Anna en Route Travel Consulting

20/04/2020

Can I remember the last time I wasn't planning a trip for me or someone else? Not really. I've never been one to just sit around. I always have to have a plan for what's next. While the current "sitting around" is what's best for the world, it still makes me ache. I can't wait to be back out exploring and seeing new things and - more importantly - helping others see new things. We'll get there in time. For now though please and stay safe, my friends ✈️

20/01/2020

It's taken me nearly one twelfth of the year to really figure out what I want to focus on and accomplish in 2020. I could list my really specific business goals, but that would be a little boring. Here's what I think matters more: In 2020 we are focusing less on the destination and more on the journey. We are taking time for what makes us happy instead of what makes us feel more successful. And, as always, we're gonna see the world no matter what it takes. That was a given.

16/12/2019

Currently sitting in the Newark Airport after a much needed weekend of art and music in New York City. It's the longest I've been away from any form of work (school, personal, business, any of it) since before August, and it was wonderful. I can't quite think of anything else to say at the moment except to put down your laptop for a moment and enjoy the life you've got.

26/10/2019

Hey, friends! It's been a while, but I wanted to let my Anderson pals know that I'll be talking about my business at 1 Million Cups in Downtown Anderson on Wednesday, November 6th at 8 am!! I'm so excited to share my love for travel and my vision for Anna en Route with other entrepreneurs in the area. Send me a message if you want more details about the program and location ✈️

05/08/2019

The jet lag has worn off, and I'm sufficiently caught up on Chick-fil-A and Moe's. I'm back to work planning some great trips for some even greater people, but this was a topic I simply couldn't put off anymore!
Here are some of my thoughts about the sort of things that travel brings out in us when we adventure outside our comfort zones. Check it out, and let me know what you think! ---> https://bit.ly/2Ks14Ke

03/08/2019

Can I let you in on one of my favorite revelations from the past couple months? Every city in the world has its own unique breed of street performers and entertainers. London Underground performers have to be selected for their gigs. I saw a guy in Central Park once racing turtles. And Prague has... these giant polar bears. What a world.
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30/07/2019

Sometimes I feel really lame when someone asks me, "What was your favorite part of the trip??" and I reply with London. I mean, I went to about 20 cities in the last two months, but London was still my favorite despite having been there three times before. But I soon get over my temporary lame feelings because London is fabulous, and it has so many free museums that it really just thrills my soul. Do what makes you happy, friends.
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21/07/2019

Took a short hiatus from Instagram (and social media in general) to enjoy the last week of this trip. As sad as it always is to leave adventure and new places behind, I am seriously missing home. One of my flights got super delayed, and I missed a connection, so I found myself stuck in Portugal a bit longer than planned. Currently waiting to board my last flight back home. Once I hit the ground back in SC, though, it's back to planning. I'm so excited to begin talking with all my clients about their 2020 travels!
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If you've ever read my blog, you know that it's mainly practical pieces. How to's and things of the sort. Look out for some more in-depth travel articles coming up here in the next couple weeks as I get my thoughts wrapped around these last two months!
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And - of course - I have plenty of other pictures to share with you! What cities do you want me to post more from? Let me know below!
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07/07/2019

I usually like staying right by the city centre or at least near it while traveling. We ended up staying a bit further out of the way in Vienna. Perhaps the best thing to come from this is that we are only two blocks away from Prater, an amusement park established by Emperor Joseph II in 1766. It's so full of character and history, and I enjoyed every second we spent there this morning!
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06/07/2019

If you've been following my travels, I don't need to get back up on my soapbox about how much I love London. Since it's such a popular destination for people taking their first trip abroad, however, I decided to write a bit about some of the lesser known tourist attractions in the city! Got some time? Give it a look -----> https://bit.ly/2NBCtYo

02/07/2019

Today I went on a walking tour of Prague. Not only did I learn more than I ever thought I wanted to know about the history of the Czech Republic, but our guide made one of the most interesting points I think I've heard all summer. She said, "The best way to appreciate something is through knowledge." The more you know about something, the more enjoyment we receive from it. Your hobbies. Your favorite movie. Your country. Your major. Your traditions. Knowledge is key, so keep learning, friends.
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30/06/2019

I've always known that I don't handle heat well. Ask anyone who's ever been around me in the middle of a South Carolina summer. The heat in Germany (and, well, most of Europe right now) is just brutal, though! Pair that with the European tradition of no air conditioning anywhere ever, and you've got yourself one sweaty American.
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A brighter note: I got up slightly before the heat set in to take in some of the sights in Bamberg this morning. Bamberg did not disappoint.
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26/06/2019

I wasn't sure if I should make this post. The most real topics are often the most difficult to discuss, however, and after visiting Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site today, I had a lot on my mind.
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What happened in these camps was far worse than anyone today could ever imagine. The small glimpse into the atrocity that the site gives visitors is enough to make anyone weep. How human beings could do such things to one another is a mystery to many, but it happened. It happened in this camp for twelve long years. And it happens today in 2019, though not in quite the same calculated and cold-blooded way.
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After liberation, many in authority thought the next move should be to take down the buildings and structures because of what happened there, but it was actually the committee of survivors that insisted the camps remain as they were. Everything. As a memorial. To prove to the world the crimes that were committed against humanity (as many insist on denying the severity of the Holocaust). To honor those who lost their lives. And to educate people in the hope that such crimes will never again befall society.
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We must never stop learning and growing as human beings. We must never take human rights and democracy for granted. There's so much more that I wish I could express from today, but words seem to fail at some point in the attempt to articulate an appropriate response to it all.
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If you've never taken the time to really understand how the events of 1933 to 1945 unfolded, I encourage you to do your research. I was astounded at the things I did not know until today. And if you ever have the opportunity to visit any of the concentration camp memorial sites, you should take the time to do so.

24/06/2019

One of my biggest goals in writing about travel online is to break some of the stereotypes and assumptions that people have about travel. Here are eight little things I've either heard people tell me or believe you should know before you travel to Europe for the first time!

Americans wrongly assume many things about traveling in Europe. Here are the eight most common ones I’ve heard lately!

23/06/2019

The Schloss Neuschwanstein that visitors flock to each year is actually an unfinished project. Ludwig II began building the castle in 1869 on top of the ruins of two other palaces. Before he could finish all the additions and rooms that were in the original plan, however, he ran out of funding. His family refused to fund the project, and he was soon arrested, deemed unfit to rule. Nevertheless, the castle sees thousands of tourists each day, all there to stare in awe at its beauty.
An interesting and somewhat bizarre story, yes. But it also got me thinking about the human tendency to make plans. We plan out our days and weeks and lives, with the purest intentions to follow through, sometimes just to find our lives turned upside down the next moment. Stop and take stock of the view, though, and you might find that things are beautiful just the way they are. Finished or not.
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19/06/2019

Traded in the London rain for blue skies in Germany! I'm so excited for all the castles and cathedrals and - most importantly - the pretzels. All the pretzels.
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17/06/2019

There are many reasons I like to travel with just a carry-on. Especially on long trips! Besides it being much cheaper to do so, it frees me from a lot of anxiety while traveling. I've put together some tips on how to become a carry-on traveler yourself. Give it a look ----> https://bit.ly/2KX72EH

11/06/2019

I snapped this picture with my phone yesterday in Oxford, and when I went to look at it again I thought "Dang. I accidentally got a bit of my umbrella in there." But the more I look at it, the more I like it.
Life's best moments are often captured haphazardly. Something goes missing when you try to curate a moment.
In the past couple weeks, I've gained a lot of respect for travel bloggers, Instagrammers, and vloggers. There's so much more that goes into their craft than you realize. And as much as I would like for my feed to be filled with stunning images of me and my friends traipsing through beautiful landscapes without a hair out of place, I find that I enjoy the exploration more when I don't feel like I have to manufacture anything.
Basically, all this rant goes to say is this: find what makes you happy and capture that. In whatever way makes you happiest.
Happy travels, everyone!
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