Hello World!

Nice to meet you-

I’m Lisa

So, I’m not even exactly sure where and how to start this blog. Many of you that know me know that one of my passions in life is travelling – to the point that I used to have a side gig as a travel agent.

I guess it started when I was growing up because we always travelled. Although I didn’t know it at the time, travelling was a value that was instilled in me by my parents. I have many memories of going to Florida, Maine, different theme parks, camping, etc…and most of the memories are about the time I spent with my parents, sister, cousins and friends rather than the actual locations. We always travelled in large packs (which is why I probably still do now). LOL!

My favorite trips were the summers I spent in Italy with my mom and sister, and what I loved best was hanging out on the farm with my family

In college I spent a semester studying abroad in London where I got to visit many countries in Europe and even went to Africa (for a day)! The travel bug continued and led to my exploration of many islands, states, and different countries as I got older. I just love the experience of being immersed in other cultures, learning about their traditions, wondering what it would be like to live there, exploring their sites and enjoying this beautiful world God created for us. I know shocker- the world exists outside of Connecticut!! I guess this is partly why I majored in Sociology.

I also love capturing these memories and moments on camera and my house is full of pictures I have taken. I always mean to write down my experiences but never do. I just got back from visiting London 20 years after my semester aboard in 1999! Shhh…. stop doing the math! Before I left I came across a journal that our professor made us keep while abroad and this brought me back instantly. I didn’t know it at the time but I was really able to capture some great moments that made me laugh and cry while remembering it all. This is when the lightbulb came on for me that I really need that to start documenting all my travels.

But blogging? That’s not me! I am not a writer and the fact that I’m neurotic and overthink everything (which leads me to be incapable of making decisions) so I would probably never post anything because it’s not perfect. But I know it would not only help me remember and look back years later on my trips, but could also help others in their planning. I often use other people’s blogs to help me plan so I thought why not me?

Then my brain takes over…… “But I’ve travelled to so many places and never blogged, so many missed opportunities so why bother?”….. “It’s silly to start now after I missed out blogging on other locations!”… “I don’t have enough time for something like that!”….Oh really? says the binge-watching show queen?

OK…OK… I can give it a shot.

So why blog about travel? Everyone blogs about their travel experience. What can I bring to the table? Why read my blog?

Well, many people ask me how I am able to travel so much? Not only, how do I get the time off of work (Thanks Job! J ) but how do I afford it? I am a savvy traveler! I find tons of deals all the time and when I get a great deal, I take advantage. I do a lot of research finding lodging that is not too expensive but rated well in great locations. I travel on a budget and still have amazing experiences. I’ll share my tips and tricks with you as I go. I will share some beautiful pictures that will give you a taste of what it’s like. I’ll share with you my mistakes (there are many) and must dos.

So here I go… Be gentle with me while I learn, and I’ll try my best to take you along with me on all my journeys.

Stonehenge 2019

The view from those summers in Italy in my mom’s hometown of Castel Campagnano