"A Lifetime of Adventures" pabertra's Profile

A decade ago I set out to see the places of the world that as a child I glanced curiously at in magazines. I thought they were so beautiful then. Now they are no longer a series of still images, but vibrant memories like an welcome assault on my senses, the smell of spices in Moroccan souqs, the black sands of Tenerife hot on my heels, the intoxicating rhythyms of gnaoua musicians pulsing through my body, all as fresh as the day I experienced them. I set out to see the true sights of the world, but have found the most memorable portions of my travel have been the people I have encountered along the way. From a fiercely independent 3 year old Tarahumara Indian girl hiking on the rim of the canyon steps away from a deadly fall, to children in the streets of Morocco who delighted in catching paper airplanes as they flew haphazardly from my second story window...these are the true highlights of my travels.

Much of my travel up to this point has been solo, and though exciting, it is the shared discovery of a new culture or a new way of life that brings meaning to travel. Having a good travel companion is equally as important as the journey itself so many if not all of my future travels I hope to share with someone that shares that insatiable curiosity about the world we live in.

Flying my first plane into Bimini

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It's been ages since I've been on VT, but I've been blessed to have so many opportunities to travel, that documenting them here has become exceedingly difficult.

This year alone I've been to Hawaii, California, New York City (multiple trips), Florida, Bimini, Vegas, Chicago, Sedona, and Aruba, with more travel on the horizon.

Some day I'll slow down and start adding again to this wonderful VT community; however for now I'll have to rely on the tips that you leave me.

Until then Happy travels!


I've settled on a career in nursing...I love it and it is a career that has thousands of opportunity for travel....what a perfect match!

Long Bay, Beef Island, British Virgin Islands

United States, Puerto Rico, & US Virgin Islands
Mexico
Bahamas
England & British Virgin Islands
Spain & Canary Islands
Portugal
Morocco
Turkey
Greek Isles
Belgium
Switzerland
Canada
Aruba
France
Jamaica
Denmark
Sweden


Country Count: 17
VT Member Count: 15

Spanish Countryside

I have always looked for opportunities to travel even as a child. I'd tag along for many of my mom's adventures across the U.S. like the Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans. Friends would invite me along with their families as well. Also, I picked up my first nannying job that included accompanying the family on their vacations (what luck!).

As soon as I graduated high school at 16, I struck out on my own adventures starting with a road trip to Texas and a little jaunt into Mexico, which aroused my desire to travel even more.

My college years lead me to the Caribbean: the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. During my fourth year of college I studied abroad in Spain for 6 months and used that as an
opportunity to travel Europe extensively and even slip briefly into Africa and Asia. I graduated,
started working, and have never looked back.

I've bounced around the Midwest living in Louisville, back to my hometown of Indianapolis, and
plan to relocate again at some point. I plan on spending the next few summers traveling stateside.
America is a beautiful country and I want to know her as intimately as I do Europe.

Where am I headed next?

This travel year had been good to me: way more travel than I ever anticipated. What a great
reminder to dream BIG!!!
Just returned from the gorgeous island of Aruba!

I'm off to Santa Fe in the near future, finally putting a small dent in that US wish list! Then NYC, back to my favorite place in the country the CA wine country, and then trips to Seattle and Portland both first time destinations for me :)

I still have this US wish list hoping to knock Santa Fe and Oregon off this year:

Oregon: the great Northwest coastline
New Mexico: Taos, Las Cruces, Albequerque, and Santa Fe
Montana: Kalispell, Glacier National Park, Missoula, Bozeman
Boston: Red Sox Game in Fenway Park
Maine: Acadia National Park, Lighthouses
Utah: Monument Valley, SLC, Park City

I'd love to escape the US for awhile especially to Croatia or Tanzania.