Traveling To Turks and Caicos

by | Nov 26, 2023 | Uncategorized

Turks and Caicos Providenciales

I traveled to Turks and Caicos Providenciales with my friend and her family in the spring of 2018. We visited this island for a week and had so many fun experiences. Turks has so many fun activities for tourists that I’ll be going over along with the few that I got to enjoy.

When flying into Turks we took a flight from Roanoke Virginia to Charlotte North Carolina. From Charlotte we flew straight into Turks and Caicos which is in the Caribbean in the Virgin British Islands. There are a total of 40 islands that make up the archipelago of Turks and Caicos. We were visiting one of the two main inhabited islands, the Providenciales. When flying in, I remember looking out the window and being so stunned by the crystal blue water that stretched for miles.

Once we were finished checking out of the airport, we rented a jeep and drove to our resort. The resort was beautiful and consisted of a bunch of little villas for each of the guests. Each villa had multiple rooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a porch. There was also a pool and a hot tub in the center of all the villas.

First Day

On our first day we drove to the grocery store to get everything we needed for the week. While we did plan on enjoying the islands cuisine, we also wanted to have some food items at home. There is minimal public transportation on this island, so it’s recommended to rent a car to drive around. The island is also approximately 166 square miles, so it’s easy to navigate around.

After getting all of our necessities we were finally able to go to the beaches. We spent most of our time either laying in the sun or exploring the ocean. Turks and Caicos is known for its marine life, so we made sure to take advantage of that. The barrier reef system is the largest in the world. Grace Bay is home to over 200 different species of fish and different coral formation. This was my first-time snorkeling, and it didn’t disappoint. We would be out in the ocean for hours swimming through schools of fish. My favorite moments were when I would find a sea turtle to swim with.

Excursions

 While we were able to go right in front our resort and snorkel, Providenciales has so many reefs to explore. So, one day, we drove across the island to snorkel in the Bight Reef known as the Coral Gardens. We brought all of our gear and dove in. While we were expecting bright and colorful reefs such as the ones out by our resort, these reefs had been affected by climate changed and bleached. While they were still beautiful there was a lack of wildlife due to the dead reefs.

After several days of swimming in the ocean, we decided we wanted to fly above it. We found a company to take us parasailing and boy was it worth it. This was also my first-time parasailing, and I was a little more nervous for this. There are always horror stories in the news about parasailing accidents. Though, I figured I would regret it if I didn’t at least try. We went out on a boat with a group of people and set out into the middle of the ocean. Once we were there, everything was kind of a blur until the moment we were released up into the sky. Looking down below as we floated higher into the sky made my stomach turn, but in excitement. The water below was beautiful and because of the clarity, we could still see the marine life swimming below. To compare the two activities, snorkeling and parasailing is difficult. Being immersed in the wildlife versus viewing it while flying are both pretty remarkable. I will say, if you’re an adrenaline junkie, I would recommend trying out parasailing. 

 

 

Cuisine

Along with the amazing marine life, the cuisine is exceptional. Much of their food is shaped by the fusion of African, European, and indigenous influences. 

Obviously, the fish is some of the freshest fish I’ve had. One night we went to a street food festival, and I got a whole fried fish. To this day I would say that’s the best fish I’ve ever had. We also had conch fritters at various restaurants, which are fried sea snails. Each restaurant prepared them a little different, but each dish was delicious. Some other popular dishes there that I didn’t get to try are crab and rice, hominy grits, lionfish, jerk chicken, and coconut conch chowder.

 

Culture

One of my favorite things about the island was the culture and hospitality of the locals. Turks and Caicos has a rich cultural heritage of African, European, and indigenous influences. They love sharing their culture and occupations with others by selling arts and crafts such as pottery, jewelry, and woven goods. There are so many shops around filled with these arts and knowing they’re all handmade rather than manufactured is refreshing. The island is also filled with a variety of musical genres such as reggae, soca, and gospel. I loved seeing how proud they were to play their music for everyone to hear.

Aside from my personal experiences there are so many more things to do on this island. I’ll delve more into that in my guide for Turks and Caicos. Overall, we had such a great week with experiences that I was so happy to take home with me. It is for sure on my bucket list to visit again and I hope everyone reading will add it to theirs as well.

Tips for Turks

by | Oct 23, 2023 | Guides

Tips for Turks

Clothing/Sunscreen

        Turks and Caicos is HOT! I don’t mean our typical U.S. summer heat. Because it’s so close to the equator, the sun really beats down on you and the humidity is typically high. I would bring mostly summer clothes. Lots of shorts, short sleeves and tank-tops, bathing suits, sandals. There may be some rainy days, so a rain-coat would be nice to have. Overall, I wouldn’t waste your time on packing jeans and sweaters. 

       I also want to make a large emphasis on wearing sunscreen while visiting this island. Even if you always tan and are used to the sun in the U.S., you will burn there. The average U.V. index is around 10 and can easily reach 12. I made the mistake of neglecting sunscreen on my first day because it was still early in the morning, and I didn’t realize the U.V had already reached 11. I was torched and burnt for the rest of the trip. I’m also Latina and have tan skin normally. So, if you’re a fair skin person it’s crucial that you bring heavy duty sunscreen and reapply throughout the day. Especially if you’re going in and out of the water. If you do burn, either bring or buy aloe vera and lotion to avoid peeling. This was another mistake I made. I didn’t think it was necessary and peeled for weeks after.  

 

Renting a Car

        Due to the size of the island and the population, there aren’t many options for public transportation. Most islanders drive around the island, so it’s recommended for tourists to rent a car for the duration of their stay. There are many options, but for island purposes I would suggest getting a jeep that you can get sandy and wet. Also prior to visiting this island, it’s important to note that people drive on the opposite side of the roads than the U.S. So instead of driving on the right side of the road, they drive on the left. This was very confusing for me and thankfully I was the one driving.

 

Activities

        Aside from the activities that I experienced, Turks and Caicos has so many things to do.  One of the most popular things to do is take a boat cruise. There are many different options such as snorkeling and sunset cruises. One of the most interesting options is to cruise to the Caicos Cays between Providenciales and North Caicos. This cruise has various stops along the way including, the iguana sanctuary of Little Water Cay, the beach and lagoon at Half Moon Bay, and the sandbars and sunken cannons at Fort George Cay.

        Another popular activity is to kayak or paddleboard in the Wetlands. Turks and Caicos has a large network of mangrove wetlands and tidal channels perfect for these watersports. These guided excursions will give you the opportunity to spot wildlife such as sharks, turtles, conchs, barracudas, bonefish, starfish, and stingrays.

       If you want an even more immersive experience, Turks and Caicos offer great opportunities for scuba diving. Boats regularly visit over 80 miles of barrier reef in Providenciales. If you are inexperienced, there are several local dive shops that offer water and DSD courses so you can get in the water during your trip. Personally, for me, I think I would be a little freaked out to be that deep into the ocean, but I’m sure it would be exhilarating.

       If you are a thrill seeker and want an activity that will get your heartrate up, jet skiing is a great option. There are little waves around this area, so you can jet ski with ease and speed through the crystal waters. This is great to do with friends!

       A more leisurely activity that the island offers is horseback riding at Long Bay. This activity allows you to slowly prance through the shallow waters of the beach. The trained horses tend to be very nice to their riders and enjoy wading in the ocean just as much as us. If you love horses and the ocean, this is a perfect combination!

        If you want to tour more of the island itself, there are options such as the Party Bike experience along Grace Bay, and the Love Buggy Island tour. Both options offer rides along through the island where visitors can stop and view different shops and restaurants. The Love Buggy tour also takes people around 85% of the island so the wildlife can be explored.

 

  

Island Wildlife

       One of the amazing things about this island is the wildlife on land. While the marine life is spectacular, there are so many iguanas, lizards, and birds that roam freely around the island. If you travel to one of the many mangroves, there’s a chance you might see bright pink flamingos.

        Reptiles such as the Curly-tail lizard, anole, geckos, and skinks have made this island their home as they’re often seen climbing trees, wandering the sidewalks, or hanging on the side of buildings. One of the most famous of the indigenous animals on the island is the Island Rock Iguana. These large iguanas are unfortunately known to be critically endangered. So, if you see one, make sure to treat it with care.

        The Curly-tail lizard is the largest of the non-iguana lizards and is commonly seen in nearly all terrains in our islands. They are typically small and reach a maximum of 10 inches. A sibling to the curly-tail lizard is the southern Bahamas anole. This reptile can be found in every island of the archipelago and is a little smaller than the Curly-tail lizard but consumes the same diet. There are also several geckos and skinks that wander around the island. Most of these reptiles are used to humans so don’t be scared if one wanders a little close. They are typically harmless and enjoy a fruity snack every once in a while.

        Turks and Caicos is also home to three snakes which include, two miniature boas and one worm-like blind snake. Though, don’t fret, unlike the iguanas and lizards, you most likely won’t find these snakes slithering along the sidewalks of the island.

       Overall, this island really has something for everyone. There are so many opportunities to relax and get your blood rushing. The animals and music really bring this island to life. The culture is amazing, and the overall vibe of the island is unmatched. This is a place I would recommend to almost anyone as there are so many options for activities.

Brazil Bucket List

by | Oct 23, 2023 | Destinations

Brazil Bucket List

       Explorers, have you ever wanted to travel to Brazil but didn’t know where to start? You didn’t know which cities to go to, which cities were safe, or where the locals went to have fun. If you’re tired of only finding basic tourist traps, Empowering Explorers is here to change that. In this piece I’ll be going over the best places to go to in Brazil.

 

        South America has always been on my bucket list as my mom is from Venezuela. Unfortunately due to the political climate, I’m unable to go to her homeland, so the next best thing is to go to a neighboring country. While this may sound silly, Brazil has been on my list ever since I was a kid and watched the Disney movie “Rio”. The movie made the country seem so beautiful. So in this article, I will be going over some of the places that I have been on my bucket-list along with some other activities that may cater to your desires.

Iguazu Falls

       If you are looking for a natural beauty, Iguazu Falls should be on your bucket list. It’s one of the Natural World Wonders. While this is a popular tourist attraction, it’s one you won’t want to skip. It’s located in the state of Parana and borders Argentina and borders Argentina and Paraguay. Iguazu National Park consists of two national parks, one in Foz de Iguazu Brazil and the other one in Puerto Iguazu Argentina. 

     Iguazu Falls is a total of 82 meters in height and 2700 meters in width. It’s a remarkable sight to see whether it’s on land or in a helicopter. Along with the falls themselves, Iguazu has many native flora and species of animals that make the falls even more beautiful. 

Lençóis Maranhenses

        Another natural beauty that is more secret and popular within the locals is Lencois Maranhenses. Lencois is a desert landscape covered with white dunes and lakes. It’s located on Brazil’s north Atlantic coast. The lagoons are formed from rainfall and people travel specifically to swim in them. The lake’s diverse ecosystem also includes mangrove swamps. From the picture’s I’ve seen, it is stunning. I also love looking for places that locals enjoy, rather than tourist traps. It’s also pretty private, so if you’re looking to stray away from the noise of the city for a day and have some “me time”, this is definitely the place for you.

The Amazon

       If you’re feeling ambitious and want to dive further into nature, the Amazon is a great one to add to the bucket list. This is another activity that has been on my list for a while. My in-laws just actually traveled to Brazil for a work program for several months and traveled down the Amazon. They had the best time exploring the jungle and wildlife, but it’s understandable how this journey can seem overwhelming. 

       The Amazon covers 40% of South America and is the largest rainforest in the world. The best way to get to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil is to fly to Eduardo Gomes International Airport in the city of Manaus. This is the most popular tourist city in the Amazon so if you want to travel to a quaint town you could fly to Santarem, which is a smaller town about 370 mi east of Manaus.

         Due to the fact the Amazon is so large, you should plan to make this a longer excursion (preferably a week or more). It’s also smart to add a few days in case of poor weather or other unplanned obstacles. You should also plan a specific time to go depending on your desires as the Amazon does have a dry season and a rainy season. The rainy season is usually from January to July and the dry season runs from August to December. If you travel during the rainy season, you’ll have more opportunities to travel down the rivers in canoes though if you don’t love rain the dry season may be more up your alley. 

        The most notable thing to prepare for prior to traveling to the amazon is vaccinations. While they aren’t required, the vaccinations against hepatitis A, Typhoid, and yellow fever are recommended.

Panatanal

If you’re looking to see a jaguar in the flesh, this is the spot for you. Panatanal is a tropical wetland region recognized for its biodiversity. Due to the biodiversity, it’s a hotspot for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. You can either take boat safaris or guided walks to see various wildlife such as jaguars, giant river otters, and an abundance of birdlife. I know for me personally, I have always wanted to see wildlife like this outside of a zoo. While this can be intimidating, as long as you remain respectful to the animals home, it can be an amazing experience. 

Ouro Preto

    If you’re looking to go somewhere with history to go that the locals cherish, Ouro Preto is the place for you. Ouro Preto is the country’s best-preserved town. It was the capital of Minas Gerais until the late 19th century and is located in the Serra do Espinhaço mountains of eastern Brazil. It’s known for its baroque architecture, including bridges, fountains and squares, and its steep, winding cobbled streets. It was also the first place in Brazil to be declared a UNESCO world heritage site.

         Besides the enchanting historical aspect of this town, Ouro Preto is home to one of the largest festivals known as Ouro Preto Carnival. This festival occurs for four days leading up to Ash Wednesday. This celebration is unique because it’s organized by university students.  An interesting aspect of this festival is there are different “Republics” in which attendees stay during the festival. These Republics are the university students’ houses that are rented out for this festival.

         The festival is full of huge block parties, music, drinks, and food. Though, one of the largest attractions during this festival is the Samba Show. Dancers samba through the street wearing bright colorful costumes with large floats and live traditional samba music. As a college student who loves festivals, this is something that is right up my alley. 

Rio de Janeiro

As I had mentioned previously, one of the main reasons I’ve wanted to go to Brazil is because of “Rio”. The movie portrayed the liveliness of the city so well. If you’re looking for more of a tourist attraction city filled with parties and clubs, Rio de Janeiro is the place to be. Rio is the most popular city in Brazil for tourists and for good reasons. Whether you want to see the views of the Christ the Redeemer statues, the mountains, the beaches, or carnival life, there’s probably something for you. The lively streets demonstrate so much culture and what the city means to the locals that live there. Rio is also known for its museums, such as the Museum of Modern Art.

         There are many excursions to go on in this lively city. You can enjoy a bus tour through the city, go on a hiking tour to explore the native flora and fauna, participate in culture tours, do extreme sports such as paragliding, or visit the historical churches and cathedrals. There’s really something for everyone in this city (hence why it’s so popular).

Tips for Prague

by | Oct 23, 2023 | Guides

Tips for Prague

         Prague is a beautiful country in the Czech Republic. Everyone there is very kind to tourists and overall, you don’t need to prepare too much. Thankfully, many of the locals speak English, so there isn’t too much of a language barrier. Though, I will be going over some tips that may help and make your trip seamless!

 Packing

        When packing clothes for this trip, make sure that you look ahead at what season it will be. The seasons there are similar to Virginia’s. If you are going in the summer, which are the months of June- August which is when I went, I would recommend bringing an assortment of clothes for warmer and cooler weather. While there are some days that could be in the upper 80’s and 90’s, a cooler day could easily sneak up on you, so make sure to bring some pants and sweaters. It also tends to be cooler at night.

         While it is typical for people in the U.S. to walk around in sweatpants or pajamas, people in Prague tend to dress up regardless of where they’re going. I would recommend bringing various dresses and skirts to avoid sticking out in the crowd. If you are planning on going to certain churches, I would double check their policies on clothing. Some churches are open to the public and have no set of rules, but others require more modest clothing and to cover the shoulders.

         As far as shoes go, I would recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes. Most of the streets are cobblestone and if you plan to tour the city, you will be walking a lot. There’s a lot to see on foot so you’ll spend a lot of your time walking. I wore Chacos for most of the trip, but any tennis shoe with support will work. If you do plan on wearing heels, choose a shorter heel or sandal that still has some arch support.

Surviving Jet Lag

        I’m going to briefly go into tips for surviving jet lag. Due to the 6-hour time difference, jet lag is inevitable. Especially after 12 hours on a plane. The best advice when arriving is to keep moving. If you try and take a small nap, you’ll end up over sleeping and making your sleep schedule even worse. As soon as we got there, we had about an hour to unpack and get settled before we proceeded with our tours of the city. While we were all dragging a little, this was the best strategy for beating the jetlag. Once the day was over, we all easily went back to sleep and adjusted to the new hours.

Planes, Trains, and automobiles:

        Prague is known for having one of the best public transportation systems in Europe. So, while a lot can be accomplished by walking, there will be times you will have to use one of their transportation methods.

         The metro, trams, and buses are used by two-thirds of Prague’s population. If you are traveling a long distance, the metro is a great option as it can travel a great distance in a short period of time. The metro has three color-coded lines that form the city’s transport backbone. Line A (green) goes from Depo Hostivar to Nemocnice Motol. Line B (yellow) goes from Cerny Most-Zlicin. Lince C (red) goes from Letnany-Haje. Using this method can take you from one end of Prague to the other in about 30 to 45 minutes. That’s insane!

         The trams have intervals. At peak hours the tram will come every 8-10 minutes and during off-peak it will come every 10-30. Night connections are a little slower with the tram coming every 30 minutes. It’s also important to note that at pedestrian crossings, trams always have the right of way over pedestrians!

        I personally took a bus most of the time we were traveling anywhere greater than walking distance and we never had any issues getting to our desired destination. The bus intervals are every 6-8 minutes during peak hours and every 15-30 during off hours.

        All these modes are great options for traveling and overall great for the environment. The only time that it may be recommended to take a taxi or drive is during commute times when the bus, metro, and tram may be crammed.

a plane wing through the window of a plane flying over clouds
citystreets

Restaurant Etiquette

         The food in Prague was one of my favorite parts as I’m a huge foodie. We went to several restaurants every day to enjoy their fresh cuisine. So much fresh bread, pasta, and yummy meats. Some of their most popular dishes include, Kulajda, a creamy potato soup with mushrooms, dill, vinegar, and a poached egg; wiener sausages; Svickova, beef and bread dumplings served with a vegetable sauce with cream; Roast duck which was one of my favorite dishes; and Trdelnik which I mentioned was a pastry covered in sugar. While some of these foods may be out of your comfort zone, it’s important to respect every culture. So, if you aren’t a fan of a dish, be as polite and respectful as possible.

       Another thing to note when going to restaurants in Prague is that they include the tip in the bill. This means that you are not required to tip more as it was already added. Though, some people may be aware of this, if this is your first time in a European country you may feel the need to tip and unfortunately many of the servers won’t correct tourists (I mean it’s extra money for them). Another thing to note is that water is not free in Prague. So, it may be more worth your money to purchase another beverage.

 

Money

         The currency in Prague is the Czech Koruna. Notes come in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 CZK. Coins come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 CZK. So, one American dollar is equal to about 23 Korunas. You either have the option to convert money from debit or credit cards into cash or use the card itself. Prague only accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express. I made the mistake of only bringing a Discovery card and was disappointed when it declined on my first purchase. Thankfully I had enough U.S. cash that I could convert into Korunas and use throughout the duration of my trip. Don’t make that mistake and come prepared with the correct debit/credit card and have cash just in case a store or restaurant is cash only.

Phone usage and outlets.

        One thing that is common in most international countries is the use of WhatsApp. WhatsApp is a mobile app that allows you to make phone calls and send text messages without the extra international fees. It links with your phone numbers and all your contacts, so you don’t have to input numbers. My dance group used this every day to communicate plans for the day and I used it to communicate with my family back in the U.S.

         Another thing to note is that the electrical outlets in Prague are significantly different, so you will have to purchase different plug adapters. The two types of plugs are C and E. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type E is the plug which has two round pins and a hole for the socket’s male earthing pin. You can purchase these on either Amazon or in Walmart.

 

Public Restrooms

       One small thing to keep in mind is that some public restrooms require a small fee for use. I was very surprised the first time this happened. We were in a park and me and my friends walked into the bathroom to see a lady asking us for money. We weren’t sure how to respond, but later found out this is a normal thing there. It’s typically just a few Korunas, but if you can avoid using certain public restrooms I would.

My Experience in Prague, Czech Republic

by | Oct 23, 2023 | Destinations

My Experience in Prague, Czech Republic

      Explorers, I had a bit of an interesting experience with my travels to Prague. While I was there for some vacation, I was also there to work. In the summer of 2019, I traveled with my dance company known as Star City Ballet to compete in an international dance competition in Prague. The dance competition was known as New Prague Dance Festival and featured dance teams from countries all over the world. This was a trip my company had made every two years, so when it was my turn to go, I was stoked.

Traveling Overseas

        About 15 dancers traveled together along with three chaperones and our dance instructor. We woke up bright and early to catch our 12-hour-flight. Our first flight was in Roanoke. We then landed in France and flew from France and France to Prague.

 I always get more anxious about the airport scene than I do flying. Airports tend to be pretty hectic, so the best thing is to stay focused and move fast. Also don’t look suspicious lol because there’s nothing worse than getting searched. Once you make it through bag check, security, and customs, you can have some time to breathe while waiting to board your flight. 

Once we were all boarded on the plane, we looked at the map to track our journey. This was the longest flight I had been on so I was definitely a little anxious about that. The best tips I can give for surviving a long plane ride are to make sure you bring snacks, have some movies or videos downloaded on your phone, or watch the movies provided by the plane. This will make the time fly by. I also personally struggle with my ears popping at high altitudes, so I made sure to purchase ear-planes which are ear plugs designed to stop ear popping. 

Since this was such a long flight, we had lunch, dinner, and breakfast the next morning on the plane. They were all mediocre plane food, but survivable, especially if you’re hungry. I watched our plane on the screen get close to our destination and by that point, I was so excited to exit the plane. Once we landed, we did the whole airport scene again and finally got on a bus to take us to our hotel. 

Touring the City

        The first few days of our journey were spent exploring the city and tasting all the wonderful food. That was honestly the most I’ve ever walked, but the breathtaking architecture of the city made it worth it. So much can be viewed just by walking around and many of the castles and churches in the city are free to the public. We took advantage of this and toured several castles and churches downtown. Along with the free tours, we also visited a Holocaust Museum, a local dance shop, and went on a boat tour through the city.

       When walking through the city, there’s an immense number of shops to browse through, so make sure you bring your money. There are also many pop-up vendors for fun treats such as Trdelnik, which is a traditional old bohemian sweet pastry made of yeast and dough. Cinnamon and sugar are usually sprinkled across and you can either enjoy as is or fill it with ice cream and other fillings such as Nutella. So good! I had one probably every day.

         During the tours of the castles and churches I was blown away by the structure and art that formulated around the ceilings and walls. Each piece of artwork had so much detail and passion put into it. It also should be noted that when traveling to places like this, it’s polite to dress modestly and presentably. So, no booty shorts, crop-tops, short skirts, or short dresses. Getting the opportunity to walk through these amazing buildings made compromising some of my outfits worth it.

         We did the boat tour on one of our last days. All my friends and I were served a lovely dinner while floating down a canal through the city. The food was great, and the views of the city were even better. We stayed on the boat for several hours and got to see the sunset along with the city lights in the night sky.

church

Dancing throughout Prague 

         Aside from the tours, we got the opportunity to take dance classes with Czech dance instructors, which was such an amazing experience. The studio spaces were nothing like I had seen in the U.S. and the atmosphere of the space made me want to dance forever. Each room had high ceilings decorated in art or wooden sculptures. The mirrors were also draped in fabric curtains that gave the rooms an elegant look. Each instructor also had their own style of teaching, which is always interesting. Most of them also spoke little to no English so I was thankful that ballet terms translate to the same meaning.

         Once we got to the actual competition, we had three separate days to showcase our ensembles. We had been rehearsing all summer for this competition, so it was relieving once we had finished each piece with applause from the audience. When we weren’t dancing, we got the opportunity to watch all the other performances. BYU was one of my favorites as they performed huge modern and contemporary pieces. They ended up getting first place, which was well-deserved.

        While the performance was amazing, it was something I was used to doing. The part that really stuck with me was meeting the other dancers from other countries backstage. It was so cool to hear their stories and what was crazy to me was that they all spoke English, while none of us spoke their language. It was such a crazy contrast of how they all put effort into our country and how very few people in America put effort into learning other languages. 

         After the last night of competing, we got our awards and we had won third place in the Ballet Category, which made sense since that was our expertise. Winning that award made me emotional because while it was amazing to bring that home with me, it also meant that our experience in this country was over. Usually when people think of traveling, they think of vacation. I remember being nervous about the responsibilities that we would have while being abroad. We had to wake up early, go to new studios, rehearse with strangers. Though, tours and lounging around aren’t the only purpose for travel. Utilizing resources from other countries and cultures is so rewarding and this can apply to anyone’s interests. There are so many cool things you as a traveler can learn abroad and I would take advantage of that. 

dance
Ballet instructor teaching in Prague with hands on hips.

Leaving Paradise

      Though, before we boarded our flight early the next morning, we partied one last time with everyone we competed with in the festival. We made so many great connections that night as we weren’t in the strict environment of competing. I danced for hours with my friends on the dance floor until we had to leave.

        The next morning, we all woke up at around 6am to enjoy our last continental breakfast at the hotel and board our plane around 9am. Leaving for me was very bittersweet. I loved every minute of it and was happy to take these memories home with me.