to hear from my readers!

Shop My Travel Essentails

How To Travel The World On $50 A Day

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Backpacking Gear

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Travel Journal

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My Camera

Canon 80D

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More info on how to get paid to travel:

• TRAVEL JOBS: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FINDING PAID WORK AROUND THE WORLD
• 12 COMPANIES THAT PAY YOU TO TRAVEL- APPLY HERE FOR A TRAVEL JOB!
• HOW TO FIND HOSTEL JOBS AND WHERE EXACTLY TO APPLY
• HOW TO GET A JOB AT A NATIONAL PARK

The post How I Got Paid For 2 Years Of Travel: A Complete List Of Every Travel Job I Have Worked appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

9 Lies That Travel Influencers Will Try To Sell You

Don’t get me wrong, I love following travel Instagram accounts. I read many travel blogs and see a great number of travel photos pop up in my social media feeds. Truly, I find it inspiring and it always fills my head with some happy day dream about far off places. I love it, really I do.

But with the curated, edited style of Instagram, it’s important to have a touch of reality thrown back in. At least when it comes to making real life plans. So here’s a little dose of the less sexy, more realistic, totally honest side of traveling. Get ready for 9 lies that travel influencers will try to sell you. Sorry not sorry

1. That The Destination They Are Promoting Is Picture Perfect

Well, welcome to the real world. Even the cutest, most charming, most “instagrammable” places have real world problems like homelessness, stray animals or petty theft.

You might see stunning pictures of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter online but do you know people refer to it as “the pickpocket capital of the world”?

Or you might travel to Rome because you want to experience culture and history but prepare to be harassed by a lot of relentless vendors peddling selfie sticks.

These are the types of things that usually don’t make the inspirational Instagram post!

2. That Traveling Is Glamorous

Cue the mad dash through the airport only to miss the flight by seconds.

Prepare to wait a long time for that bus that didn’t show up.

Remember to pack Imodium to offset the eventual traveler’s diarrhea that thousands experience worldwide.

Get ready to be sweaty, lost, confused by language barriers, frustrated by local public transit and homesick every now and then.

Traveling looks glamorous on Instagram but often that couldn’t be further from the truth! Learn to love the struggle and the messy, chaotic bits as well.

3. That Traveling Is Easy

Think you can maintain your lifestyle from at home when you’re on the road? I have found things like skincare and a regular workout routine to be very difficult things to stick to consistently at all while traveling.

Of course we share our highlight moments. But the realest moments I have while traveling have been pretty difficult. Things like being hospitalized in Venice or getting myself foolishly lost in Cairo, Egypt.

Yet I’m incredibly thankful for these moments because they taught me a lot about responsibility and self growth.

While a lot of people might see traveling as “vacation” and an escape from life’s responsibilities, I’ve found I’ve done the most growing when I cut off my support system and was looking after myself abroad.

At home it’s easy to ask for my parent’s help doing something or figuring something out. But when I was abroad if I messed up, I literally had no one else there to “fix” things. And as the youngest sibling and baby of the family, this was a new role I had to learn for myself- total independence and 100% caretaker of myself.

Read: EGYPT- 18 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

4. That Meeting New People Is Always Fun

Alright to be fair, it usually is fun. But it’s also followed by a lot of goodbyes. The most difficult part of getting paid to guide road trips was getting so close to my passengers over the course of a month then saying goodbye. And only a few days later, I’d be starting a new trip and returning to those same places sometimes filled with memories of other people.

A constant swing of new faces and having to start over with the inside jokes left me feeling lonely every once in awhile.

Read: LESSONS LEARNED AFTER 365 DAYS ABROAD: GOODBYES AND WHAT THEY TEACH US

5. That Travel Blogging Is Easy
(And If You Like Traveling, You Would Automatically Enjoy Blogging About It)

If you think travel blogging is easy money, I hate to be the one to tell you that couldn’t be further from the truth.

You see people with thousands of followers on Instagram getting paid to travel and you think to yourself: “All they do is take a picture everyday, post it and rake in the easy money- I could do that!”

Well any travel blogger will tell you how they spent months (usually years) growing an audience, investing in photography equipment, spending all their money on travel, learning everything they could about SEO & website design and countless hours behind a computer before they ever saw a penny.

If you go into travel blogging you will need to learn:

• How to build a website
• How to write engaging content
• SEO strategies
• Branding & marketing
• Pinterest marketing
• Pitching brands
• Photography & Editing….

The list goes on and on and on… it’s about so much more than traveling and just taking a nice picture.

Read: TRAVEL BLOGGING: MY 5 FAVORITE PLUGINS TO INCREASE TRAFFIC TO YOUR WORDPRESS BLOG

6. That Their Instagram Shot Was Candid Instead Of Staged

Now I say this totally tongue in cheek because of course I have posed for a great many of photos of my Instagram.

My favorite shots on my feed are the candid ones usually snapped by my long time travel buddy, Morgan. But often, you need pictures for a blog post so that means learning how to take pictures of yourself with a tripod so you can have photos even when traveling solo.

Read: HOW TO GET EPIC SOLO TRAVEL PHOTOS

7. That There Will Be No One Else At The Monument/ Landmark

I’m definitely guilty of this. I have solo shots in front of the Eiffel Tower, Pyramids of Egypt, Colosseum in Rome, the Taj Mahal and so on…. But if you travel during the busy season and visit during the afternoon like all the other tourists- don’t expect to have the Taj Mahal to yourself. It will be you+ thousands of other people. Did you know- on a peak day, the Taj Mahal will recieve 60,000 visitors?! IN A SINGLE DAY.

We woke up at 3am to drive to the Taj Mahal to be the first in line to enter so we could take in the beauty and get a photo alone in front of the great iconic landmark. The early bird really does get the worm here.

But alas, if you’re not waking up early to sight-see before the crowds arrive, you may be one of many.

Depending on the destination, even one of hundreds. Or possibly thousands. So while you might see a photo of a beautiful girl standing alone in front of an iconic landmark on Instagram, remember to manage your expectations about the crowds. Or else be prepared to set your alarm clock nice and early!

Read: HOW TO GET A PHOTO ALONE AT THE TAJ MAHAL

8. That Your Life Is Less Cool Than Theirs

This might be unintentional on their behalf. I don’t share photos and hope it makes you feel “not cool enough”. I hope it makes you feel inspired. And that we can connect over traveling.

But I promise you, if you’re living in gratitude and not taking the people and things in your life for granted, then you are living a life that is equally as fulfilling

So this goes out to anyone who ever let Instagram make them feel less about themselves at some point (so erm, that means everyone right? We’ve all felt it!)

9. That If You’re Unhappy Now, You’ll Magically Be Happy When You Start Traveling

Wherever you go, your problems will go with you.

If you’re ungrateful and in a negative headspace at home, you’ll still be in a negative head space when traveling. Eventually these thoughts and negative patterns will crop back up into your life no matter where you go or what you do.

**However, I do think that solo travel can provide the necessary self-growth and time to self-reflect in order to improve your life.

But traveling isn’t a bandaid for happiness. You won’t suddenly be happy on the road if you aren’t happy at home.

So if you’re unhappy, you’ll still have to do the work within yourself to find gratitude.

Read: 10 THINGS TRAVELING SOLO HAS TAUGHT ME

I only share this post to help demystify the Instagram perpertued idea that your life isn’t “cool” enough if you didn’t quit your job to travel the world.

I’m obsessed with traveling. I will continue to travel and share photos online. But I bet your life is also pretty cool as well

Let me know your thoughts in the comments about “9 Lies That Travel Influencers Will Try To Sell You”!

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The post 9 Lies That Travel Influencers Will Try To Sell You appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

If you’ve been following along on my Instagram, you might have noticed I’ve been in Spain for the last 2 weeks. We spent most of our time in Barcelona chasing sunrises at  Park Güell, wandering the streets of the Gothic Quarter and sampling tapas by the Basílica de la Sagrada Família. All while the incoming threat and worry surrounding coronavirus grew. In the back of my mind, I wasn’t sure how long my time in my Spain would last.

First it was the cancelled festivals. We had made plans to attend St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland and the massive street festival Las Fallas in Valencia, Spain. Both were cancelled on the same day. I felt extremely uneasy. Valencia alone would lose $700 million by cancelling Las Fallas. They wouldn’t do it without reason right? Yet we still only saw a few people wearing masks. Everyone went about their day as usual. Those who had colds weren’t rushing to get tested. But colleges had begun calling all the study abroad students home from Europe. Meanwhile, the travel companies I work for began to receive a cascade of cancelled bookings.

Denied Entry into Andorra

But then things started changing rapidly in Spain. The number of confirmed cases escalated. The number of deaths rose. Spain was starting to catch up to Italy, where the virus outbreak was the worst behind China itself. And then, the weekend came where we were headed to the tiny European country of Andorra for a ski trip with Stoke Travel. As we drove from Barcelona and were nearing the border, we received word that Andorra was closing all hotels and ski lodges. And if we entered, it was likely the border would be closed and we would be unable to leave the following day. Our bus was forced to turn around.

Feeling slightly panicked, our group booked a large Airbnb just outside Barcelona in the small town of Vilanova i la Geltrú where we could spend the weekend. Upon arriving, we found the groceries stores picked over and the streets eerily quiet. We stocked up on food for the weekend ahead.

The following afternoon when we returned to buy some forgotten supplies and food, the grocery store had started implementing stricter rules. They were monitoring the total number of people in the store. Two could come in when two came out. Plastic gloves were given to wear while shopping.

Barcelona Entering Lockdown

While making dinner in our Airbnb, we began to receive word that Barcelona would be entering a lockdown starting Monday morning at 8am. And my flight back to the USA on Thursday was one of the thousands that were cancelled . So I promptly rescheduled it to the available Tuesday flight. Would that be soon enough?

As the night progressed, more information trickled out but the situation was changing rapidly. We learned no one would be allowed outside in Barcelona unless absolutely necessary. Police would patrol the streets ensuring everyone complied. The border would be closed. Trump imposed a ban on all non-USA citizens traveling to America from the EU. Would I still be able to get back?

Americans “scrambling” to get out

With confusion over the regulations regarding lockdown and Trump’s ban, I began to search for a new flight. Twice I had gotten to the final confirmation booking page to be informed the flight I was trying to get on had sold out. Finally I was able to find a seat in first class for a hefty price. (As a budget traveler, I never usually fly first class!) But my card was denied, apparently the purchase looked fraudulent. We would have to wait for our bank to open in the States to validate the purchase, which would only be a few hours before the flight the next day.

Barcelona: An Eerie Ghost Town

As we made the journey back to Barcelona, the streets were quiet. Empty. Hardly any cars. As we took the public transit back through the city, we only encountered a handful of people. And the usually crowded metro cars of Barcelona were now empty. We kept looking around at one another in disbelief. Absolutely shocked at how quickly the city had changed.

Upon arriving back, I received confirmation my flight was thankfully booked. But the girls I was traveling with had their flight for that evening cancelled last minute. So in a frenzy, they booked a new last minute flight to London. Meaning we had to get to the airport NOW. Frantically grabbing our things, we made a mad dash to the airport. Chucking my things in my suitcase and grabbing any last minute things around the house and dumping them in a plastic bag- we raced to the airport feeling scattered and a little frightened.

Delays, Masks and Keeping Distance at the Barcelona Airport

Upon arriving at the airport, we found the situation to be tense. Signs were everywhere reminding people to keep their distance from one another. Nearly everyone was wearing masks. Gate agents and workers had their areas roped off so passengers couldn’t get too close. All the restaurants and shops were closed. All the public seating areas were roped off to avoid people spreading the virus on tabletops. Announcements kept playing over the speakers reminding people to keep their distance from one another.

I didn’t have a proper mask so I hastily tossed on my face mask from a sandboarding adventure in Australia that was still in my bag. When the fabric tickled my nose causing me to sneeze, a man whipped around and started yelling at me. “WHY WHY WHY!” He repeated as he grabbed his wife and together, they ran away from me. I stood there in disbelief. Rooted to the spot in a crowd of people feeling scared and embarrassed for being called out in such a way. I had no symptoms. But the man’s reaction had frightened me.

An Empty Flight Home

My flight was delayed by two hours. Then another hour. As I stood in front of the announcement screen watching the flights get cancelled, I wondered if I would be allowed to fly out at all.

Finally, I board my flight. But despite the airline saying the flight was full online, the plane was almost entirely empty. Due to all the travel bans and President Trump’s restrictions- many people could not leave and simply missed their flight. Or if they were American citizens, they had already flown home earlier this weekend. Apparently, I had waited until the last possible second. So just me and a handful of other people onboard a massive international jet, began the flight back to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

Ideally I would have flown straight home to Minnesota but if you were traveling from Europe, you could only fly back to certain airports that had a system in place to check people for coronavirus.

Mandatory Temperature Checks at the New York Airport

The flight landed and immediately we had to turn in a health declaration form revealing where we had traveled recently and what symptoms, if any, we were experiencing. Again, Spain was high on the list of countries with the greatest number of outbreaks, only behind Italy and China.

As we disembarked the flight, we formed two lines to hand in our forms and go through a mandatory temperature check. So long as we didn’t have a fever, we were given a card with information about coronavirus and allowed into the country. I passed. But those of us on the flight were told we needed to self quarantine for the next 14 days to make sure we didn’t have the virus.

Self Quarantined For 2 Weeks

Self Quarantine. So what does that mean?

My father picked me up at the airport and I came straight home. He had stocked up on food and supplies so the two of us could isolate for the next two weeks. He’s even spending his birthday with me here at the house. However, until I am sure I don’t have it- I am maintaining distance from him around the house and wearing a mask if we are in the same room.

Rules for Self Quarantine According to Live Science.

This time is weird and scary but the best thing we can do now is quarantine and pracitive social distancing to protect any of our wonderful grandparents, elderly, or high-risk individuals. It’s of the utmost importance.

I hope you take time over the coming weeks to disconnect, relax and finally read that book or write that song or learn that new skill. Sometimes slowing down isn’t such a bad thing

In the words of Kitty Meara:

Stay tuned on my Instagram this week as I share adventures I never got around to posting so we can all travel virtually together! Stay safe out there. And please, wash your hands!

More related to coronavirus:

• BACKYARD CAMPING- MY WAY OF TRAVELING DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
• THESE HILARIOUS RECREATIONS WILL PROVE YOU REALLY CAN “TRAVEL” DURING LOCKDOWN
• EAT, PRAY, LOVE: THE DRINKING GAME FOR TRAVEL GIRLS DURING LOCKDOWN

The post Coronavirus update: Traveling home from Spain during the height of the pandemic appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

A Year in Review: 2019

2019 was one wild adventure. I started out the year on my way to Iceland where I watched the sunrise from it’s famous geothermal pool, the Blue Lagoon. Continuing on to Sweden, we explored Stockholm and took a train far North to go dog sledding in Ottsjö. Then suitcase in tow, we arrived in Poland to work as pub crawl guides. This led to trips to Auschwitz, Warsaw and even into Slovakia! After experiencing the great nightlife in Krakow, and eating more than my fair share of Polish pierogi, it was time to leave Poland for the beaches of Mexico. One month working as a spring break host in Cabo San Lucas had me swimming with wild whale sharks, dancing on sunset cruises and feeding wild sea lions.

Spring brought me back to Poland before heading out to explore the Holy Lands. I traveled through Israel to float in the Dead Sea, wandered the streets of Jerusalem and crossed the border into Palestine to visit Bethlehem.

Continuing on, I made my way across Cyprus and wound up staying a week in Athens. Flying all the way across the world, I went back to the USA to interview for a position with Topdeck Travel and landed the job! I began training to lead road trips. My new job led me all over my own country to places I had never been before like Yosemite National Park & Monument Valley.

I officially joined Topdeck Travel as a tour leader in 2019!

Throughout the summer I continue to go abroad- I took a solo trip to Paris. Then flew to Croatia to explore several different islands and cities. After that, I was off to Bosnia & Herzegovina for the most eye opening trip of my life. I became engrossed with the country’s history of war and genocide. After leading a few more month long road trips across North America, I went to India with a group of girls before spending two weeks in Thailand. I flew home back through the Philippines to lead another Topdeck trip. Now I sit in New York City, about to ring in the New Year at a rooftop party near Times Square!

Countries Traveled in 2019

• Iceland
• Sweden
• Poland (x2)
• Slovakia
• Mexico
• Denmark
• Israel
• Palestine
• Cyprus
• Greece
• Spain (x2)
• USA (leading 9 road trips!)
• France
• Croatia
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• India
• Thailand
• Phillipines

Best Travel Memories of 2019

Sunrise at the Taj Mahal

This surreal moment will stay locked in my memory forever. We woke long before sunrise to make our way across Agra to reach the Taj Mahal while it was still dark. Waiting in line on a dirt road surrounded by several lazy cows, we patiently waited for the gates to open to this incredible Wonder of the World. We slipped inside quickly, hustled past the first vantage point and got to have this spectacular view completely unobstructed by crowds. It was very humbling. (Although mere minutes later, the crowds descended!)

Read: HOW TO GET A PHOTO ALONE AT THE TAJ MAHAL

Dog Sledding in Ottsjö, Sweden

Beautiful pristine snow and dozens of lovable huskies racing you over a frozen lake- what’s not to love?! This trip felt like something out of a winter wonderland!

Read: 25 PHOTOS TO INSPIRE YOU TO GO DOG SLEDDING

Riding ATV’s At Sunset On The Beach In Mexico

This epic shot makes me look like a pro ATV rider which couldn’t be further from the truth! I was easily the worst driver on our trip but it didn’t stop me from LOVING this sunset excursion in Mexico. Up hills, past wild donkeys, back down rocky cliff sides and finally- we ended on the beach right at sunset!

Read: 25 PHOTOS TO INSPIRE YOU TO VISIT CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO

Tiger Safari in Ranthambhore National Park, India

After my trip to Africa in 2018, I was inspired to see animals in the wild every chance I could! No more zoos or animals in captivity, I wanted to supported wildlife programs that allowed you to ethically visit/see animals in their natural habitat. And Ranthambhore National Park is home to a number of tigers!

Read: INDIA: 10 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Feeding Wild Sea Lions in Mexico

While working in Mexico, I would often bring groups down to the pier for sunset cruises. There I befriended a local fisherman who would always toss a fish to sea lions that hung out near his boat. While I don’t think it’s best to approach wildlife typically, these sea lions are constantly coming up to YOU! They are playful and would hop right on the back of the boats looking for fish. This big sea lion was used to being fed by the fisherman and came right up out of the water to say hello

Living and working in Poland as a Pub Crawl Guide

As a traveler and social butterfly, this was the perfect way to spend a month! We had never visited Poland before accepting jobs to live and work in Krakow as a pub crawl guide. With housing provided and a job at night, I had my days free to explore with my best friend Morgan. My month in Poland was one of my happiest months of 2019. Krakow is now one of my favorite European cities!

Read: 10 REASONS TO WORK AS A PUB CRAWL GUIDE WITH KRAWL THROUGH KRAKOW

Being caught in a rainstorm in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Our final day in Dubrovnik, we were supposed to go on a kayaking excursion. I was extremely disappointed when it was canceled due to bad weather. But instead, we got to watch a beautiful storm at sea! Standing outside as the warm rain came down, we watched the waves crash against a medieval fortress used in the filming of Game Of Thrones! It turned out to be a great day regardless!

Read: 15 PHOTOS TO PUT DUBROVNIK ON YOUR BUCKET LIST

Sunset from a mosque in Bosnia & Herzegovina

Mostar is now one of my favorite cities in the world! Truly a fairytale come to life. Just look at these views! If it weren’t for the city’s dark (and sadly recent past!) of war and genocide, you would think this idyllic town was as perfect as could be. Rich with history and culture, this wound up being one of my favorite trips of 2019.

Read: MOSTAR: YOUR 2020 BUCKET LIST DESTINATION

Swimming With Wild Whale Sharks

Again, as an animal lover, I’m on a mission to see animals in the wild where they belong! So when I saw a company in Cabo San Lucas offered ethical encounters with wild whale sharks, I knew I couldn’t miss out!

Couchsurfing in Paris

If you haven’t tried Couchsurfing yet, maybe 2020 is your year? It certainly is an awesome way to connect with locals

Read: COUCHSURFING IN PARIS

Floating in the Dead Sea

This had been on my bucket list from the moment I dreamed of traveling the world! And in the spring of 2019, I traveled around Israel and finally made that dream a reality.

Read: ISRAEL- 11 THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I WENT

Visiting Bethlehem

While in Israel, we crossed the border into Palestine so we could visit the town of Bethlehem. With so much Biblical history, I was fascinated and humbled to visit a place I’d heard so much about. It felt as though we had traveled back in time, as we visited the sites so famous in Christianity.

Read: VISITING BETHLEHEM- ONE DAY ITINERARY FROM JERUSALEM

Freediving in Thailand

As 2019 came to a close, I challenged my mind and body with a new skill: freediving. I have a new respect for freedivers because this sport is NOT easy! Equalising, relaxing and holding your breath while descending into the ocean without an air supply is as scary and awesome as it sounds!

Read: FREEDIVING IN KOH TAO, THAILAND WITH BLUE IMMERSION

Thanks for all your support in 2019! Check out my list for 2018: MY BEST TRAVEL MEMORIES OF 2018

The post My Top Travel Memories of 2019 appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

Couchsurfing in Paris

Arriving in Paris

I hop off the metro and find myself at last on the streets of Paris. Excited and a little nervous, I make my way down the street. Wandering past little cafes, I hear the soft babble of conversations in French rolling lightly through the hot, muggy air.

I continue on, making my way towards my accommodation with a mix of anticipation and hesitation. After all, it can feel a little nerve wracking to forgo the usual hotel rooms or Airbnb and commit to Couchsurfing while you travel. 

Couchsurfing: Is it Safe?

My host seemed lovely online, we chatted briefly – swapped social media accounts and I read through dozens of positive reviews on his profile. It doesn’t seem like he’s a serial killer, aggressive flirt or any other strange mix of crazy. Let’s hope this couchsurfing in Paris adventure goes well! 

Meeting my host

I ring the bell and am buzzed through to a quaint open space between the apartment buildings, my host calls down to me from above. “Emily, Emily! Up here!” I crane my head up and see him waving at me from a balcony. 

As I ride up the elevator to his floor, I have butterflies in my stomach. I’m perfectly comfortable meeting strangers but I can’t help but feel a slight rush of adrenaline when I know I’ll be staying here the next few days.

The door opens and there he is, beaming at me. Charming and friendly, Antoine instantly makes me feel welcomed. Just like every other Couchsurf host I’ve had the pleasure of staying with in the past year. We chat briefly about my travels and his life here in Paris before he offers me some local tips and guidance. With a friendly hug and my own set of keys to his place, I leave to go do some sightseeing. Viola! Easy as can be. 

Exploring Paris On My Own

I climb the Eiffel Tower, drink champagne at the Moulin Rouge, eat crepes from a street vendor after the show and tip toe back into his apartment. (Careful not to make to much noise and wake him!) I instantly fall asleep after a long day of sight-seeing.

PARIS ON A BUDGET: 3 DAYS FOR JUST €100

A Friendly Face in A Foreign City

The following day we chat pleasantly about my adventures from the day before (“I saw theeee most EPIC sunset from the Eiffel Tower” etc.) And with that, I’m off again! But before I go, I offer him to join me on a river cruise that evening down the Seine River with Paris City Vision. He happily accepts having hardly done any tourist attractions in his own city. 

Roaming around Paris, I take a thousand photos. Then try and fail to get into the Louvre last minute. (Always book ahead in busy season!) So instead I tour the Palais Garnier- the opera house which was the inspiration for the Phantom of the Opera. As my day is coming to a close, I meet Antoine at the Paris City Vision office, board a bus and we go to the Seine! Laughing and joking along the way, my host has brought macaroons from his favorite place knowing I would like to: A. Try them and B. Take an artsy photo of macaroons in front of the Eiffel Tower. How thoughtful!

After a leisurely float down the river, he heads home as I continue to explore. After all, I needed to catch the Eiffel Tower all lit up and sparkling at night! So I roam the streets of Paris, taking in the sights until I’m too happily exhausted to do anything else but board the metro back to his place. 

The next morning, I wake- my last day in Paris! It feels like I only just arrived. And Antonie wants to interview me for his Youtube channel. Quickly changing out of my pajamas, I toss on a little make up and hop in front of his camera to do this following interview:

Couchsurfing: A Cheap, Simple Alternative To Hotel Stays

After a whirlwind trip in Paris, I’m off to Croatia! Thankful for yet another wonderful Couchsurfing experience.

Have you considered using the Couchsurfing app while you travel? It’s free and a great way to meet locals!

Shop my look for couchsurfing in Paris:

The post Couchsurfing in Paris appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

Finding Peace On The Road Through Meditation

Long term travel can certainly feel chaotic at times. In fact, any amount of travel might overwhelm you with how much new stimulus you have swirling around. Foreign languages, confusing maps, babies crying on your flight, buses in India that run really, really late….

There’s no shortage of patience-testing experiences that occur when we travel. But if you’ve ever traveled long term- you know that with great freedom, comes some other stressors. Finding peace in the uncertainty can be a challenge. And you might feel less confident in your choice to forgo the 9 to 5 lifestyle when you see your friends getting married or buying their first home. You might travel to countries where you don’t have access to the comforts you’re used to back home. (Been there done that! Ever use a squat hole in Indonesia? It’s a toilet that… you guessed it… is just a dirt hole in the ground.) Even constantly packing and unpacking a suitcase can cause a person to go a little crazy from time to time.

Just 15 Minutes Of Meditation A Day

This is where meditation comes in. Not only will a couple minutes a day ground you for hours to come, it can help you really appreciate the travel experience you’re having. Instead of letting your mind race with “oh I need to get back to the hotel before dinner because XYZ” you can sit back and appreciate, “Wow, I am watching the sunset in Africa. I want to enjoy this moment in all it’s glory without a noisy, cluttered mind.”

One of the reasons I love travel so much is how it constantly presents new experiences. These naturally push me into a more present state. I easily and often find myself in that state of “flow”. My mind feeling untroubled by past or future and I am simply existing in a free and happy state, fully in the present. But I recognize that we don’t need to travel to find that place within our minds. (Although it certainly makes it easier! I’d like to think of travel as the cherry on top to already existing in a relax, content and satisfied state of mind.)

Start With Guided Meditation Practices on YouTube

This video is a personal favorite of mine. Even if I can’t keep my mind clear through the entirety of it, by the end of those 15 minutes I can feel the effect it’s had on my body and mind. Give it a try!

It’s a practice, not a punishment so don’t beat yourself up!

Try to think of meditation as a practice, not a punishment. It’s not something you’re forcing yourself to do because “oh-my-gosh-I’m-the-worst-I-can-never-focus-I-suck.” It’s a practice that you won’t be perfect at but that’s okay The mind is muscle and takes some strengthening. If you’re anything like me, you’ll get all comfy and relaxed then about 5 seconds in, start making a grocery list in your mind. Just gently clear your thoughts, no judgement or need for self-resentment and come back to the practice.

Let me tell you, as someone who isn’t very good at meditation and generally tends to have a very scattered mind- even 15 minutes of imperfect meditation does wonders for your day.

Mindfulness can make your travel experiences much more meaningful.

When you get home from a trip, the last thing you want is to feel like you didn’t fully appreciate that sunrise over the ocean, that baby giraffe you saw wandering the plains or the whale sharks swimming by because your mind was elsewhere- focused on some irrelevant future worry or past event you can’t change.

A Journey Into Mindfulness

Books for Mindfulness & Meditation

The book that first snapped my brain out of it’s noisy, cluttered state was The Power of NOW by Eckhart Toelle. Sitting on the top deck of a small sailing ship in Indonesia, this book changed my life. Sailing in the middle of the ocean, nothing but the sky above me- I devoured this book. I got chills and felt the hair on my neck raise when I read certain passages. Once you read this book, it’s impossible to not feel a detachment to the ego and more awareness to the present moment.

“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.”
― Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle has a second book as well that helps us stop obsessing over what happened in the past and what the future might be. Chapter by chapter, it helps us to appreciate the only moment we are guaranteed: the present one. Both are available on Amazon.

Have you tried meditating while traveling?
Let me know your best resources or tips!

Keep Reading:

• 4 Reasons You Should Meditate When You Travel
• 10 Things Traveling Solo Has Taught Me

The post Meditation & Travel: How To Find Peace & Stillness While Traveling appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

Standing in Dubrovnik with hardly any set travel plans for the week to come, James casually mentions we could take the bus across the border to Bosnia and Herzegovina. I’m instantly intrigued but wracking my brain, I can’t for the life of me think of what “tourist things” people do there. It’s a country I hardly know anything about, which truthfully made me want to visit it all the more. No previous expectations or preconceived notions, just pure discovery!

*And that’s why I’ll happily read travel blogs on a destination but avoid YouTube videos like the plague! I want to discover it myself first hand, thank you very much. A few helpful hints from a blog post is all I need leading up to a trip.

“So what do you think? It’s only a few hours by bus to cross the border.” He says.

“Absolutely, lets go.”

So we buy the tickets and we’re off the next day- booking Airbnb’s on our way to the bus station. Ahhh, nothing like totally spontaneous, unplanned fun. Here we go!

Our first destination: Mostar

Truthfully, all I knew of Mostar was a beautiful, historic bridge I had seen on Instagram. The caption on the photo had described Mostar as a “fairy tale” town. I would soon find out, it was so much more.

The bus rolls in after dark.

We exit at the bus station and walk the quiet streets to our Airbnb. Upon our arrival we are greeted by a wonderful, friendly host. He informs us, if we aren’t too tired from our travels, there is a bar inside a cave just across the famous bridge. Tempted to crawl in bed and catch up on sleep, we of course drop off our things, change and promptly head off to find this cave bar! In the pouring rain, might I add. Laughing and racing through the rain- we are befriend by a stray dog who follows us the rest of the night. (And finds us again the next day. Oh my heart!!)

Mostar at night

As we enter into the old town district, we hear live music and see people eating massive portions of the local Bosnian cuisine. One young couple waves us over.

“We remember you from the bus earlier- join us!”

We suddenly find ourselves on a double date for the evening with another American woman and a British man. They had far more food than they could possibly finish between the two of them.

“All this food was only €15, help yourself!”

Starving, we dive into our first taste of Bosnia cuisine. It. Was. Delicious. Fresh pita, stuffed peppers… We ate until we couldn’t fit any more in our bellies- the four of us still unable to finish off this platter allegedly for two. (And I thought America had big portions!)

James buys everyone a round of wine and the four of us all set off to find this cave bar. (Stray dog happily following along beside us!)

Mostar’s cave bar

We hear the music coming from the cavern before we can actually see it… the crowd is small given that it’s a Sunday. But regardless, a night of dancing ensues! Meanwhile a storm rages on at the mouth of the cave. The scent of the rain, the sound of thunder and the sight of lighting were all visible while we danced. It was nothing short of magic.

What I leaned the next day was that most people just book a day trip to Mostar. They arrive just before lunch and are gone right after dinner. The streets are relatively full in the afternoon with tourists- but if you’re out early or late at night, you can have Mostar to yourself. And in those hours, it feels really indescribably special. It felt like I was back in Venice, Italy before sunrise when I had the whole city to myself. Little cobblestone streets, the high arching bridge, the water babbling below… truly a fairy tale brought to life.

The morning brought the most extravagant breakfast. With picturesque views of the river, we were treated to customer service that was above and beyond anything we expected. All for the price of cheap, fast-food back at home.

So instead we dined on a silver platter of local cuisine, drank apple juice out of wine glasses and felt unusually fancy for two people living out of their backpacks at the moment.

Mostar’s Bloody History

But that afternoon, I discovered the full story of Mostar. I admit I was ignorant to it’s bloody history and recent destruction in the 1990’s.
Standing inside the Museum of War and Genocide Victims, I felt like the floor had been pulled out from underneath me. I knew vaguely of a war in Bosnia but failed to realize it was just over 20 years ago. In another words, during my lifetime. Yet sadly, I had never learned about it in school.

I didn’t realize. I had no idea. The horror, the killings, the genocide, the torture and the extermination camps, even AFTER the Holocaust when people swore “never again.”

The beautiful bridge I had fallen in love with the night before was actually a recreation because the original dating back from 1557 was bombed to complete destruction, along with the rest of old town.

The disintergration of former Yugoslavia

I felt foolish and silly for not being more informed on the disintegration of Yugoslavia, thinking Mostar was just some “cute fairy tale town.” Now I looked back on everyone we had met thus far in a new light. Our Airbnb host- had he too dodged snipers on his way to school? Our charming, friendly server at breakfast- had he survived the constant bombings and foot shortages? How many members of his family did he lose? How many friends?

Suddenly I was perceiving everything differently. My eyes felt open and my heart felt heavy. Admitting my own ignorance on this topic, I committed myself to learning as much as I could about it while I was here.
We walked every war exhibit and gazed upon every heartbreaking photo in the gallery next to the bridge. Sadly, we watched the news clips- even footage of the beloved Mostar bridge crumbling on YouTube. It was all there- such recent history! Not something you read about in history books- but a war you could literally watch on YouTube. It scared me, it confused me and I wanted to better understand.

That night we stood from the high minaret of a mosque and watched the sunset over this idyllic town. With how peaceful and calm it was, it was hard to imagine Mostar was ever full of terror, screams, weapons and death.

The following day we rose early to be the first ones to river. We stood, soaking in the sights of the bridge one last time before continuing on to Sarajevo, the capital city, with an equally dark history.

Visting Sarajevo

As we arrived in Sarajevo, we checked into our Airbnb. It happened to be located one block from where Arch Duke Ferdinand was assassinated, sparking the beginning of World War I.

Again we found a city of so much beauty being held in stark contrast to its bloody, brutal history. As James had work to do, I purchased a copy of The Siege of Sarajevo at a nearby bookstore. Sitting down with Bosnian coffee at a cafe in old town, I began to educate myself.

13,952 killed in Sarajevo alone
Duration: 4 years or 1,425 days
350,000 people enclosed in the besieged city
Over 12,000 children injured

As I looked at all the smiling faces in the cafe, I would have never known what these people had been through .

The following day, a young man invited us in for coffee and shared with us what it was like to attend school during the siege. Ducking from snipers on his way to class- it was hardly your typical childhood. There was never quite enough food. Trading cigarettes became the most valuable currency. And his father was off fighting in the resistance…. 4 years stretched on like that, with no way in and out of the city.

Over the next two days, we learned everything we could about this beautiful city with it’s troubled past. We visited Sniper Alley, the site of the Sarajevo breadline massacre, crawled through the underground war tunnels and took a tour of the sniper’s lookout. It was a hauntingly unforgettable day.

War Trials

Just recently, as late as 2016, the people responsible for the crimes against the people of Sarajevo, Mostar and the Srebrenica massacre, have gone to trial. Many have been convicted. The trial gained national attention with one war criminal drinking poison in court upon his sentence being upheld.

Tourism Helps To Rebuild

Sarajevo is a lovely place to visit. Please go and learn for yourself first hand. Of course visit the shops, restaurants and ride the scenic cable car up to the mountain. But please include a visit to the museum on the Srebrenica genocide and walk through the Tunnel of Hope. Go see Sniper Alley for yourself. Stand up in the hills where the Serbians camped out- tormenting and killing the people of Sarajevo. Help share the story so it is never forgotten.

Keep Reading: MOSTAR: YOUR 2020 BUCKET LIST DESTINATION

Planning a trip to Bosnia & Herzegovina can be daunting but is a lot easier with a guided tour. Check out the tours on TourRadar here!

The post Bosnia & Herzegovina: an unexpected journey through a country I now love appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.