The Traveling Storygirl

07/01/2022

Whoever said “everything is bigger in Texas” clearly had no idea what the United Arab Emirates were capable of 🇦🇪
I still can’t get over my recent trip to the Middle East 🕌 This Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque puts all other mosques to shame with its sheer size and grandeur 🤩 You wouldn’t know that this mosque was packed full of people with this picture, would you? 📸

17/08/2021

Despite having just completed 22 years of continuous school... if I had to quit my day job I would just want to travel the world and admire the Milky Way and the stars ✨
It’s currently Milky Way Season in the northern hemisphere, go see it before it sets for the winter! 🌵💫

10/06/2021

I shouldn’t laugh... but some people make it hard not to 😂

😂😂😂

THESE ARE ACTUAL COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY "THOMAS COOK VACATIONS" FROM DISSATISFIED CUSTOMERS:

1. "They should not allow topless sunbathing on the beach. It was very distracting for my husband who just wanted to relax."

2. "On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don't like spicy food."

3. "We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the taxi drivers as they were all Spanish."

4. "We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our own swimsuits and towels. We assumed it would be included in the price."

5. "The beach was too sandy. We had to clean everything when we returned to our room."

6. "We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure. Your brochure shows the sand as white but it was more yellow."

7. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers in Puerto Vallartato close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during 'siesta' time -- this should be banned."

8. "No-one told us there would be fish in the water. The children were scared."

9. "Although the brochure said that there was a fully equipped kitchen, there was no egg-slicer in the drawers."

10. "I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local convenience store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts."

11. "The roads were uneven and bumpy, so we could not read the local guide book during the bus ride to the resort. Because of this, we were unaware of many things that would have made our holiday more fun."

12. "It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England. It took the Americans only three hours to get home. This seems unfair."

13. "I compared the size of our one-bedroom suite to our friends' three-bedroom and ours was significantly smaller."

14. "The brochure stated: 'No hairdressers at the resort.' We're trainee hairdressers and we think they knew and made us wait longer for service."

15. "When we were in Spain, there were too many Spanish people there. The receptionist spoke Spanish, the food was Spanish. No one told us that there would be so many foreigners."

16. "We had to line up outside to catch the boat and there was no air-conditioning."

17. "It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or unruly guests before we travel."

18. "I was bitten by a mosquito. The brochure did not mention mosquitoes."

19. "My fiancée and I requested twin-beds when we booked, but instead we were placed in a room with a king bed. We now hold you responsible and want to be re-reimbursed for the fact that I became pregnant. This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked."

Source: Peter Dickinson

05/05/2021

Happy Cinco de Mayo!! 🥳 Which, literally translated, just means the 5th of May. Not too much creativity 🤣

Despite popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not a Mexican holiday🇲🇽 It simply commemorates a Mexican victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla. But for some reason, the Americans got ahold of it and turned this day into a full-blown party 🎉 There’s Tequila involved, so I’m not complaining 😂

So if you decide to go and celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year, just remember to support small Mexican businesses and to be respectful of our culture and heritage! 🇲🇽🍹

(And yes, our heritage does include Tequila 😉)

26/04/2021

Crazy to think that 3 years ago today, my friend and I woke up at 2 am and drove across the desert to watch the sunrise over Salvation Mountain! 🌄
This beautiful art installation was built decades ago and although the creator has since died, his passion lives on as an attraction for everyone to visit! ✝️💙

22/04/2021

Since last year’s , I’ve explored more of nature than I ever expected to. I’ve traveled to four National Parks, almost all more than once, and have appreciated how unique our planet is 🌎 we must take extra care to preserve our planet and keep her healthy so that our future generations can enjoy her beauty... just like we do 🌞 So on today’s get out there and appreciate the amazing planet we live on and help do your part to keep her green 💚🌳 (swipe for a surprise)

15/03/2021

“Beware the Ides of March...” Normally each year on March 15th I make a joke about Julius Caesar and how he was infamously killed on the Ides of March. But a year ago today, March 15, 2020, I had to flee London because of COVID shutting the borders. All of my hopes, plans, and dreams for the next year were cut short as I frantically boarded a flight in an attempt to repatriate before it was too late 🇺🇸
It’s been 1 year and so much has changed in the world since this picture was taken. Mentally, I still think it’s this time last year... we’ve all had a year of our lives taken from us in some capacity. Let’s hope that the next year we can finally get back to normal and back to travel! ✈️

12/03/2021

Sometimes you just have to visit the over-hyped tourist attractions to check it out for yourself! 💚💛💗

These are the Seven Magic Mountains, located just outside of Las Vegas 🎲 I didn’t know what to expect since they were just rocks... and that’s exactly what they were 😂 Definitely makes a cool photo opp though, PLUS it’s easy to social distance here! 📸 Have you seen these in Vegas before?

18/02/2021

Do you ever have those moments where you can’t believe you’re lucky enough to experience it? This was yesterday at Yosemite’s Firefall 🔥

Despite being a California resident, I only learned about the firefall a few years ago and knew that I had to go once in my lifetime 📸

Conditions have to be PERFECT, it’s sheer luck. There must be enough rain to create a snowpack, but the days have to be warm enough for the water to flow. The sky has to be perfectly clear because just one cloud can block the entire view! 🌋

Have you ever heard of the Firefall before?

15/02/2021

What I wouldn’t do to be in Amsterdam right now stuffing my face full of delicious Dutch food 😍🇳🇱
My mouth is even watering right now just thinking of all the delicious food in the Netherlands... raw herring, Krokets, Poffertjes, Stroopwafels... the list goes on! 🤩
What’s the best food you’ve had on your travels? 🍽

08/02/2021

It’s Mountain Monday! Last week I was fortunate enough to see the Sierra Nevada Mountains after a huge storm blew through 🏔 The setting sun during golden hour was so stunning that I had to go out and take some pictures, even though I was about 30 miles away 📷 You can see Sequoia National Park in the 2nd picture, it’s crazy how small the trees look from here! 🌲

25/01/2021

I’m a bit late to the party but I just discovered how to animate photos and I am OBSESSED 📸 Now I’ve begun going through my pictures to animate some of them and I’m missing Iceland so badly! 🇮🇸 It’s one of the first places I hope to visit once it’s safe to do so after the pandemic ✈️ Where do you hope to visit after it’s safe to do so?

15/01/2021

Necessity is the mother of invention! What an awesome solution to still encourage learning, even in these absolutely crazy times!

UNICEF installed loudspeakers to broadcast remote lessons in communities without internet or television signals.

15/01/2021

256 years ago today, the British Museum opened its doors for the first time 🏛 The British Empire collected so many artifacts from around the world, including its crown jewel: The Rosetta Stone 🪨 But for the past 2 centuries this museum has been controversial. Should its artifacts stay there to show the world? Or should the British Museum return all of its artifacts to the country of origin? 🧐 What do you guys think should be done? Should we get rid of all museums that have foreign objects? Or do we just keep everything where it is currently and move forward with a new perspective? 🇬🇧

14/01/2021

Is anyone surprised that I went to see more Sequoia trees this week? 🌳 This big boy is General Grant in Kings Canyon National Park and it’s the 2nd biggest tree in the WORLD 🌎 Yes you read that right... the world!! The beauty of living so close to the Sequoias is that a day trip in the middle of the week means we get the whole park to ourselves!! 🏔
How have you started your new year? 🧗🏽‍♀️

31/12/2020

Like for many of us, 2020 was a year of disappointment and cancelled travel plans 🌍 I started the year by almost getting stranded in Europe thanks to COVID and thus began the year of lockdowns 🔐 Despite the challenges, I was still able to go out and travel a lot, just in the great outdoors near my home so that I could maintain social distancing 🧍🏽‍♀️________ 🧍🏻‍♂️ It was hard to see my international plans continuously get cancelled, but I had to focus on the fact that I, and my family, were healthy! 😷
This year I was still able to visit 5 US National Parks and a few places I hadn’t visited since childhood! Was it as exciting as visiting Tokyo or climbing Machu Picchu as planned? 🇯🇵🇵🇪 not quite, but I was thankful to have the opportunity to leave my house 🏡
What are you proud of accomplishing this year?

26/12/2020

Happy Boxing Day! 🎁 Hope that you all had a Merry Christmas! 🎄 If you’re looking for something to buy with all your new money, look no further than CityLogue Posters!! This one has the 100 top cities in the world and you scratch them off once you’ve visited them! 🌆 Probably one of the coolest presents this holiday season!!🎅🏻

Been There, Done That also has frames to fit your new poster so that everyone can see your achievements! Visit profile to buy your own!! 📜

13/12/2020

Did you know that Arizona is home to a National Park entirely dedicated to cacti? 🌵 Yep, Saguaro National Park is home to countless Saguaro cacti 🌞
The park itself is located just outside of Tucson and is perfect for a day trip! 🚗💨
Saguaro National Park is ideal to visit during because it’s not a busy park and you can socially distance in the great outdoors! 🌵🦂🦎

10/12/2020

After a month-long hiatus from Insta to finish my thesis paper, I’m finally DONE and back online 🎊🎓
Even though I’ve even busy writing my life away, I still managed to make it to two different National Parks because sometimes you just gotta get out in nature ⛰ Does anyone recognize the iconic landmark behind me? 📸

02/11/2020

Today is Dia de Los Mu***os! 💀 Today’s celebrations throughout Mexico and the world are going to look much different than in years past, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t celebrate! 💜🎉
I’ve had a lot of people on Facebook ask me questions about the significance behind Dia de los Mu***os to Mexicans 🇲🇽 And honestly, a great source is the Disney movie, Coco! 🪕🌸 Sadly I haven’t been able to celebrate Dia de Los Mu***os in Mexico, but here’s to hoping I can next year! ☠️💃🏽

28/10/2020

Rick Steves is always a man you can trust!! Take a moment to check out his latest post! 👍🏼

When Fascism Feels Normal…It’s Too Late

As a child traveling in Europe, I met a piano player who was a concentration camp survivor. I remember watching the serial number tattooed on his wrist sliding in and out of his sleeve as he played. He told me stories of his experience…stories that I would never forget.

Firsthand memory of Europe’s fascist nightmare in the 20th century is dying along with the last survivors of the Holocaust and N**i Germany. We can’t forget what happened to them — and why. Take an hour to watch “Rick Steves’ The Story of Fascism in Europe” — and please tell your friends and family to do the same. The full documentary is available at www.ricksteves.com/fascism — completely free (and ad-free).

Protecting our democracy is a matter of stewardship. Sometimes you need to go into the past to understand the present — and right now, I believe history is speaking to us.

When fascism feels normal, it’s too late.

13/10/2020

Always take time to look at things from a different perspective ✨
I know that’s a bit cheesy to go along with the photo, but it’s something I keep in mind when traveling 🛥 It’s easy, as travelers, to only want to see the touristy sites because they’re the most well-known. But every location has hidden gems and sometimes you need to explore how the real locals live ⚜️
But when you’re on a time-crunch, it’s still okay to see as much as possible! Do what works best for YOU!! Don’t forget to check out my latest post on the beautiful Dubrovnik! 🇭🇷

09/10/2020

It doesn’t matter where we go, I know that any trip my parents and I take together is going to be a blast 🤩 I’m fortunate to have been born into a family that teaches me the importance of travel 🌍🕌 Traveling with my parents to Egypt a few years ago was one of my favorite family trips! 🐪🇪🇬 🐪 Egypt has so much history and culture and it was mesmerizing to see it all for myself 🛕What has been your favorite family vacation? 🗺

06/10/2020

My Dubrovnik post is finally live 🎉🇭🇷 Croatia is one of the few countries that has been accepting tourists from America in the pandemic which makes this post highly helpful! 🌍
I’m still staying put but a lot of people have begun to travel and I think Croatia is a great place to go ✈️🌊 Plus, where are all my Game of Thrones fans... you’ll love this article! ⚔️ Check it out at the link in my bio!

03/10/2020

Happy German Reunification Day!! 🥳🎉 October 3rd is celebrated as Unity Day, or the day when East and West Germany were finally united as one again! 🇩🇪 it’s hard to believe it’s already been over 30 years. For people like me, who were born after the fall of the Berlin Wall, imagining a divided German State is nearly impossible. But it’s important to remember our history! 🏛 Were you alive to remember the fall of the wall?

27/09/2020

All right, where my Game of Thrones fans at?! You might recognize the city of Dubrovnik from a ton of travel sites, or you may know it as King’s Landing from GOT 🤴🏽⚔️🛡
Regardless of how you know it, or if you’ve ever seen it before, Dubrovnik is a must-visit if you’re visiting Croatia! Just look at those still-standing medieval walls! 🇭🇷 New post about Dubrovnik is coming this week! 🥳 Have you ever visited Croatia?

24/09/2020

German food will always be among my favorite!! If I only had to keep 3 I'd have to keep Döner, Käsespätzle, and Bier!! The 3 main food groups! 😂🇩🇪🍻

How many foods have you tried? 🥰🇩🇪🇩🇪

BY: ( Please credit )

20/09/2020

It’s opening weekend and I SHOULD be back at Oktoberfest this year. 🍻 And yes, Oktoberfest does NOT start in October🥨 Just another thing has taken from us 😪 What I wouldn’t give to be singing German songs on top of a table in the crowded beer halls... 🤩
Even though this year is a bust, hopefully next year’s Wiesen will be back to normal 🇩🇪 If you want to plan an Oktoberfest celebration, I’ve got an in-depth article that you can find at the link in my bio 🥳 Have you been to Oktoberfest before??

15/09/2020

I’ve noticed that I have a side I favor in all my travel photos 📸 Just scrolling through my insta feed and they’re almost all facing the same direction 🤣Whatever works I guess 🤷🏽‍♀️
Right behind me is the walled city of Dubrovnik. That’s it. That’s all of the walled city 🇭🇷 The walled city is the most popular for tourists but many underestimate just how small that walled portion is 🏰 I’m hoping to get my Dubrovnik guide up soon and will share it with you all as soon as I do! 🇭🇷🗺

15/09/2020

I went to this pumpkin festival 5 years ago and it was such a fun time!! I never knew that pumpkins were so diverse and could create so many things!
.. I'll pass on using a pumpkin as a canoe, though 😂

13/09/2020

Is Sunrise Sunday a thing?? Cause I think it definitely should be! 🌄 Sunrise is my favorite part of day because it’s like the world is giving me a fresh start. And with the uncertainty of the world right now, it’s always nice to feel like we get a new beginning 🌞
I’m still missing the ability to travel but I’m looking back at some of my old travel pictures and remembering all the cool things I’ve done 📸
For this trip to Salvation Mountain in the California desert, my best friend and I woke up at 1 am and drove here to watch the sunrise, then drove back home because we were graduating the next day 😂🎓 Talk about an amazing memory! 🚗💨 Hope you have a great start to your week!

11/09/2020

I pack 1 suitcase for a month-long trip but if I'm just going for a weekend I'll pack twice as much! 😂😂

11/09/2020

19 years ago today, our world changed forever. September 11, 2001 was an unspeakable that shocked the world to its core. Nearly two decades later we are still dealing with the horrific aftermath of 9/11 🇺🇸
Even now, as we are in the midst of another global tragedy, there are still glimmers of hope and resilience. Look for the helpers, there will always be helpers. Never forget 🇺🇸❤️💙

08/09/2020

Please say a prayer for everyone in California who is battling the horrible wildfires right now 🙏🏼🌲
There are fires up and down the state and over 2 million acres have already burned 💔😪 Historic Sequoias and Redwoods that are thousands of years old are at risk of burning because of the carelessness of some people 🥺 The smoke here in California is so awful we can barely leave the house. Pray that the firefighters get some relief soon so that beautiful trees like this can be saved for thousands more years 🌲🏔

04/09/2020

Did you know that you can see both sides of San Marino from that little stone path in the middle of the picture?? 🧗🏽‍♀️ Guess that’s one of the perks of visiting a micro country! 🇸🇲
If you haven’t yet, go check out my guide to San Marino at the link in my bio so you can start planning your next Italian vacation! 🚙💨

31/08/2020

The Tour de France started up this weekend in Nice, France! 🚲I loved watching all of the aerial views that showed my previous travels 🇫🇷Definitely wish I was still relaxing on the French Riviera right now 🌊 but I’m thankful that the Tour de France is still being held, even though it’s been delayed due to COVID-19 🦠
I think this is going to be the most-watched Tour in history, just because we are all ready to see some sports on TV! 🤣🚴🏼‍♂️🏆 @ Nice, Côte d'Azur, France

28/08/2020

Do you want a passport stamp from the 5th smallest country in the world?? 📍 Well just head to the link in my bio to learn how to get yours in San Marino! 🇸🇲 The country is so small that you can see just about half of it in the background of my picture! 📸
I always enjoy visiting microstates because I feel like they’re often overlooked by their bigger neighbors. Italy, in the case of San Marino 🏰
Would you take a trip to San Marino? 🚙💨🇸🇲

22/08/2020

A lot of you said yesterday in my Instagram Polls that you haven’t heard of San Marino before, so go to the link in my bio to learn more! 🇸🇲
San Marino is a micro country located INSIDE of Italy and is the world’s oldest republic! ⛰
Due to the fact that most of the country is literally located in a mountain, the country was safe from attacks for years! ⚔️🛡
For those of you who plan on going to Italy once lockdown is over, bookmark this post to add San Marino to your travel plans! 🚗

20/08/2020

So proud of a fellow Mexican for such an amazing achievement!! 🇲🇽 You go girl!! 🎉

18/08/2020

Leave it to Rick Steves to help keep us entertained while in lockdown!! My personal favorite is charging people to use the toilet 😂😂

Top 20 "No-Travel Tips" from Rick Steves Travelers

Homebound and missing Europe? A few weeks ago, I asked my Facebook followers for their best "No-Travel Tips": ways that we can incorporate the little, ahem, joys of travel into our non-travel lives. The response was overwhelming...and hilarious. Some highlights:

Serve your housemates tepid water, and say you'll be right back. Return three hours later, smile, and ask, “Would like some bread?”

Walk through your living room every three minutes while people are watching TV, wag your finger at them, and solemnly announce, “No photo, no video.”

Next time you go to the grocery store, gather all the cash you have in your hands, hold it out to the cashier, and say, “How much?”

I collected my 20 favorite "No-Travel Tips" into a free poster. Download the PDF, print it out, and share it with your friends as we mask up, stay home, embrace science, and patiently and diligently get through this crisis together.

We've got more fun ideas like this on deck for the coming weeks — creative ways to experience Europe even while we're stuck at home. To be sure you don't miss out, be sure to "Like" me on Facebook.

Download the 8½"x 11" poster:
https://bit.ly/3a6LuA7