30 by 30 Challenge

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.

#3 – Mexico – Manzanillo, Cabo (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day5/6, Day 7)

#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