Wanderlust

Ahh, Wanderlust. My permanent state of mind. Even while stuck in the robotic routine of mainstream society, for those of us who can’t get enough of traveling, it’s hard to keep the daydreaming at bay. For the past few weeks, I can’t seem to stop little thoughts of Brazil from floating around my head. Where at in the world is your mind going when it’s been wandering lately? 

xx SLW 

(picture above from Free People)

How to deal: loosing touch

     Ever since my six month journey around South America, I have been ever evolving as a person. That trip awoke me in a way that I wasn’t expecting, and my life has been slowly changing for the better ever since. I am learning to focus on things that are important to me, instead of wasting so much time not living in the moment. A huge part of learning is also failing. I’m currently trying to stay on task and save as much money as I can so that I can travel again next Winter (hopefully for a few years!), however I find myself getting lost and veering off course every now and again.

     Next year, and foreign countries both seem so far out of my grasp sometimes that I’m not sure if it is worth it to work so hard right now. Maybe I should focus on making a life for myself here? Focus on making friends here instead of keeping in touch with those from my past? Go back to school? Get a “real” job? Maybe I shouldn’t spend all of my time planning and thinking about future trips that seem lightyears away?

     Writing tonight has made me come across so many pictures of my trip that I hadn’t looked at in a while. There were a few certain pictures that literally made my face light up, and I could feel butterflys in my stomach. I remember this familiar feeling while looking out the plane window as my plane flew into Cusco exactly a year ago this week. It is amazing how pictures can help you relive so many emotions, and memories fly around your head, making you let go of any doubt you had. The thoughts that maybe this isn’t that path for me flew out the window the moment I saw a picture of my class from Aldea Yanapay, and remembered how eager they were to learn, and how humble and thankful they were to have a school, and to have us there teaching them. This is exactly how I want to feel for the rest of my life. There is nothing that school or a regular job could teach me, that is greater than that you learn from traveling. Experiencing culture and being with real people in real places, that is exactly what I long for. If a year has already passed since leaving Miami last year, another year will surely go back just as quick. For now, I will just have to keep looking at my pictures, and reading my journals every time I start to doubt myself and veer off of my course. It will all be worth it in a year.

xx SLW

Tunesday Tuesdays

I listen to music day in and day out. It is so much more inspiring than watching TV, and can totally change your mood. That being said, I really enjoy finding out about new awesome Artist. My best friend from home, Adrienne recently showed me the Texas born Artist, Gary Clark Jr. I have no clue how I never heard of him before, because music is amazing and the perfect tunes to listen to while I write, paint, read or anything else that my day consists of. His music to me, is like soulful Rock with some Jazz and even R&B influences. Not to mention his raspy voice and awesome style. You just have to hear it for yourself!

Well, Thanks A! (Btw, she does Social Media for the most awesome “Laid back, Punk-Bohemian" Bridal Showroom in NYC. Stone Fox Bride!) and They have the most inspiring Pinterest, ever. http://pinterest.com/stonefoxbride/ 

xx SLW

Inspirational Reminder

The weekend came and went before I could catch a breath from work, so my motivational weekly Sunday Quote, will have to take place this lovely Monday morning instead. Mondays are my days off, so it's a chance to lounge around all morning, doing the little things I don't have time for all weekend. I've always loved this picture and little caption that goes along with it. "With your pack on your back the world is your home; weather it's the forest or wherever you stop." It's a simple little saying that can mean alot. The world is your home! Especially while traveling, you have to remember that, because it is very easy to get home sick and feel out of place. You can find comfort anywhere though, if you just take time to make each place you go your own! 

xx SLW

Bucket List Friday

Another Friday has come! My favorite day, not because it is the weekend, more so that I love tapping into my Bucket List of adventures, and seeing what all I have on there. Right now I am working like crazy, almost every day- trying to save up all year long, so that I can go back on the open road again. Therefore, right now, my Bucket List is definitely helping to keep me inspired. 

Today's Bucket List goodie is "Follow a Band on Tour" ! This is one of my like ultimate goals in life, awe inspired by Miss Penny Lane herself. For those who don't know, Penny Lane is the awesome Rock n Roll Band-aid from the movie "Almost Famous". Her and her friends follow their favorite band, Stillwater, which have grown into a family on their tour around the States.  

How amazing would it be to be surrounded by awesome, loving people who all share the same common interest- a LOVE for music, and a love for life. Just imagine traveling the road, jammin' all day, living life so free in such a big world, and feeling right at home with strangers. One day, One day! I'm not sure which band I would want to follow around today, I would of rather to have lived in the sixties, but it would have to be free spirits who are down to earth for sure. What would be your ideal band to follow on tour !?

xx SLW

Favorite Places: San Blas, an artsy haven

    I stayed in San Blas while in Cusco and loved it !! It was so sick, about three days after living in the hostel, another teacher at Yanapay introduced me to her boyfriends friends who were renting a room in their artsy little apartment in San Blas. I moved in the next day! Turns out, the own an awesome little reggae bar which was perfect for me. They let me rent their room for 300 s./ for the month, and were both super chill to live with- and Aurora was a french cook, so that was always a plus. I ended up becoming really good friends with that whole little group, and we went to Wachuma all of the time. They reminded me a lot of my friends back in Miami and my ex boyfriend. I think that is why I naturally was close with them. Sometimes it is weird how you accidentally attract and are attracted to like minded people. 

   Not only is San Blas the cleanest, most beautiful area of Cusco in my mind- it is like a small artesian pueblo with many stores and cute restaurants. There are always people sitting in the yard in the centro playing instruments and sharing talents. The apartments are stacked because it is quite aways up the mountain, almost to the Cristo Blanco- but the views are overwhelming !! One night, the lights went out in the city, and you could see every start imaginable. One night I was sitting on our tile porch area just looking at the city drinking wine, thinking " is this really my life right now " ? I love the time that for a moment, you are truely taken away but how amazing your life is. I wish I would be so appreciative all of the time, because life is always breath taking, it is just hard to notice sometimes with the haze from everyday noise. 

xx SLW

Inspirational Words

Always a favorite quote of mine, and how perfect of a quote to start off my travel blog with ! I originally had made a tumblr, but decided to convert it into a blogspot instead- therefore, I will be reposting everything on here tonight instead. So stay tuned ! & thank you for checking my blog out. 

 xo SLW