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snaptravelmagic

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Girl hiking Old Rag

My Love/Hate Relationship with Hiking and Covid-19

I can’t imagine a more perfect metaphor for how I feel about Covid-19 than how I feel about hiking. Let me explain… I Used to Hate Hiking. And I tried to like it for a long time. I grew up in Virginia, went to college in Virginia, and was located by some of the most beautiful hikes in the U.S. But every time I went hiking, I despised it more, until I eventually just stopped trying. In my mind I would try to justify hours of gruesome uphill tourture with the glorious ten minutes of looking at a pretty view. What was the point, I asked myself. I came to the conclusion that a pretty view wasn’t a significant reward for hours of pain. A few years later, after college, I was living at home, attending grad school, when I decided to give hiking another try. My Mom and I…

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Where Have You Been? And Other Thoughts on Turning 30

Five years ago I was living in Rome, taking care of two adorable boys during the week, and exploring the city center of Rome on the weekends. However, I was also in the center of chaos-trying to arrange flights back home, applying and interviewing for jobs. Life was jam-packed, but life was good. In October, I turned 30. And it seems like yesterday and an eternity ago that I was living in my large attic room in Rome, halfway between the seaside and the city center. So much has changed, so many memories made, places explored, and challenges met. But one thing remains the same: I am so grateful for my life. Five years ago, in Rome, I reflected on my entire life- the moments that stood out in every phase of life, the small things that defined an era, the big things that changed me forever. 30, in my mind,…

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Glencoe Mountain Chairlift Rides

4 Days in Scotland with Haggis Tours

Falling in Love with Scotland My 4 days in Scotland were nothing short of magical. Thinking back on Scotland, the thing I remember most is the rugged, untamed terrain, endless mountains, and climbing in worn-out sneakers, attempting not to slip and fall off a cliff and kill myself. It was cold in Scotland, there was an endless breeze that had to be battled anytime I stepped outside. I remember hiking and feeling the cold sting of the wind on my face, and feeling invigorated as I looked around on the peak, seeing nothing but gorgeous mountains. I felt alive. And I fell in love with Scotland. I didn’t even expect it. I can’t say exactly when it happened, but one thing is for certain, it happened in the Scottish Highlands, on a Haggis bus tour. Edinburgh was fine, but the real gem of Scotland is the Highlands. And, if you…

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Belgrade Fortress at sunset

One Day in Belgrade: Everything you Need to Know

Why My One Day in Belgrade was Epic Serbia will always hold a special place in my heart. I flew across the world to Serbia, on a plane where no one spoke English, to visit and explore a country that was introduced to me by 3 boys at my summer lifeguarding job. I spent a few weeks in the country, slowly getting to know them and their families, exploring the countryside and spending one day in Belgrade. In reality, I was really in Belgrade for a total of about a week. Much of the time I spent there amounted to sleeping in late, spending hours in coffee houses sipping on delicious coffee, talking with my friends, and being pretty lazy. I only spent one day in Belgrade being a tourist. And it was a pretty epic day for two reasons. The first reason was because I knew Serbians and they…

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