Category Archives: Travel

Quick Update

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As of this week, I’ve been living in Sydney for 6 months, which means I’ve been out of the U.S. for almost 9 months. Incredible how fast that time has gone.

Today was my last full week of work for a little over 3 weeks. Next week I have friends and family visiting, which I’m extremely excited for. Their visit is the catalyst for an incredible whirlwind of travel that looks like this:

Cairns > Port Douglas > Byron Bay > Tweed Heads > Noosa Heads > Rainbow Beach > Fraser Island

Oh, and there is this little event called Mardi Gras starting next week. Then I’m heading to Melbourne Easter weekend.

I get both excited and tired thinking about it. Somehow, I think I’ll live.

Beach / Blond Correlation?

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This article in the Sydney Morning Herald and its comments provided incredible insight to the old (and tired) Sydney vs Melbourne debate.

More importantly, the author raises an incredibly interesting question whether more attractive, but less intelligent people tend to gravitate to beach cities like Barcelona, Miami and Sydney.

Hmmm…certainty worth pondering.

Sydney Update

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It’s hard to believe that I’ve been in Sydney for only 11 days. It feels much longer, perhaps because I’ve  I arrived on September 11th, started work on September 13th and spent the first 8 days in hotels while looking for an apartment.

Well, I’m happy to report that I’m now renting a room from a friend of a co-worker until I find something long-term. It’s in the Surry Hills neighborhood, which is just 2 min away from my gym and a 20 minute walk to work.

I have a local bank account, a gym membership and a new iPhone from Optus. Sydney is starting to feel a bit more like home.

Goodbye London, hello Greece

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I depart London for Athens in a few hours. London has been great, but I’m extremely excited for Greece (Athens & Santorini) since it will be my first time in both cities.

I remember finding it difficult to comprehend the historical significance of Rome both times I visited. Athens has been continuously inhabited for at least 3,000 years so I’m expecting to have the same problem.

After two days in Athens, I’ll take a boat from the ancient port of Athens, Piraeus to Santorini for 4 days of beach living. Kamari will be my first time seeing a black pebble beach and Akrotiri will be my first red pebble beach.

I have some exciting news regarding Sydney, but more on that later…

Travel Schedule

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Thursday is my last day in Barcelona, so I´ve been busy saying goodbye to friends and getting ready for the crazy month of travel ahead of me.

BCN> London> Athens> Mykonos> Santorini> Istanbul> Thailand> Sydney

TRAVEL SCHEDULE
London       8/13- 8/17
Greece        8/17- 8/22
Turkey        8/22- 8/29
Thailand     8/29- 9/10
Sydney       9/10 – ???

Contact me if you are in any of the cities and want to meet up.

Travel Notes: Dublin

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My Arrival

The flight from Chicago to Dublin was uneventful, other than a young girl puking twice during the flight. She was sitting only 3 rows behind me so I smelled the pungent aroma until the attendants worked their magic (side note: flight attendants don’t’ get paid nearly enough money for what they have to deal with).

I was somewhat nervous upon my arrival because I decided to try Couchsurfing for the first time. Any fear or doubt I had immediately faded when I met my incredibility nice hosts. They were extremely generous and I could not have had a better experience. Renato, Edmar, Grazi and Fabiano – If you’re reading this – THANK YOU!

Miscellaneous Thoughts on Dublin

The Irish were extremely nice and helpful. In fact, while I was waiting for the bus to the airport, a taxi driver stopped and offered a private ride to Continue reading →

Setting Expectations

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Heraclitus once said, “You can’t step into the same river twice.” I’ve been thinking about that quote as I’ve been preparing for my departure to Dublin tomorrow.

If what we see depends on what we look for then I must remain open minded.Will the Barcelona that changed my life still exist? I doubt it. Nor should it exist. I have a different set of life experiences, which alter the filter though which I see the world. I was one person when I left for Barcelona in August of 2006, another when I returned in August of 2007, and I’m a different person as I prepare to return in a few days.

Although the current in the river has changed, I’m ready and excited to dive back in.

What can you buy for $1,597? Hint: A lot

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How about flight to 8 cities? $1,597 is exactly how much I spent purchasing my plane tickets to Dublin, Barcelona, Madrid, London, Athens, Istanbul, Bangkok and Sydney.

Most people are utterly shocked they hear this. I say this not to boast, but to break the misconceptions so many people have about the cost of travel. You can find shocking low prices when Continue reading →

Sydney: Why What & How

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As I said in an earlier post, I’m saying goodbye to Chicago and starting a journey to Sydney starting June 4th.

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Why

I need to break out of my comfort cocoon. The idea of giving up my comfortable life here in Chicago terrifies me. And that is the point. It’s far too easy to become a prisoner to familiarity, so I’m consciously breaking routine to pursue growth – to have new experiences. I’m an experience junky that Continue reading →