The Competition – To Visit 30 Countries by 30 Years Old.
Deadline: January 12th, 2013
Status: At 29, I’ve seen 24 29 countries. By 30 years old I’ve visited 30 countries!
Where have I been? (in order of visitation)
#1 – St. Lucia – have your hair braided, fly on a trapeze and skip in the tropical rain.
#2 – Italy – favorite European country. Milan, Lake Como, Venice, Portofino, Genoa, Lucca, Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Cinque Terre, Forte dei Marmi, Capri, Positano, Amalfi, Naples, Sicily, Taormina, Lipari Islands.
#4 – Czech Republic – Prague, gorgeous but passport, camera and credit cards were stolen, be careful!
#5 – France – Nice while studying abroad. Then Paris, 1st trip by myself, scary, exhilarating, a must for anyone! 10 days of stuttering the little French I knew, exploring one arrondissement each day.
#6 – Monaco – Cleanest train station I’ve ever seen. Beautiful but a bit snoody.
#7 – Greece – Santorini and Mykonos. Pelicans the size of a 9 year old hang out in the restaurant kitchens.
#8 – Spain – Bus-ed it from Barcelona, Grenada, Sevilla, Portugal then train back to Madrid, train is the better way to go.
#9 – Portugal – Lagos and Lisbon. The fresh fish rivals Fiji’s.
#10 – Switzerland – Bern, Interlacken, Murren.
#11 – Bahamas – Relaxing, hot, dine on conch a hundred different ways.
#12 – British Virgin Islands – Sailed from Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, jumped off Willy T’s naked just to get a T shirt.
#13 – Canada – Montreal (an all time favorite), Vancouver.
#14 – New Zealand – Prepare for the adventure of a lifetime! I prefer South Island over North Island. Bring a rain jacket!
#15 – Australia – Melbourne, Sydney, Perth.
#16 – India – Rajasthan (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ranthambore) Mt. Abu, Ahmedabad.
#17 – England – London, the food is amazing, if you avoid British fare except at high tea. The mix of cultures is similar to NYC sparking culinary masterpieces.
#18 – St. Martin – Favorite passport stamp, the typeface is fabulous.
#19 – St. Bart – Glamorous island living with a French accent.
#20 – Anguilla – Whitest sand I’ve ever seen.
#21 – Hong Kong – I’m more of a Kowloon girl than Hong Kong island expat.
#22 – Vietnam – Hanoi and Sapa. Sapa was surreal; rice patties, water buffalo, tribal women half my size scurrying up mountains in plastic slip-ons. Just magical.
#23 – Fiji – Kindest yet frankest people I have ever encountered, you will laugh all day long here, perfect for a honeymoon. (Local transportation)
#24 – Ireland – Dublin, Douglas (our favorite!), Killarney (ideal for the outdoors lovers), Inch, (yes it really is called Inch,) Dingle and Galway.
#25 – Denmark – Copenhagen, Eat.
#26 – Sweden – Malmo and Stockholm. (Gamla Stan, where we would live in Stockholm.)
#27 – Germany – Munich, beers and pretzels the size of our heads!
#28 – Belize – San Pedro Island. Day 1, Day 2, Rojo Lounge, Working while in Belize
#29 – Chile – Santiago – lavish and hot!, Patagonia – freezing, adventurous, Penguin heaven, glaciers and pure magic.
#30 – Costa Rica – wild yet peaceful, I kissed a monkey!, waterfalls, horse back riding, zip lining and snorkeling.
Where to next? Iceland, maybe return to Italy, 5 times is not enough!
Photos from the 30 by 30 Challenge

Handmade sink using local materials, Ak’bol Eco Resort & Yoga Retreat

Climbing up to bed in our handmade hut, San Pedro Island, Belize

Valparaíso, Chile

Lago Gray Glacier, Patagonia, Chile
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