Recently in International Travel Category

Part of the reason for my trip to Israel was to attend the Bat Mitzvah of a lovely young lady named Tiferet. While most people have heard of a Bar Mitzvah, which is held when a Jewish boy turns thirteen, not everyone is familiar with its female equivalent. The two celebrations are similar in that they both commemorate a Jewish youth's 'coming of age' that signifies that the boy or girl is old enough to accept the commandments and abide by Jewish law. However, in the Orthodox community, a Bat Mitzvah is often celebrated when a girl turns the age of twelve and does not include the traditional reading of the Torah.

Several years ago, I found myself on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea. As I bobbed along the shoreline, held buoyant by the high saline content of the water, I overheard someone speaking to their companion as they pointed to the beach on the other side. "That's Israel, just over there." I stood and looked to the other side and I recall thinking that it was so near, and yet so very far from the perspective of my ability to travel there on that same trip. Although I enjoyed my trip to Jordan greatly, in that moment, I felt a deep longing to be on the other side.

Our third day in San Jose we dedicated to relaxation in the hotel.  It was the first sunny day we had experienced, so I was anxious to put on my swimsuit and head to the pool.  Due to the rain, and start of the rainy season, the water was cool, so I spent most of my time soaking up the sun and reading some books.  The poolside service is excellent, and drinks and towels are available.  In the evening we enjoyed playing a few rounds of poker at the casino, which also features a jazz bar on the weekends.

Tip #11: The sun is quite powerful in Costa Rica - put on plenty of sunscreen, even when you do not expect to get burnt.

Tip #12: Due to the ecological sustainability practices, the hot tubs are not kept at high temperatures, so prepare for cool waters.

I can't do the splits anymore, can you? My dancing days are long gone.  I can get about half of the way down (okay, a quarter) before I start feeling that familiar pull that lets me know I better back off...quick, fast and in a hurry...before I get stuck or something. It hurts my inner thighs just thinking about it. Ouch.

My friend, an airline pilot who has visited more than 70 countries, tells me I'm one of the luckiest travelers he knows. Why? First, because my husband and I have never been bumped from a flight using our friend's "buddy passes" for trips to Turkey, Belgium, England, Israel, Jordan, Germany, Panama, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. (If you're a seasoned standby traveler, you know that's about as common as seeing a unicorn in the Jet Blue terminal at JFK!)

Second, I've been fortunate to have unexpected, transformative experiences in every place I've been. Trading English and Arab words with a group of Jordanian schoolgirls amid the ruins of Jerash. Watching the sun set over Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet district from an impromptu rooftop party. Meeting a neighbor of my dad's in a tiny, remote eco-lodge in the Panamanian rainforest.

These are the moments that make travel magic for me and why I can't get enough. They're precisely the kinds of moments I'll bring back to the Women on Their Way community if I'm chosen as a winner of the Local Nation contest.

Ten years ago, I was so terrified of flying that I could hardly read the word "airplane" without breaking out in a sweat. I overcame my fear because I didn't want to miss out on the world. Today, I'm running out of pages in my passport and space on my bookshelf for my Lonely Planet guides.

I believe we each make our own luck through the surprise connections we make, the relationships we nurture, and the passions we pursue. Please help me keep my streak alive by casting your vote of support. In return, I promise stories and photos filled with awe-inspiring sights, fascinating people, and unabashed joie de vivre. Thank you!