I know February is the shortest month of the year, but it just feels drastically shorter than it should. Like really? It’s over? It’s March? How!?
But just like that my US tour has concluded.
How (both me and) February Flew
I spent the first week of February (and the last week of one month) in Baltimore. Well, more like a suburb of Baltimore where I stayed with one of my best childhood friends, Kelli, and her family. I read lots of books and played lots of games with her 3 & 5 year old sons who taught me all about dwarf planets (really hoping for dwarf planet questions the next time I play trivia, and in case you want to win trivia too, they are: Ceres, Makemake, Houmea, Eris, and Pluto).
I have been to Baltimore several times before, but I never really knew it. So we decided to do a couple tours. The first one we did was a ghost tour around Fells Point. It was freezing outside, but super fun, as our guide, Jericho, who was obviously once a high school thesbian, dramatically recited The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe and lead us around the block with tales of ghost chickens, red light districts, and newly discovered skeletons. It was a fantastic tour we did with GetYourGuide, and I highly recommend it if you’re ever in Baltimore.
The second tour we did was a less than mediocre historical sightseeing tour of Baltimore with Viator. What I imagined from the tour: Walking by foot along the Baltimore harbour hearing tales of Baltimore’s past, and feeling culturally enriched. What the tour was in reality: A 90-minute ride in the back of a van with the heat cranked up so high that we were slowly removing layers, and were told “no” by the driver and guide when we asked about turning it down. When we reached the point of having nothing more to remove, our faces bright red, and wanting to vomit, we begged them to turn it down which they finally did reluctantly. The tour guide’s mic was broken and all we could hear was “umm marble steps umm that statue umm” as we zoomed past locations we didn’t have enough time to take in.
After saying goodbye to Kelli and the fam, I flew to Dubuque, Iowa. This was my first time in Iowa, and my first time seeing the Mississippi River in person. I was here to visit another lifelong friend, Kellie. We were matched as freshmen roommates by pure accident (our original roommates wanted to live together so they switched us), but the best accident that ever once was. The moment Kellie and I met for the first time in our doorway in McCowan 2South at the UNC (Northern Colorado), we fell in a platonic love that would last the rest our lives. I transferred to a different uni after that first year, but we managed to stay in touch over the next two decades- through school, graduation, break-ups, travels (mine), marriages (hers), children (also hers), etc. Her first daughter is my goddaughter. I visited them last year in Alabama, and now this year in Dubuque. We spent many mellow days together (including one snow day) catching up on life and playing my new favorite obsession, Ticket to Ride.
After one week in Dubuque, I was off again, this time to Seattle. One of my best friends from university has lived in Washington now for several years, and it had been about a decade since the last time we had spoken in person. So I figured it was time. I got to meet her two incredible children for the first time. We spent many cozy evenings at home decorating cookies, eating cucumbers, drinking copious amounts of wine, and laughing about how silly we were in college- the year we lived with 12 people in a party house, the time we hitchhiked on Halloween with a Pita Pit driver, the times we used to sneak into the apartment’s swimming pool after hours, and all the times we threw up in public bathrooms (I think you can imagine why- we were students afterall :) ).
Lucky for me, I actually have several great friends in Seattle. Not just acquaintances, but solid, long-time friends. I got to see my friend Nikki that I used to work with in South Korea over 10 years ago. My friend Holly that I first met in China 15 years ago, when she invited me to spend a week with her family during the Chinese Spring Festival. My friend Amy who is one of the best writers and singers I know, who I met in Tbilisi, Georgia right as the pandemic was starting in early 2020. Unfortunately I missed my good friend Diego who was coincidentally in Antarctica while I was in Seattle.
And after one rainy week in the Pacific North West, my US friendship tour was over. I flew back to San Jose where I got to meet my brand new baby niece. She was born while I was away, a few weeks earlier than her original due date. She is the tiniest, sweetest little thing hovering just above 5lbs at the moment. She still keeps her eyes closed most of the time, but has the cutest baby yawns and baby hiccups I have ever seen.
February Highs
The People
I don’t have a physical home. People are my home. After spending the last months of Argentina with lots of anxiety and few support systems, spending time with some of my favorite people was rejuvenating. I needed that. I feel like myself again, and I’m excited for what’s next.
The Book
As you already know, I wrote a book. I uploaded it as both a Kindle e-book and a paperback version. I’m so excited to announce that I’ve already sold 43 copies since the release date in late January. For me, this is huge. It feels like the encouragement I really need when I start to doubt myself. I really want to help people to travel better, safer, smarter, and more confidently. Receiving the positive feedback so far about the book has been really special. If you’re reading this and you purchased my book- thank you, from the bottom of my heart. It means so much to me! But I have one last favor to ask of you. If you purchased the book, can you please leave me a review on Amazon? It would really help to push my book out there further into the Amazon-travel-guide-book-verse and help me to help others. I would appreciate that so much.
The Consultations
I began offering travel consultations this year and I have been so happy with them. I have met the neatest people from the US, Canada, and Sri Lanka. It has been really fun for me to be able to speak directly with the people who have found my YouTube channel and my blog. I love sharing my knowledge and insights with them about a country I love so much. It is so exciting knowing that they are about to begin a journey in the lovely Argentina.
I offer both video (30 minute & 60 minute) and email consultations. The prices for consultations will be increasing on March 10, so if you have been thinking about it, the time is now before the price goes up. I would love to meet you! :)
March Plans
Catching Up
So now that I’m back in San Jose for the next few weeks, I have grand plans of catching up on the things I fell behind on while spending time with all my people. More videos. More blog posts. More newsletters. More social media. And please please please more yoga. I’m hoping that being in one place for the next 3 weeks will finally give me a little stability to focus on my fitness and health.
Mexico
That’s right, I’m headed to Mexico. I had a two-month gap I needed to fill, but still wanted to be in North America, so after perusing Skyscanner’s cheapest flights, I settled on Mexico. I found a one-way flight to Guadalara for less than $150. I also decided to splurge and spent the rest of my Chase Sapphire points on a 3-nights stay at the DoubleTree Guadalajara Hotel. I also have a friend from high school who lives with his husband just outside of Guadalajara, so I’m hoping to spend a few days with them before slowly making my way over to Querétero via Lago de Chapala and the Jalisco Province. I have another good friend in Querétero, so it looks like I’m going to keep these friend visiting tours going in Mexico.
If you have spent any time between Guadalara and Querétero, let me know your favorite places! Or if you would like to see something specific in those areas, also let me know so that I can cover it for you! :)
FEBRUARY TRAVEL TIP
Have you ever heard of Skyscanner? It’s my go-to website when searching for flights. The interface is so easy to use, and what I like most, is that Skyscanner lets you put in a destination and then easily and visually check prices for the entire month(s). You can see which days are the most expensive and which are the cheapest and best to buy.
Also, if you’re not sure of where you want to go, you just want a cheap flight, then you can select your destination as “Explore everywhere.” Skyscanner will then show you the cheapest and best flights from your home location.
THANK YOU
Once again thank you to all of you, the lovely people who support me and my work. Thank you for reading my word and watching my videos. Buying me coffees and donating to my blog. My travels are self-funded, and I truly appreciate all your continued support and encouragement.