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 – DenmarkCopenhagen, Eat.

#26 – Sweden – Malmo and Stockholm.  (Gamla Stan, where we would live in Stockholm.)

#27 – GermanyMunich, 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

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

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

Valparaíso, Chile

Valparaíso, Chile

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Lago Gray Glacier, Patagonia, Chile

Locally made textiles, Sapa, Vietnam
Sunset, Fiji
Nyhavn, Copenhagen, Denmark
Last night in Stockholm, Sweden
Dublin, Trinity College

Cheers!

TDH’s first trip outside the US! London, England

St Barts

TDH and I in St. Barts, our eventual beach shack home

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