After my last visit six years earlier, I'm back in Italy for my first "adult" vacation with "adult money." A ten day trip through the country starts off in Rome where I run into an old friend, dodge sporadic thunderstorms, and visit the heart of the Catholic world: Vatican City.
After getting a job offer from some friends in Boston that I simply could not refuse, I packed my things and hit the road, droving 3,300 miles across the country from Oregon with my two dogs. The road trip was full of friends, food, and existential introspective dread.
After driving through unpaved roads in the mountains to get around the roadblocks, we finally make it back to Cusco where we spend the next 48 hours taking a some well deserved R&R before making the long journey back home!
After two days on the trail, we make the final push to Machu Picchu, eventually reaching the old Incan citadel, getting to lay eyes upon one of the new seven wonders of the world. Trying to get back to Cusco, we get caught up in blockades and come face to face with armed, violent protesters.
Melissa and I embark on our 5 day trek through the Andes and the Salkantay Pass on our way to Machu Picchu but the resumption of civil unrest back in the cities begins to affect our plans while out on the trail.
We celebrate my partner’s 30th birthday in a big way: traveling to Peru to embark on a five day hike to one of the Seven Wonders of the World: Machu Picchu, but before our excursion can start, we have to spend a few days acclimating to the altitude in the old capital city of the Incas: Cusco!
I visited Seattle, Washington to celebrate my 31st birthday, taking in all of the sights and sounds of the Emerald City before receiving the best birthday gift of my life!
After nearly a year and a half without traveling, I decide to start summer off the right way by taking a flight down south to Cancun and stay at the incredible Grand Park Royal Resort!
The long holiday weekend is the perfect time to take a trip. Now fully vaccinated, I take a road trip out to central Oregon to see the beautiful “Painted Hills” before going back to Bend where I eat at a lot of food trucks and visit the last Blockbuster on Earth!