Isla Barú, located just off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia, is the kind of tropical paradise that most visitors to Cartagena envision when they book their tickets. Palm trees, bright blue Caribbean sea, sandy beaches, fresh seafood and fruit juice… heaven, basically. You can visit Isla Barú for the day, sunning on the shores of stunning Playa Blanca, or you can choose to stay overnight, which is what we did. Read this travel guide to Isla Baru for more tips about visiting Isla Baru and Playa Blanca, and our pick for the best Isla Barú hotel!
![[INSPIRATION AT HOME] #ad At the risk of sounding anti-climactic, traveling full time taught us how much we value having a home base. Yes, y'all, we missed our couch SO MUCH. We are the ultimate homebodies! But there's truly nothing like waking up in your own bed surrounded by things that bring you joy to make you feel grounded and happy. This is particularly important if your home also happens to be your office and you spend 99% of your time sitting around in your apartment in sweatpants writing about travel😂.
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I've learned this year that in order to cultivate an environment that fuels me with inspiration and creativity, I need to surround myself with things that invigorate me. So we've started picking up little travel souvenirs here and there: a singing bowl and a carved elephant from Nepal, a layered pyramid from Ecuador, postcards from everywhere. We place these around our apartment so that everywhere we look, we're reminded of all the incredible places we've visited in this great, big, wide world. Nothing inspires me to write about travel more than being surrounded by memories of all the places I've been!
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We also have a collection of our most valuable travel tools: books! There's nothing like a book to transport you to somewhere amazing. We're both avid readers, and we have a whole hallway lined with bookshelves; Jeremy's dream is to one day have of an office full of bookcases from floor to ceiling, Beauty and the Beast style.
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We read everything from novels to non-fiction, and of course, guidebooks. Travel guidebooks not only inspire us to visit new places, but help us feel like those dreams are achievable. The newest addition to our collection is the Moon Camino de Santiago guidebook. Hiking the Camino de Santiago has been a dream of mine for years, and between the colorful, informative pages of my @moonguides and the photos & blog posts from my friend Carol at @wayfaringviews (who's currently hiking her way down a 250-mile stretch of the trail on her 2nd pilgrimage), those dreams feel more and more achievable each day.
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What inspires & motivates you at home? Do you have a collection of travel books & souvenirs too? Drop us a comment!](http://scontent-sjc3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/4217ba11b992ecb8729767933483980a/5DAE506E/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c0.135.1080.1080a/s640x640/64931484_903850313283204_5962974716578393190_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.cdninstagram.com "[INSPIRATION AT HOME] #ad At the risk of sounding anti-climactic, traveling full time taught us how much we value having a home base. Yes, y'all, we missed our couch SO MUCH. We are the ultimate homebodies! But there's truly nothing like waking up in your own bed surrounded by things that bring you joy to make you feel grounded and happy. This is particularly important if your home also happens to be your office and you spend 99% of your time sitting around in your apartment in sweatpants writing about travel😂.
.
I've learned this year that in order to cultivate an environment that fuels me with inspiration and creativity, I need to surround myself with things that invigorate me. So we've started picking up little travel souvenirs here and there: a singing bowl and a carved elephant from Nepal, a layered pyramid from Ecuador, postcards from everywhere. We place these around our apartment so that everywhere we look, we're reminded of all the incredible places we've visited in this great, big, wide world. Nothing inspires me to write about travel more than being surrounded by memories of all the places I've been!
.
We also have a collection of our most valuable travel tools: books! There's nothing like a book to transport you to somewhere amazing. We're both avid readers, and we have a whole hallway lined with bookshelves; Jeremy's dream is to one day have of an office full of bookcases from floor to ceiling, Beauty and the Beast style.
.
We read everything from novels to non-fiction, and of course, guidebooks. Travel guidebooks not only inspire us to visit new places, but help us feel like those dreams are achievable. The newest addition to our collection is the Moon Camino de Santiago guidebook. Hiking the Camino de Santiago has been a dream of mine for years, and between the colorful, informative pages of my @moonguides and the photos & blog posts from my friend Carol at @wayfaringviews (who's currently hiking her way down a 250-mile stretch of the trail on her 2nd pilgrimage), those dreams feel more and more achievable each day.
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What inspires & motivates you at home? Do you have a collection of travel books & souvenirs too? Drop us a comment!")
![[POKHARA, NEPAL] Snowy Himalayan peaks. Lush green hills. A peaceful, shimmering lake dotted with bright blue boats. Skydivers and paragliders soaring high above. Welcome to Pokhara, Nepal! Best known as the gateway to the Annapurna Circuit, Pokhara is also the soft adventure capital of Nepal.
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After the overwhelming, dusty chaos of Kathmandu, arriving in Pokhara felt like a breath of fresh air - literally and figuratively. Literally because I'd been wearing a mask to protect my lungs all week. And figuratively, because Pokhara is a peaceful, beautiful, quiet lake town. I'm more of a country girl than a city girl (I grew up on a farm in Kentucky, remember?) and Pokhara was absolutely perfect.
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We arrived in Pokhara at night, and it felt like we'd entered another world. Bright lights lined the streets, enticing us with food from every country, dance and karaoke clubs, shops full of cashmere blankets and singing bowls, and outdoor gear for the trekkers who flock to Pokhara.
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Although we weren't here for a trek, we did explore Pokhara's bright green hills on a hike to the Shanti Stupa, a Peace Pagoda perched at the top of steep stone stairs. Our group bounded up the stairs, eager to stretch their legs after several days of 12+ hour drives along dusty, unpaved roads. But I took about 10 sweaty steps in the 85-degree heat and opted to take the scenic route instead (I am VERY ill-equipped I am for hiking in hot places, y'all, Northern California spoils me).
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After our hike, our guide drove us to a handicraft market - Pokhara has some of the best in all of Nepal - but instead of shopping, we walked right through the market and emerged at the ornate entrance of a cave. Inside the cave we found a cow statue and a waterfall. Nepal is full of surprises..Early the next morning, we woke up at 4am and sat in mountain traffic for 2 hours so we could watch the sun rise over the Himalayas. We stood in the rain and watched fog rolling in over the hills, but the mountains were completely hidden from view. Somehow, I wasn't disappointed at all. I know I'll be back to catch that view.
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Do you prefer big cities or quiet towns? Drop me a comment below!](http://scontent-sjc3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/173473541c64d72faec85aa1794424bc/5D8BA840/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c0.135.1080.1080a/s640x640/64268448_116509419379244_7039727908020891485_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.cdninstagram.com "[POKHARA, NEPAL] Snowy Himalayan peaks. Lush green hills. A peaceful, shimmering lake dotted with bright blue boats. Skydivers and paragliders soaring high above. Welcome to Pokhara, Nepal! Best known as the gateway to the Annapurna Circuit, Pokhara is also the soft adventure capital of Nepal.
.
After the overwhelming, dusty chaos of Kathmandu, arriving in Pokhara felt like a breath of fresh air - literally and figuratively. Literally because I'd been wearing a mask to protect my lungs all week. And figuratively, because Pokhara is a peaceful, beautiful, quiet lake town. I'm more of a country girl than a city girl (I grew up on a farm in Kentucky, remember?) and Pokhara was absolutely perfect.
.
We arrived in Pokhara at night, and it felt like we'd entered another world. Bright lights lined the streets, enticing us with food from every country, dance and karaoke clubs, shops full of cashmere blankets and singing bowls, and outdoor gear for the trekkers who flock to Pokhara.
.
Although we weren't here for a trek, we did explore Pokhara's bright green hills on a hike to the Shanti Stupa, a Peace Pagoda perched at the top of steep stone stairs. Our group bounded up the stairs, eager to stretch their legs after several days of 12+ hour drives along dusty, unpaved roads. But I took about 10 sweaty steps in the 85-degree heat and opted to take the scenic route instead (I am VERY ill-equipped I am for hiking in hot places, y'all, Northern California spoils me).
.
After our hike, our guide drove us to a handicraft market - Pokhara has some of the best in all of Nepal - but instead of shopping, we walked right through the market and emerged at the ornate entrance of a cave. Inside the cave we found a cow statue and a waterfall. Nepal is full of surprises..Early the next morning, we woke up at 4am and sat in mountain traffic for 2 hours so we could watch the sun rise over the Himalayas. We stood in the rain and watched fog rolling in over the hills, but the mountains were completely hidden from view. Somehow, I wasn't disappointed at all. I know I'll be back to catch that view.
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Do you prefer big cities or quiet towns? Drop me a comment below!")
![[DREAMING BIG] What a whirlwind this past month has been. I literally made a complete 360 across the globe as a hosted speaker and delegate at two incredible travel conferences, and MAN, am I pinching myself.
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FLASHBACK: In June 2016, three long years ago, I was back at my old job. I had put in my notice and nervously published my first ever blog post, titled "Today's the Day I Quit My Job to Go Travelling" (yes, it comes up on Google, I just checked 😂). I was doing my best to tie up loose ends, assuring my supportive but anxious co-workers that I'd be back after a year (probably), and internally screaming. Did I really just throw away a job I genuinely enjoyed in favor of chasing a crazy, scary dream?.
Worst-case scenarios plagued me. What if the savings I'd been carefully piling up for 5 years ran out? What if we got sick while traveling? What if we were robbed, mugged, knifed, or kidnapped? What if traveling stressed our fledgling marriage to the breaking point (probably the most unlikely scenario of all)? What if we couldn't find jobs when we returned? What if, what if, what if??
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But in all those what-ifs, there were a few that never even crossed my mind: what if our travel blog took off? What if it started earning us money before our savings ran out? What if it enabled us to spend more time together and with our friends and family? What if it replaced and outpaced my old corporate salary? What if I didn't return to an office job at all? What if, 3 years from now, I found myself being flown all the way around the world?
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I never imagined myself on an international stage speaking about blogging. I never dreamed that I'd find myself here in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, learning about the rich and beautiful cultures of Nepal.
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How could I? I had only published a single blog post.
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And yet, here I am. Pinch me; I must be dreaming.
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Do you have wild, crazy dreams that seem too impractical to be achievable? Dream big with me in the comments!
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#visitnepal #HTM2019 #GatewaytotheHimalayas #LifeTimeExperiences #thisissustainable](http://scontent-sjc3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/f91a5f6000d0f64890bd4c8f89ca63d2/5DB7CBAB/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c0.112.900.900a/s640x640/62594081_2211370005598295_6521672453831848663_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.cdninstagram.com "[DREAMING BIG] What a whirlwind this past month has been. I literally made a complete 360 across the globe as a hosted speaker and delegate at two incredible travel conferences, and MAN, am I pinching myself.
.
FLASHBACK: In June 2016, three long years ago, I was back at my old job. I had put in my notice and nervously published my first ever blog post, titled \"Today's the Day I Quit My Job to Go Travelling\" (yes, it comes up on Google, I just checked 😂). I was doing my best to tie up loose ends, assuring my supportive but anxious co-workers that I'd be back after a year (probably), and internally screaming. Did I really just throw away a job I genuinely enjoyed in favor of chasing a crazy, scary dream?.
Worst-case scenarios plagued me. What if the savings I'd been carefully piling up for 5 years ran out? What if we got sick while traveling? What if we were robbed, mugged, knifed, or kidnapped? What if traveling stressed our fledgling marriage to the breaking point (probably the most unlikely scenario of all)? What if we couldn't find jobs when we returned? What if, what if, what if??
.
But in all those what-ifs, there were a few that never even crossed my mind: what if our travel blog took off? What if it started earning us money before our savings ran out? What if it enabled us to spend more time together and with our friends and family? What if it replaced and outpaced my old corporate salary? What if I didn't return to an office job at all? What if, 3 years from now, I found myself being flown all the way around the world?
.
I never imagined myself on an international stage speaking about blogging. I never dreamed that I'd find myself here in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, learning about the rich and beautiful cultures of Nepal.
.
How could I? I had only published a single blog post.
.
And yet, here I am. Pinch me; I must be dreaming.
.
Do you have wild, crazy dreams that seem too impractical to be achievable? Dream big with me in the comments!
.
#visitnepal #HTM2019 #GatewaytotheHimalayas #LifeTimeExperiences #thisissustainable")
