Open Minded Traveler

Oh The Places You’ll Go (As A Mom)

Expat Parenting December 18, 2014 openmindedtraveler

Learning how to be a mom is a unique challenge where only the strong survive. In my head I tell myself “This.Is.Sparta!” and then laugh so I don’t cry. So here is my story of “Oh the Places You’ll Go” as a Mom. (All quotations are excerpts from the book by Dr.…

Cartagena: City of Legend and Romance

Travel November 1, 2014 openmindedtraveler

In 1586 on a moonless night the famed English pirate Sir Frances Drake attacked Cartagena, City of Legend and Romance. This was an attack which was well planned by the pirates against a city that was fortified. Cartagena sits in the final curve of an S-shaped Peninsula, and there were many obstacles…

7 Tips, Tricks and Timely Pieces of Advice for Traveling While Pregnant

Culture, Expat Parenting, Travel October 18, 2014 openmindedtraveler

Traveling while pregnant isn’t always easy, can be very uncomfortable and crazy even, but it can be done! Take my advice as someone who has traveled in my first, second and third trimesters in some pretty extreme climates. Follow these easy steps and not only will YOU be traveling like a…

Food of Cartagena Colombia

Culture, Travel October 10, 2014 openmindedtraveler

Cartagena de Indias is without a doubt a gourmet food capital of Colombia, and maybe even South America. When I travel I eat well. My favorite part of any experience to try new and exotic foods that I have never eaten previously. Food of Cartagena Colombia While the rest of the country doesn’t…

Hotel/Hostel Reviews of Cartagena de Indias

Travel October 7, 2014 openmindedtraveler

Travel is the spice of life, but the bed where you lay your head can often make or break your vacation. Here are the Hotel/Hostel reviews from Cartagena for Cartagena Beach Hostel (a.k.a. Hotel Playa Club), Hostel Mamallena and El Viajero. Cartagena Beach Hostel: This was a weird one because it was somewhat…

Drinking with Irish Men in Cartagena a.k.a. 6 Things I learned about the Irish

Culture, Life Abroad, Travel October 4, 2014 openmindedtraveler

One of my most memorable evenings on my trip to Cartagena was sitting around playing drinking games with 3 Irish men (Peter, Peter and Sean) and one Irish lass (Kiera). I have always been enchanted by the culture, art (see any picture of my tattoos), music and history. My mother…

When Travel Plans Get Cancelled! REVISION

Culture, Life Abroad, Travel September 22, 2014 openmindedtraveler

Travel is the romance that grabs us by the hand, pulls us in through dreams, imagination and the possibilities of the exotic places we visit. Cancellation is HELL on earth for pretty much anyone who has ever spent the time and done the research to make it not just cool trip but…

9 Pet Peeves That Drive Humans and Travelers Crazy!

Culture, Life Abroad September 22, 2014 openmindedtraveler

We all have pet peeves, that one thing that makes you want to pull-your-toenails-out-with-rusty-pliers CRAZY! It’s ok. We’re human. We learned to hate that attitude/action/habit through our life experiences. So I am here to shed the light on things that make me, and some of my Facebook friends and readers…

The 2014 Medellin Orchid Expo: Orquideas, Pajaros y Flores

Life Abroad, Travel August 18, 2014 openmindedtraveler

Colombia is more than coffee and emeralds, but also the largest number of Orchid species in the world. According to Wikipedia there are between 21,950 and 26,049 identified species in the world. This profusion of orchid types, subtypes, hybrids and variations create a wonderland state for the orchid enthusiast…

Immigration Issues, Salsa, a Drum Circle and San Francisco: My Visit to the US

Travel July 31, 2014 openmindedtraveler

After a year and a half of my crazy life here in Colombia the time came to go home and visit my family. To date this is the longest separation internationally I have had from my culture and my family, to say I missed them was an understatement. Even the…

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