Bouncing Around the World: London

People probably find my style of travel a little strange. Most people love to have a plan. They map out every waking second of their time. Plan years in advance for a trip. Me? I love to see an event come up that I would love to be a part of and build my trip around that.

This trip to London and Dublin (Liverpool was supposed to be in this mix but thanks to a messy travel delay out of Dulles *thanks Delta* that part unfortunately got the ax) was not exactly planned. I have been to both places several times and I feel really comfortable roaming around both but I had a few more stops to make before I figured I would be back. 

Fast forward to about 2 months ago and the Foo Fighters announced a Tribute Concert for their drummer, Taylor Hawkins. As the announcement was made I sat here I thought to myself that this is something I had to attend. I never thought in a million years that I would score a ticket but as I sat in bed at 3am, laptop and cell phone refreshing constantly I managed to snag one of the coveted tickets. The plan was set in motion from there and morphed into a full blown week of non-stop fun.

When I finally arrived to London (about 36 hours later than planned) I wasn't going to let the minimal jet lag stop me. I checked into my hotel (for this trip the FABULOUS St. Ermin's Hotel) and headed right out for a little stroll. St. Ermin's is conveniently located (within 1 mile) to Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and all the other sites that most people want to see. It is also only feet from the St. Jame's Palace Underground Station which makes it easy to get around all over town. I decided that 3 miles was a good start for the day and managed to make a stop outside Buckingham Palace and Westminster. 

The following day, after a stop at a local cafe for some coffee I decided to learn how to navigate the London Underground and find my way to the St. John's Wood stop so I could be the "typical tourist" and walk in the footstep of my rock god heroes, the Beatles, and cross Abbey Road. This crossing is so popular that they have to repaint the crosswalk every few months just to keep it "Instagram Perfect." There will possibly be a ton of people there but the day I went (early-ish in the AM) the crowd was not horrible. Other tourists will be happy to take a video or photo of you but PLEASE be aware of all the people wanting to do the exact same thing. Being an Instagram Model just makes you look like an asshole. Take a pic and move on. People are also trying to get to work, this is still a commuter road, so be aware of your surroundings and your time. As much as I wish it was possible, typically you are not able to enter Abbey Road Studios but it is still cool to see it and think about the absolutely world altering music that was made in there. There is a great little shop next door and you can get all the cool Beatles swag you could ever want. 

Next up that afternoon was a visit to Westminster Abbey. I have walked around this stunning place of worship several times now but for some reason I have never been inside, until this trip. Going inside is definitely worth it and I highly suggest booking your visit online in advance as well as scheduling a visit to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Exhibit in the upper area of the Abbey. You are unfortunately not allowed to take photos in this area but the views are gorgeous and worth the small fee to view. You can book in advance here: (note hours may vary due to the Queen's passing) Westminster Abbey The Abbey was founded by Benedictine Monks in 960AD and has been home to numerous Royal Weddings, Coronations and houses over 3000 tombs with Kings, Queens and notable British Citizens. 

The following day was set aside for the whole reason for the trip. The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert. There isn't a ton to say about it other than it was iconic and if you haven't yet seen it, go to Paramount+ and watch. There wasn't a dry eye in the house several times and I promise you, there is nothing like seeing a concert at Wembley Stadium so if you ever can make it for one it is a must do. 

Post concert I was able to make a quick escape out of the Arena and get back on the Tube for Central London. It was a short walk back to the Hotel (under a mile) and it is a great time to see London at that time of night. As always, be aware of your surroundings and stay safe. The monuments take on a whole new look in the dark and something worth seeing if you feel comfortable. 

The following morning, after a 6 hour marathon of a concert, I had the BRILLIANT idea that I should go on a tour that left at 7:30am. As I dragged myself out of my comfortable bed I was semi-regretting the decision. First, I absolutely hate tours. I like to come and go and explore as I please but I was limited on time and without a car the places I wanted to go were a bit too spread out for me to fit them all in without it. I decided I wanted to go to see Stonehenge and Bath but for some reason I had this NAGGING feeling that I NEEDED to go to Windsor Castle so I adjusted my tour to fit in all three in a 250 mile, 11 hour, round trip journey. 

This tour is truly a "taster" tour. There is no way you can see and do it all and it gives you an idea if you would want to return to explore more at a later date.

The first stop was Windsor and I can truly say I wish I had more time there. The small, quaint little town has a cool vibe to it and you can easily spend a full afternoon, especially when combining it with a tour of the Castle and the Church. There are lots of great dining and shopping options to keep anyone occupied. You are able to take photos everywhere except in the Sanctuary and the State Apartments. Tickets can be booked in advance here Windsor Castle but remember, times may vary due to the Queen's passing. 

The second stop of this journey was Stonehenge. I felt like I should see this at least once in my life. Now I can say been there, done that and never again. Originally thought to be built in 3000BC it is really wonderful to see and I highly suggest a deep dive into the history of this prehistoric site as it is fascinating however with the hoards of tourists doing the stupid pose where they are "holding" the Stones up, it is beyond frustrating and you really can't appreciate it properly. Side tip: you standing at a monument, whether it be Stonehenge or the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and pretending to hold it up, makes you look like 1. a douchebag and 2. an easy tourist target for pickpocketing. Do better people....

You can book in advance here which I highly suggest due to the potential volume of people visiting: Stonehenge

The third and final stop for the day was at Bath. I wish the weather had held up a little longer and that we had more time because this is most certainly an area to explore. There were tons of great shops and cafes (I'm looking at you and that frozen coconut hot chocolate Mrs. Potts Chocolate House.) I highly suggest a tour of the Roman Baths. Built in 60AD by the Ancient Romans, the history in this building is phenomenal and I could have personally spent hours in here really soaking it all in (just not in the water cause it's gross.)

All in all, as much as I am not a fan of guided group tours, I feel this was a good day to get an idea of where I would like to spend more time on the next trip. The cost was reasonable considering the length and time of the trip as well as the entrance fees. If you would like to book the entire guided tour you can find more information here: Full Day Windsor, Bath and Stonehenge Tour.

The final full day was also an early one but definitely worth it. A quick hour train ride outside of London, in the little town of Headcorn, there is a wonderful place called the Big Cat Sanctuary. I am VERY careful when it comes to anything I do that involves animals because I never want to do anything exploitive and unfortunately there are a lot of "sanctuaries" that disguise themselves as a charity and are there just to make a buck. The Big Cat Sanctuary is 100% on the up and up and Princess Eugenie of England is their Patron. The Sanctuary is closed to guests except for a handful of days a year with the exception of staying at one of their lodges, being a sponsor or doing a private one-on-one photography class, which is what I chose to do. Anyone that knows me knows I always have my phone ready for a photo but I really wanted to know how to properly use a real camera so I felt that this was a perfect opportunity for me. I learned so much in the 8 hours I spent there and Alma is one of the most incredible teachers but the highlight, obviously, is to be within inches of these stunning creatures. I would recommend anyone to come here before you do anything else, especially if you are a wildlife lover. Here are just a few of the unedited shots I took. If this doesn't make you want to go, I don't know what will. 

Overall, even though it was a whirlwind trip, there isn't anything I would change about it. I knew that I liked London before but this trip made me love London and I can't wait to return.

On the somber note, I never imagined I would be there when the Queen passed away. It was really extremely sad. I know everyone has their feelings on the Monarchy but she was an Institution. She ascended to the throne when my Grandmother was 17 and my mom was still 5 years away from being a thought. Serving the Public for that long deserves respect and admiration and she is a legend. 

#travel #solotravel #singletravel #worldwide

#passport #womenwhoexplore #sheisnotlost #discover #lifeofadventure #wheretonext #travelgram #beautifuldestinations #travelinspiration #London #Bath #Stonehenge #Windsor #BigCats #FooFighters #UK #TheQueen

 

A Newbie's Guide to Learning The London Underground

 Anyone that knows me knows that I am not a nervous traveller. I am typically up for just about anything, at least once, however it is about to be truth time. One of the things that actually made me a little bit nervous about attempting was the London Underground. Everyone that knows me is probably sayings something along the lines of "The girl that got in the Great White Shark Cage in South Africa was nervous about a Subway? Why?" 

Well...here you go friends. The map of the London Underground.

One look at that and I was seriously wondering how I was going to manage walking all over London because there wasn't a chance I was attempting THAT. That right there is a visual cluster that I had no intention of messing with.

So, fast forward to this morning, I was feeling like a big loser for not even thinking about trying it. After some coffee and a pep talk I decided I was going to walk over to a Station and just take a small trip. I am SO happy that I did. It was way easier than I thought and with a few new little tools at my disposal, it is beyond manageable. 

The first thing I would tell anyone traveling (solo or not) is download the Rome 2 Rio app. This app has been a lifesaver for me. You can put in your starting and ending location and it will give you all of your different options to get there, whether it be bus, plane, train, taxi...or the London Underground. After I decided I was going to take my "tiny" excursion to Abbey Road Studios, I put the information in the app and found out the best Station to head to, in this case it was Westminster Station. 

Once I walked over to the Station I was pleasantly surprised at a few things. How clean it was, how easily it was to navigate, and how much help there was if you needed it. 

First thing's first though. You need to be able to actually access the trains, and for that you should have an Oyster Card. You can actually buy one in advance of flying to the UK HERE on the Official London Transport Website, and have it mailed directly to you. You can also do what I did, which was really simple, and buy one directly in the Station. The entire process at the kiosk took me all of 3 minutes. You can pick how much you want to load on the card and you can actually get a refund for the portion you don't use before you return home (or, if you could be here often like me, just keep it handy to use next time.)

Once you have your Oyster Card, just make your way through the turnstiles and head to your train platform.

What I found incredibly helpful today to understand where the proper train was, was using Apple Maps. You can type in the Station you are looking for and it will pull up all the possible lines and you can look for the one that gets you where you need to go. All stops are listed and you can see the times they are coming, if they are delayed and arrival time. It will tell you exactly what platform to go to. Also, you always look for the ENDING spot on the line when getting on the train. They will not list all the stops on the platform information signs. Travel tip-there are a TON of trains so if you aren't sure don't run and just get on the first one you see. Odds are there will be one 1-5 minutes behind it. 

Once you finally get on the train you will see every car has the stops listed above you, has electronic signs that list the next stops, they call out the next Station just in case you are paying absolutely no attention AND if you are looking at the Apple Maps, it continues to track you and update you with the upcoming Station. How easy this THAT!?

Travel can be absolutely terrifying sometimes but you really do feel like a rockstar when you can figure the puzzle out. Then you (maybe) want to kick yourself for overthinking such a wonderful way to get around an amazing City. 

 #travel #solotravel #singletravel #worldwide #passport #womenwhoexplore #sheisnotlost #discover #lifeofadventure #wheretonext #travelgram #beautifuldestinations #travelinspiration 

A Sneak Peak Into This Travel Life Of Mine

These are just some of the amazing places I have been lucky enough to travel to over the years. I am beyond excited for the upcoming trips over the next 6 months that include Liverpool, London, Dublin, Fiji, Tanzania and Rwanda. I can't wait to talk you all along for the ride! 
 

I Figured it Was About Time...

We all have a motto in life. 

A philosophy we all live by. My circle knows mine to be “No Kids, No Man, No Dogs, No Plants.” It sounds harsh, like I should be living under a bridge or yelling at kids to get off my lawn but that’s not what it’s about. Travel is a massive passion of mine. To me the farther around the planet and weirder the better. Life isn’t meant to be lived in one place and nothing gives a person better perspective on your every day life than traveling to places that are a complete 180 from your typical day-to-day. 

                                            Elephant Whispers in Hazyview South Africa

Do I feel guilty for leaving my “zoo” of one too many cats at home with the pet sitter? Yes. Will I pull out my credit card, pack a suitcase and be on a plane within 24 hours if a stellar flight deal comes my way? Also yes. 

                                        The "Zoo" 

I am finding that I really get an immense amount of joy by helping people plan their travel. Especially those going solo and ESPECIALLY those who are female. It is epically empowering to realize how capable you are when you are alone in a foreign place. Whether it is reading a train schedule in Italy, ordering a drink (in Spanish) in Spain, finding your way back to the hotel after getting lost in Paris, it just makes you feel…like a bad ass. So many people are unfortunately nervous to go alone so I am here to stop that negative thinking and make you realize that you can. How freeing it is. And how every once in a while, having someone along with you can be fun too (those trip mooches.)

What you see from me: 

The good, the bad and the disasters. It happens, EVERY trip. Hopefully some tips and tricks too. The more money you can save the more you can travel and that is the goal. 

What you won’t see from me:

-Anything that isn’t safe. Great White Shark Cage Diving in South Africa=Safe. Walking around the Souk at night in Tangier, Morocco=not safe. 

-Not the cheapest options, not the most expensive options either. Balance is important. Hostels aren’t how I roll, sorry not sorry. 

-A lot of content regarding US travel. Disney is the devil. You can’t find culture in a theme park. Every once in a while I may post about my travels but it’s going to be limited. I get so excited experiencing new people, places, languages and cultures. I can put together a better "Drinking Around the World" excursion than you will ever find at EPCOT, I PROMISE you. 

-Me, pretending to be an Insta-model. I'm not looking for fake, canned, unrealistic. I am looking for real, true and inspiring. I want people to realize travel is for everyone and to make people understand that it is all accessible to you with a little planning and crafty budgeting. My 40-something year old self is not going to be half naked up on some cliff, I apologize in advance. 

At the end of the day, if I can help one person realize how much they can learn about themselves by seeing the world, solo or not, my job is done. You don't have to come Gorilla Trek with me in Rwanda. Starting small is super cool. It's a step in the most rewarding direction, and you can grow from there. 

Turn off the tv, get a passport and use it. 

                                       Rumah Pohon Treehouse, Nusa Penida, Bali