Cathy's Travel Stories

A Lesson in Staying Open

A Lesson in Staying Open One evening while I was staying in Pamukkale, Turkey, I took a few photos of this sunset behind the local mosque. I loved the setting …

I Got Naked for My Birthday in Istanbul

I Got Naked for my Birthday in Istanbul A Change in Plans My original plans had me on a train traveling from Istanbul to Eskisehir on my birthday. Not very …

So…I am in Mexico…in the Midst of a Pandemic

So…I am in Mexico…in the Midst of a Pandemic Being a permanent nomad can be a bit confusing. I often am asked, “Where are you from?” and I find myself …

Lost in the Old City

Image by Ri Butov from Pixabay This is a memoir I wrote a number of years ago, recounting my experiences in ditching my escorted tour back in 1977. You can …

Worries & Fears

Sorry, there are few images to decorate this post. When I am stressed, I am very unlikely to take photographs.Aren’t You Afraid?People often ask me if I am afraid to …

A Toast to the Beatles

Ahhh, Liverpool…what person who came of age in the 1960s doesn’t think of the Fab Four? I was not planning to go to Liverpool…I really wasn’t. But then I talked …

But I’ve Found a Driver and That’s a Start!

You never know what to expect when traveling, but often things work out better than you planned!BEEP BEEP’M BEEP BEEP YEAH! Monsoon Season in HikkaduwaWhen I arrive at a new …

Just Another Day at the Office

With access to the internet almost universal, working on the road is pretty much a piece of cake—well, as long I don’t have to teach my computer to speak English!Back …

Fabada

Fabada 1 October 2017: Day Twelve of my Camino de SantiagoSan Vicente to Serdio, SpainYesterday had been horrific. A planned short-distance day had turned into 32 grueling kilometers. And at …

Turning Drudgery into an Adventure

Turning Drudgery into an Adventure 19 March 2019—Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean I am in the middle of my 50-hour, long-haul journey from Gili Air, Indonesia to Quito Ecuador. Today, …

The 10 Coolest Experiences I Had in 2018

The 10 Coolest Experiences I Had in 2018 Last New Year’s, I was freezing in a cold Irish hostel. This year, I am enjoying the tropical heat of Sri Lanka …

Pinch-Myself Moments

Pinch-Myself Moments At the end of my first day of the Camino de Santiago, I sat on this beach for an hour crying on and off…tears of disbelief in what …

Under the Douro Fog

Under the Douro FogI’m taking a little segue from my series on the El Camino. Yesterday I experienced one of those days that made me want to pinch myself and just …

The Art of Quitting: Finding Gratitude in Disappointment

The Art of Quitting:Finding Gratitude in DisappointmentSometimes (well, many times) when you are traveling, things don’t turn out the way you envisioned them. I had such great plans to visit …

How to Get your Hair Washed and NOT go to the Movies in Peru!

How to Get your Hair Washed and NOT go to the Movies in Peru! Okay, my Spanish is lousy! One thing I do is get similar words mixed up all …

Revisiting the Festival of Candelaria on the Shores of Lake Titicaca

Revisiting Candelaria—On the Shores of Lake Titicaca I never seem to get tired of listening to Andean music. Today, I finally processed many videos and images from Puno’s Festival of …

Fiesta del la Candelaria in Arequipa

The Fiesta de la Candelaria in Arequipa The Fiesta de la Candelaria is a festival in honor of the Virgin of Candelaria, patron saint of the city of Puno, Peru, …

A Ship in the Harbor is Safe…

A Ship in the Harbor is Safe… This blog is a bit embarrassing to write, because I have to admit how timid I can be when I end up in …

Estoy AQUI!

View of Volcano Misti from my guesthouse in Arequipa Estoy Aqui! After waiting 10 hours in the Lima airport—on the floor; 4 more hours in the hot bus station, and …