Eastern Europe has always been a mystery to me.  The iron curtain, concentration camps and communism.  It seems so far from the safe world I know as an American.

A time in history incredibly horrific to read about, let alone actually endure. It’s part of the reason I wanted to travel here.  While these days have past for Eastern Europe, I can tell you it’s not forgotten.

More than two decades of freedom has marked a new beginning for the Czech Republic.  But the remnants of communism are still etched on the faces and hearts of the Czech.  While the beauty of Prague is greater than I could have ever imagined—it’s people seem sad, lost and “soulless.”

Even so, everyone I know who has visited Prague raves about the experience.  My expectation of greatness was coupled with curiosity for a city I had never visited.

The weather has been on our side.  I’ve photographed a sunrise, a sunset and everything in between.

Prague’s public transportation makes navigating the city a cinch.  An all day pass for 100 Czech Koruna ($5.70 U.S.) allows you to ride the tram, metro and bus endlessly.

Graffiti is everywhere in Prague and I expect we’ll see it all over Eastern Europe.  Above is the “Lennon Wall” where the Czech people paid tribute to John Lennon’s  musical ideas after he died.  The wall is remembered as a place that gave hope to locals craving freedom.  It’s still written on today.  We even left our mark.  And apparently pop culture has too.  I managed to find Charlie Sheen’s coined phrase “Tiger Blood.”  See bottom right picture above.

Thanks goodness we’re spending most of our days walking around Prague since we’re also eating our way through the city!  Larisa and I have indulged in some scrumptious sweets and treats.

Above are some images that caught my eye that seem to make Prague tick:

*Puppets

*Glass Art

*Antiques

*Faith

*Music

We’ve been very spoiled thanks to Larisa’s friend, Barb.  She’s lived in Prague for 10 years working for Young Life International and spent the day showing and sharing a locals perspective.

I have never been a traveler who brings home souvenirs from a trip.  Maybe a piece of art here, a coffee table book there.  I never wanted my house to look like a hodgepodge of various counties around the globe.  But in Prague I gave in.  Being a Northwest girl I love blown glass art.  I hope you like it as much as do!!  I’m not lugging my new bowl and vase in my backpack—it has been shipped home.

And soon we’ll be shipping off to another country ourselves.

Till next time…Carpe Diem.

Happy St. Patty’s from Ireland (well–I’m in Poland–but I shot this last week in Ireland)!

Find out what St. Patrick’s Day means to the Irish…

I have a rule I try to live by when I travel—never visit the same place twice. The world is too big and there’s too much out there to see and experience. But in the case of Ireland—I retract! I have to come back!

The variations of rich, bright green in Ireland are incredibility stunning. Everywhere you look a vibrant green glistens back at you. Growing up in Washington State the comparisons between the Evergreen State and the Emerald Isle were often made—but this week I’ve learned nothing holds a candle to Ireland. Johnny Cash was right, Ireland really does have 40 shades of green!

I took these pictures on our journey through the Dingle Peninsula. The sky was grey and cloudy but the rolling hills and blue water made up for it with some of the most unbelievable landscape I’ve ever seen.

Aran Islands or bust!
Who said it was easy doing the left side drive and reading road sign that make no sense? That’s what I told myself after missing the ferry to the island on Wednesday. Mom and I were determined to get there since this was the only day we had to make the trip without completely throwing off our whirlwind Irish adventure. We drove to the local airport, boarded a puddle jumper and arrived on Inishmore Island seven minutes later! The cost: 23 Euro. Bravo!

The people of the Aran Islands still practice traditional Irish culture and speak Gaelic.
It’s like stepping back 50 years. The isle of Inishmore is 9 miles by 2 miles. Population: 800. The island is covered with wild rock fences and houses with insanely narrow roads. Check out some of what we encountered…

Left side drive

I can’t say it hasn’t been challenging. I’ve clocked nearly 700 miles with four tanks of gas on the Irish roadways since Tuesday morning.

Facts about the experience:
*Mom white knuckled it the whole way.
*Admittedly, so did I!
*The driver’s side door broke when the wind whipped it open when I was getting out on Friday (not kidding).
*As a result the window also broke, however it did not shatter (thank goodness).
* I was passed dozen of times.
*Although, by the end of the week I was also passing slow going trucks.
*We faced every possible weather condition: wind, rain, sleet and even snow!

Bottom line: it was worth every stressful moment to see such a vast amount Ireland in such a small window of time.

We made our way back to Dublin in time for a whirlwind tour of the city and the Guinness Factory—what a blast!

This post would not be complete without honoring the people of Ireland. The Irish—hands down—are the nicest group of people I have ever met while traveling. It was incredibility refreshing. They seem to treat everyone with kindness and respect, even American tourists like Mom and I!

Sadly, I never found a four-leaf clover on my first Irish escapade. Instead, I found a pot of gold I’ll never forget—it’s called the Republic of Ireland.

Someday, I’ll be back.

Leg 2—Eastern Europe begins right now!

Till next time…Carpe Diem.

Slainte! That’s cheers in Gaelic. It took one toast in our first Irish pub to learn the local lingo!

It’s true what they say, life in Ireland revolves around the local pub.

Mom and I arrived in Dublin early Tuesday morning and braved the left side of the road all the way to Galway on Ireland’s west coast. It didn’t take long to find the city’s beautiful medieval streets peppered with a magical mix of colorful facades, packed pubs and random rain showers.

The Irish have spirit in their soul and it’s abundant in Galway’s Latin Quarter. A local lad told me today “Galway is promised rain.” I don’t know if it’s the charm of the people or the place—but we keep finding ourselves back on this busy street searching for more local flavor.

Driving in Ireland has been a learning experience. I keep telling myself “turn left, stay left.” So far it’s worked–except for once. The moment I turned into the dreaded right lane—I immediately remembered when I saw a car coming strait at me!

All the driving has come with a lot of news radio. And guess who dominated the airwaves yesterday? Our fellow American friend, Justin Beiber.

Apparently Beiber performed in Dublin Tuesday night. It was reported that teens were hiding out in the laundry chutes at his hotel in hopes of meeting “Beiber Fever” himself.

Here’s what else is buzzing in Ireland today:
*The election of a brand new government and the selection of cabinet members (happened today).
*The counties first child beauty pageant—does it “sexualize” children?
*Ash Wednesday: What are the Irish giving up?
*Dental Tourism (apparently the popular Hungarian concept is picking up in Northern Ireland).
*International Women’s Day and the glass ceiling for professional Irish women.
* Price of gas per “liter.”
*And…drum role please… Lindsay Lohan (apparently you can’t escape it)!

More to come from the land of leprechauns as the round the world adventure continues…

Till next time…Carpe Diem!

My tricks and tips on packing when jet setting around the globe!

50 DAYS AROUND THE WORLD–FOUR FANTASTIC TRAVEL COMPANIONS

Leg 1—Ireland

Carol Kostanich—my Mom!  This Scottish Lass has always wanted to venture to the faraway land of Ireland.  I’m thrilled we’re doing it together.  Mom is a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines.  One of the many benefits–flying international for 10 percent of the ticket cost.  She paid $350 dollars for her flight from Seattle to Dublin! Can you say, ENVIOUS?!  We both love to have FUN, so rest assured this will be a week for record books.  That is if she doesn’t kill me after a week of driving on the left side of the road.

Leg 2—Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Poland, Hungry, Slovenia and Austria)

Larisa (Gomez) Paige and I go way back!  She is truly one my favorite people!  Always positive, smiling and funny.  We both grew up in Washington State (rival high schools), both lived in Washington D.C. (Bible study buddies) and have had some good times together at Young Life’s Malibu on Vancouver Island.  I am beyond excited to rock Eastern Europe with Larisa!

Leg 3—Turkey

My hubby—Nelson Reyneri!  This trip wouldn’t be complete without him!  I’m so thrilled he is able to take some time away from work to explore Turkey with me.  He’s not quite as adventurous as I am (public transpiration, budget accommodations, etc.)  But he’s a great travel companion and I’m really going to miss him during the trip.  He’s very supportive of all my wild escapades and I’m really grateful.

Leg 4—Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos and Thailand)

Victoria Hayden will be joining me for the trek through Southeast Asia.  I met Victoria through her husband Dave who has been a dear friend of mine for years.  She was born to Russian parents who raised her in Uzbekistan. Dave and Victoria met when he was working for organization based in Afghanistan after 9-11.  They have such a cool story!  I’m really excited about traveling with Vika (Victoria in Russian).  She and Dave have two little boys who are likely going to really miss their Mamma!

Leg 5–Japan

I’m doing Japan solo—so if you have any friends in Tokyo—let me know!

24 hours until the adventure is underway!

Till next time…Carpe Diem

Do you have a prized possession?  Something you just can’t live without?  The one thing that you’d run for if your house was burning down?  My most cherished possession: look up.  Seems silly, but it’s true.  I love my passport.  It’s my ticket to adventure and a memoir of magical memories.

In August when my little blue book was nearing its final days—I couldn’t even consider the idea of mailing it to the Department of State for a new one.  Yes—they mail it back—but what if mine got lost?

Instead I let it expire.  Not a smart move for a news reporter.  What if something happened that involved travel?  In 2005 after the deadly tsunami hit Indonesia my passport took me to the far corners of Sumatra to cover the devastation.

When September rolled around not a week went by that I didn’t think about my expired ticket that was suppose to get me to my next possible story.  Still, I couldn’t bare the thought of putting my passport inside a bottomless envelope and in the hands of someone I didn’t know.

That’s because that small weathered book took me all over the world.  It’s represents so much of who I am.  Every single page perfectly full of stamps and visas.

After all, I am a custom agent’s worse nightmare.  I like my stamps to be arranged so they’re readable and organized.  Some officials think it’s funny.  Other times I wondered if I was going to clear customs in the country I was visiting.  Especially during those situations when I didn’t speak the language and used my finger to show where I wanted their counties mark in my vast stamp collection.  Yeah.  Call me the Passport Diva.

So last Friday morning I went to the Passport Agency in Miami to get my new blue ticket to international freedom.  To qualify for a passport at a regional agency you have to provide proof of international travel within 14 days of applying.  The best part—you leave with your passport in hand.

Except there was a catch, which I learned after I arrived at the agency.  To leave with your passport the same day–you have to wait until 4pm.

I ended up leaving it after all.  So all the worry I did for months—pointless.    Today I now I have my new passport and my beloved old one too.  Lesson learned—let go!

Inside they doubled the pages from 24 to 51 since my old passport was full.  Maybe it’s a sign as to what’s in store for the next 10 years?  This Passport Diva can only hope!

Till next time…Carpe Diem!

I should have known better than to wish for something that could turn my life upside down.  Over the years I’ve learned—if you make wish—it often comes true!

You can imagine what I was thinking the day I was laid off from CBS 12 News.  I was sad to say goodbye to my beloved colleagues and be without the opportunity to do what I love most: tell stories.

But in the back of my mind, I remembered my wish.  As it turns out, a *wish* that would come true.  December marked a decade since my first round the world adventure.  For seven months a dear friend and I jump from one continent to another.  Discovering a world I had only seen from afar through the pages of colorful picture books.

In early December my treasured friend reminded me 10 years has passed since that magical escapade around the globe.  That’s when I started yearning for another adventure and wondering if it would ever be.

On March 7^th, 10 years after my first round the world adventure, I will embark again on meaningful journey around the globe.

This time in a post 9-11 world that has drastically changed since watching the 2000 presidential election recount on a small television in South Africa.

My journey includes countries full of rich culture and timeless tradition.

Ireland

Czech Republic

Poland

Hungry

Slovenia

Austria

Turkey

Thailand

Cambodia

Laos

Japan

Three continents, 11 countries, four travel partners (more on that to come) and 50 days to make a full circle round the globe.  I hope you’ll join me right here on my blog as I take on the world ten years later.

As it turns out, I’ve learned that wishing for something you love will take your life on a new journey.   And for now–mine’s round the world.

Till next time…Carpe Diem!

I love the fanfare of the Grammys. The glitz.  The glamour.  The red carpet and musical majesty!  Three years ago Nelson and I attended the Grammys with one of his dear childhood friends who is a multiple Latin Grammy winner. Yes—it was COOL! The fabulous weekend was his gift to us shortly after our nuptials.  Tonight I had a realization–it doesn’t matter where you are–in the audience or your living room!  The same enthusiasm and excitement I had at the Staples Center three years ago was alive and well in my den all night!

Tonight’s show was so much about the performances.  And they ROCKED.  All of them!

While I liked Lady Gaga’s new single, I loved her performance.  The see-through yolk-ish yellow costume complete with Star Trek sleeves and pasties was incredible!  She arrived on the red carpet inside an egg that will likely be talked about for years to come.  She continues Madonna’s eclectic contribution to American pop culture.  Bravo!  Congratulations to Lady Gaga for snagging Best Pop Vocal Album.

Other notable mentions…

Love Mumford & Sons: incredible live performers.  Can’t wait to see what they’ll do next.

Katy Perry: rocked–loved the grad entrance perched high in a swing.

Esperanza Spalding beat out Beiber Fever for Best New Artist with, by far, the hottest dress at the Grammys.

Rihanna: I’ll take a double dose any day of the week!  Give it to me on Grammy night and I’m dancing in my den!

Lady Antebellum: Loved their performance and thought the tearful gratitude was touching.

Barbra Streisand: Since my mother has had a slight obsession with her since before I was talking…I know all her songs by heart and thoroughly enjoyed seeing a rare live performance.

My favorite performance of the night: Red haired Rihanna and Young Money’s Drake performing “What’s My Name?” Thanks to my DVR I’ve watched it at least 10 times!

Regretfully I think Gwyneth Paltrow needs stay on the silver screen instead of one of the most significant stages in music.   Sorry Gwyneth…

Did you catch all the silent censoring? CBS on was on it tonight!

On Grammy night dreams do come true–even for me!

By the way, who is Arcade Fire (no hate please)?

Here’s at look at some our Grammy fun in 2008.