I booked my ticket to St. Thomas a week prior to going, and one hour after I confirmed my flight, my friend from high school posted a photo of his current view from the same island.
Consume and Update: Life, Tolerance and Free Guides
If you're always learning, hopefully you're never bored. Here's my attempt at bringing you the quality information I'm learning by this week. Christine created a series this month on what she knows best: giving a lifestyle some massive alterations to become one's dream life.
This series seeks to give you the practical, real world steps you need to take to get from wherever you are, to exactly where you want to be– traveling the world and living the lifestyle you want.
Today marks her 20th day in the series, and even if you don't harbor a desire to drop what you're doing to live at large in the world, reading her steps toward being location independent can uncover whatever dormant lifestyle shifts that are begging to be released in you. I personally enjoy Day 16: Becoming a Digital Nomad, The Freelance Edition as well as some assorted tips from Day 15: The Not-So-Secret Trick to Finding Cheap Airfare.
Brave New Traveler's Ian MacKenzie brings to our attention a video about tolerance and diversity that is worth the 8 minutes of attention.
Spiritual Enlightenment
Christine Garvin continues to think philosophically about travel's influence on personal identity and self-respect. It's the underlying theme of it all, and there's no point in continuing whatever mission you have if you don't have a conscious emphasis on this in your life. It helps to read these works regularly.
l now feel in my bones something that has been said to me time and time again over those last 10 years: to have others look at you with appreciation, you must first appreciate yourself. And the way to attain that appreciation for the self and connect to spirit is to gain some understanding of all those other people out there roaming the earth.
Other Discoveries This Week
Elance.com and Guru.com: As I'm beginning my freelancing career, it's important to know there are websites like these making it easier to bridge connections between suppliers and demanders.
Kayak Buzz: I've been looking for something like this. It's almost like having an eject button.
The Happy Planet Index: An independent think tank that believes in economics as if people and the planet mattered.
Phoenix: Four French dudes that make up a quality band
Update on Nomadderwhere
Speaking Engagements: On Thursday, October 1st, I will drive to Northern Indiana to present my travels to interested Hoosiers. If you're a friend of my grandparents, you'll be seeing me in a Peabody conference room, chatting about travel photographs and the dramatic stories behind them. If you live in Wabash, Indiana, be sure to reserve your space at the Honeywell House fast, because the room is already filling to capacity for my later presentation. But there will be no lectures, because in the spirit of lifelong learning, I won't for one second pretend I'm not there to learn from the audience as well.
Free Guides: I receive e-mails fairly frequently from friends and family asking for tips on certain travel destinations. In an attempt to offer what I know to those who may benefit, I've created free guides to cities and countries I've visited, which will continue to grow in number as I continue to get those kind of e-mails. Thus far I've offered my city guide of Florence, a first timer's guide to India, and some pointers and background for the Greek isles. With each guide, there is the option of the pretty or the printer-friendly version, depending on how you will read and enjoy the material! Email lindsay {at} nomadderwhere.com if you have a request for a free guide!
Things I didn't know before coming to Greece
Little old Greek ladies take queueing seriously by using their elbows and body weight
The beaches are sometimes difficult to reach on the islands and most are clothing-optional
You can't flush paper down toilets on the islands
The water on the islands isn't recommended for drinking, so get that money ready for all those bottles
The Greek and Italian languages are nothing alike
There's no avoiding cigarette smoke in Greece...It's everywhere
In Greece, the party starts well after midnight and can continue into brunch time
The water really is that blue
They don't have the greatest beer...and the wine is clearly superior in Italy
When you want to say "cheers" in Greece, you say "yamas!"
Ouzo tastes like sambuca...so, not good
Gyros are a lovely and cheap option for eating out, especially before or after a late night
Italians LOVE Mykonos
Going topless on a beach is quite common
Feta in Greece is served as a thick slab of cheese, not in crumbles, and it's delicious there
ATVs and scooter rentals are everywhere and seem like they're totally worth it