I Won't Complain....

Heeeey Everyone!!!

I don't know about you, but 2018 seemed to FLY by!  I mean, really....where did the time go?!  I honestly can't believe it's already 2019.  Have you booked any travel yet?  I'm trying NOT to make the same mistake I made in 2017 when I overbooked my 2018 and ultimately had to CANCEL a few trips!

Yep - you read that correctly. Going into 2018, I had more vacation days booked than I actually owned!  I entered 2018 overbooked and had to cancel some trips I had planned!  How crazy is that?  But in the end, it all worked out and by November work had slowed down and I was able to enjoy an extended holiday where I checked out some new beaches (Turks and Caicos) and some of my old favorites (Miami and Cancun).

However, something odd happened to me.  While I was sitting on beautiful Bight Beach, I started to think about the "missed" vacations I didn't take in 2018!  I started thinking about how I didn't go to Haiti and how I didn't get to Madrid/Morocco.  And I was feeling sad about it!  I was actually MAD.

But then I checked myself!  How dare I dismiss the travels I was able to complete in 2018?  I mean, I was able to: celebrate a friend's wedding in Havana, travel with another friend to Cartagena, and the most epic - watch my brother marry his forever love in the Hamptons.  Not to mention I hopped around beautiful beaches in Providenciales, including Grace Bay!

Yep, overall I traveled LESS - but enjoyed MORE.  I enjoyed more time with family.  Spent more time with friends, and officially took my first solo trip where I made fabulous new friends!

So without even noticing, my travels became MY travels.  They became more PERSONAL.  My travels became more ENJOYABLE.  No longer traveling for traveling sake, I was able to do more of the things I actually wanted to do.

For instance, my travels in early December could have taken me to Asia, or even South Africa because I was traveling for a total of 12 days.  But instead, I decided to build my trip around #ArtBasel in Miami.  Why?  Because I have been wanting to attend that event for the past couple of years. I went to Providenciales, then Miami, and then Cancun.  I didn't care that I had already been to Playa del Carmen earlier in the year because that's my happy place, and I knew I could recharge and reconnect there.

So, while I didn't get as many #PassportStamps in 2018 as I have in previous years, I feel really good about my travels and I'm looking forward to my 2019 plans.

What about you?

Angela Myers
Founder
2 Girls & a Bikini

P.S. - check out my 2018 travel photos on my Facebook Page!

ISSA SICK DAY...

Last week I woke up at 2am with a headache. No, let me rephrase, a MASSIVE HEADACHE. So I quickly sent my day-job manager (yes - I work) an email letting him know that I wouldn't be in that day. "Issa Sick Day" was the subject of the message. I laid back down, trying to get back to sleep. But my head was pounding and my mind just wouldn't turn off.

I just kept thinking about all of the things that I needed to do: cancel that flight to Madrid, pay my property taxes, get that proposal done, check on my son's financial aid, blah, blah, blah. UUUGGGHHHH. Getting back to sleep wasn't going to be easy. But eventually, around 5am, sleep came.

I slept until almost 9am! I got out of bed feeling refreshed and grabbed my computer. Cancelled the flight to Madrid because I couldn't make it work (read my blog about sitting down). Logged onto the city's website and paid my property taxes (priorities). Went to the FASFA website and gave them my income info to complete my son's financial aid package (don't ask). Went through my Hotmail account (that Junk folder had over 300 emails) and responded to some emails in the 2 Girls & a Bikini account (and it had over 300 emails!).

I also unpacked a suitcase that had held some clothes that I had washed but never put away (don't judge), cleaned my room/bathroom, and by 1pm I was feeling SUPER accomplished. So what do you think I did? I called up some friends who I know work from home or have flexible schedules and guess what? Sick Day = Beach Day!

Yep, I grabbed my daughter and met another friend at another friend's house and we headed to Miller Beach in Gary, Indiana. Gotta pause for a funny story: we drove 45 mins outside of Chicago (for obvious reasons), pulled up to the parking structure, and there stand's a co-worker's daughter in the parking booth! I couldn't do anything but LAUGH....I said "hello" to her, we chatted, I gave her the $7 parking fee and then I whispered "I was not here". LBVS

Anyway, if you live in the area and you have not been to Miller Beach, you should definitely check it out. Miller Beach borders Lake Michigan to the north, Porter County to the east, and is largely surrounded by protected lands, including the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (got that from Wikipedia). The beach is clean and you can see your feet in the water - so it's kinda clear. There were not too many people there (well, it was a Wednesday) and you could walk out pretty far into the water before it drops off to being deep; making it great for kids (but PLEASE keep an eye on your babies near/in the water).

We had a great afternoon. We laughed, we ordered pizza, we listened to music, and of course we took selfies!

By the end of the day, I had forgotten all about the massive headache that woke me up at 2am that morning. I had forgotten about all of the things that were keeping me awake. I needed a reset and I certainly got one. All I remembered was the amazing time I had with family and friends. 

On a beach - of course!


Angela
2 Girls & a Bikini

Havana - Oh Na Na

Let me be completely transparent and honest - because I don't want anyone to regret purchasing a flight to Havana.  I love Havana. I've been there twice and will probably go there many more times and will eventually begin to explore cities outside of Havana.  Everyone I know who has been to Havana (and other areas in Cuba) love it. 

But it's NOT for everyone.

There is poverty. There is limited internet connection. It is still a communist country. There are no fast food restaurants. Sometimes it smells.  The buildings are old and crumbling. The cars are old and the smell of gasoline is strong. Most individuals don't speak English.

You will be frustrated.  You might wait a long time for your food and/or drinks.  You might get lost.  You might not be able to figure out the currency conversion.  You will get asked to pay for that picture with the old woman smoking a cigar.  You will have to maintain the same "street smarts" about you that you have no matter where you go.

BUT, u will be wow'd at the vibrancy of the city. At the friendliness of everyone u meet. The music will engulf you and you will want to dance - day and night. You will learn the history of Cuba and you might fall in love with it's story.  The heartbeat of Havana is unlike anywhere I've been. I woke up everyday excited about what I would experience that day because I didn't know what to expect.

I never felt unsafe. I never felt unwelcome. I ate and drank well. I laughed. I danced. I explored. I talked to locals about their experiences.  About their history.  I talked to them about their economy.  About how they feed their kids on the monthly supplement they receive from the Cuban government.  

I cried.  I cried for the people of Cuba and their fight for independence because I realized that it's very similar to my fight.

No, Cuba is not for everyone.  It's for those travelers who want to be stretched and taken out of their comfort zone.  For those who are seeking an experience unlike any other.  For those who want to experience a culture unlike their own. 

If you have questions about Cuba, let me know.  I have a lot of friends who have been to Havana and a few friends who have traveled around the country.  I even have a friend who is transitioning to a full time life in Havana!  So If I don't know the answer, I will get it.

Click HERE to see pics from my 2016 trip.

Happy Travels Everyone!

Angela











 

Note To Self....SAT DOWN!

Sooooo - if you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you probably already know I did too much in 2017. I mean, I was celebrating my "Year of 50" and it was more than I could have ever imagined.

I started the year off in Puerto Vallarta (my yearly family trip), and then I went to Barcelona and Rome, and then I headed to Greece (Athens, Santorini and Crete), and I finished the year off - and my actual birthday - in Jordan (Amman, Mt. Nebo, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, Bethany Beyond Jordan, and of course PETRA) and Egypt (Cairo and Luxor).

Whew....I'm tired just thinking back on it all.

Going into 2018, I had a few things lined up: Playa del Carmen in January (yearly family trip), Singapore and Malaysia in February, Haiti in April.....I looked at my travel budget, and BAM..it hit me. Not only did I really enjoy my 2017, but I was OVER EXTENDED!

I honestly hadn't paid too much attention to the amount of money I spent to celebrate my "Year of 50", I was just enjoying life, being in the moment, YOLO, and all of that; but when I sat down at the end of the year to reconcile my travel account, I realized that I had already dipped into 2018 cash! #OhMy

I was shook and I had some decisions to make: do I continue #SpendingAhead and hope my travel savings account could keep up, do I travel on credit, or do I simply CANCEL some of my upcoming travel plans?

I knew I couldn't continue spending from my travel savings account when what was coming in couldn't cover all of what was going out. I couldn't even cover hotel costs and the flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur with the cash I had in the account, which would mean using a credit card - which would mean another monthly payment - which would mean less money going into the savings account - which would mean using a credit card for my Haitian trip - which would mean a higher monthly payment - which would mean less going into the savings account - UUUUGGG
HHHHH, it's a vicious cycle. One that I couldn't see myself living, and eventually losing sleep over.

I had to have a conversation with myself, and myself said to me: SAT DOWN! It hurt, I won't even lie; but I went ahead and cancelled my flights to Singapore and Port-au-Prince. I shed real TTT (TravelThugTears). But it's what I had to do. #TravelButDontGoInDebt is my motto and I don't believe in coming home from a vacation and being hit with the burden of paying off credit card balances incurred on vacation. It kinda takes the joy away and for me, the memories will be wrapped around "how much was that excursion?". So I don't do it.

I have since recovered, emotionally.  And my travel savings account is rebounding nicely. I took a quick trip to Havana (which is very affordable) for a friend's wedding (couldn't be missed) and in a couple of weeks I am headed to Cartagena. I have a flight to Madrid in August and was planning to travel around Morocco. I'm not so sure that will happen.  I'll be sure and let y'all know if I make that trip!

Until next time travel friends!

Angela
Founder
2 Girls & a Bikini

What the Travel Gods taught me in Greece...

Ok so....I've been doing this travel thing for a few years now.  And for each trip, I plan a detailed itinerary.  Now, I don’t necessary feel the need to stick to everything on that itinerary; but I do like having a plan. 

My itinerary will always include items like my hotel info, transportation info, confirmation numbers or any tours booked, and information on all of the sites I would like to see/things I would like to do.  It’s always very detailed - the Greece Itinerary was 3 pages long!  As a matter of fact, I’ve been told that I should sell my itineraries because of the time and energy I spend creating them (I’m still thinking about that).

Anyway…..my Greece itinerary was no different.  We (my sister and I) traveled to Athens, Santorini and Crete.  The itinerary had all info needed and I was feeling confident that I had “dotted all of my Is and crossed all of my Ts”.  I had planned many itineraries, even itineraries for friends/family members for trips I wasn’t going on.  I am a beast at Itinerary Planning!

Each day was planned, including free time and beach days.  We flew to Athens, did everything on the itinerary, had an amazing time:  BAM.  We flew to Santorini, did everything on the itinerary, had an amazing time:  BAM.  We took a ferry to Crete, got into a taxi, showed the driver the itinerary with the hotel address (another good reason to have a detailed itinerary) and he said “that will be about €100”!  WHAT?!  #RecordScratch

You see, I hadn’t done my research.  I assumed Crete was just “another Greek island”.  I didn’t realize that it was actually the LARGEST and MOST POPULOUS of the islands.  The island is 160 miles long and its widest point is 37 miles.  It’s actually the 88^th largest island in the world!  I.Had.No.Idea. 

So there we are at the ferry port, it’s about 7pm, and our hotel is 40 miles - or approximately €100 - away.  Now we had to make a decision.  Do we walk away from the reservation we had already paid for and try and find another hotel closer to the port?  Or do we just pay the taxi ride and stick to the itinerary?  My Itinerary Building Ego tells me to stick to the magnificence that is the itinerary.  So off we go….

We arrive safely to the hotel in Agios Nikolaos and while it was not bad, it was not Heraklion and that is where our activities for the next 2 days were.  So we walk around the town, get some dinner, and decide to book a hotel for the next night in Heraklion.  We also decided to take a bus back to that area because spending another €100 for a cab wasn’t going to work.  We had to chalk up the second night hotel because it was prepaid – but fine – sunken costs.

We arrive at our Heraklion hotel the next day before noon and now we are back on track.  We continue on with planned itinerary and everything is good with the world.

The next morning, I went online to look at our flight back to Athens and I for some reason I thought it said 5:05pm but the itinerary said 8:05pm.  Could there be a typo on the itinerary?!  I tried to get someone on the phone from the airline but there was no local number to call and the “Chat with a Representative” option was closed.  So we decided to simply be safe and arrive at the airport early.

We spent our last hours in Greece relaxing on the beach – which by the way cost us €60 RT in a taxi because, well because we are beach boogie and we wanted the “best” beach in the area.  Get back to the hotel, grab our luggage and head to HER airport.

We arrive at the airport tanned and happy, only to find out that our flight back to ATH did not leave from Heraklion airport.  As a matter of fact, our airline didn’t even have flights to/from HER!  As I’m standing there, listening to a very nice lady at the information booth tell me that I needed to get to Chania International Airport (CHQ) and that it’s at least 3 hours away, I could feel my Itinerary Ego falling away.  Ahhhhh – the Travel Gods were laughing hard at this point.  I would never make it there for a 5:05pm flight.

My sister and I considered simply purchasing a flight on another airline out of HER for a cost of $174, but instead we sat down, called the airline and confirmed our departure time.  It was 8:05pm – YEA ITINERARY!  We grabbed our luggage and headed out of the HER airport.  We jumped into a cab, told the driver where we needed to go, he told us €150.  I laughed and told my sister “I got it” and we were on our way (after a stop at the ATM). 

During the ride, I quietly thanked the Travel Gods (American, Delta and United) for the flight time mix up because without it, we certainly would have missed that flight, causing us to miss our flight the next day back to Chicago. 

I realized that in Crete alone, we spent over €300 in taxis because of my assumptions:  that it was a small island, that everything was close, that there was only one airport on the island.  I didn’t do my typical research.  I didn’t look at any maps.  I didn’t use my resources (friends, the internet, Facebook groups, etc.).  I told myself “you got this” but Crete actually GOT ME!

Whew – Lesson Learned.  And while I will still create detailed itineraries because part of the excitement for me is in the planning, I won’t let my ego stop me from taking the time to get all the details I can about the destination I am traveling to.  I won’t let assumptions cause me to take shortcuts that end up costing me the equivalent of a flight to another destination.


Me and My Sister on our ATV ride around Santorini!

By the way, Greece was amazing!  The history in Athens, the sunset in Santorini, and even Crete turned out to be enjoyable.  Check out all of my pictures on my Facebook page by clicking HERE! 

Get out there and go my friends!  There are some good deals floating around.


Angela Myers
Founder, 2 Girls & a Bikini

 

My MVP

I have a wall of cork in my closet.  It's my "Memory Board".  It's different from a vision board because it holds things I want to remember, things I want to hold close.  And since I see the Memory Board on a daily basis, things that make me smile.

There are post cards that I mailed to myself from a favorite destination on the board, as well as tickets into shows or attractions.  There are pictures of people and places.  There are train passes and boarding passes.  A mini book my daughter wrote me.  my ticket into Angkor Wat.  Anything that invokes a positive memory can make it up on the board.

Sometimes I take things off the board and spend time with it and the memory.  I laugh.  I cry.  I remember.  I put it back on the board.

But there is one thing on the board that I value most:  My Mom's Passport.  It's my MVP (Most Valuable Possession).  I look at it often and admire her stamps.  It doesn't have very many stamps in it because my Mom passed away before she could make all of her travel dreams come true - and that's what makes it so valuable.  It serves as a constant reminder that NOW is the time.  Time To Go.  Time To Do.  Time To Be.

It reminds me that tomorrow is not promised to anyone.  That I can't wait until (the kids are gone, the condo is paid off, retirement) to go to (Angkor Wat, the Colosseum, Greece).  It reminds me that time is the most precious thing I have. My Mom's Passport is my Passport to live my dreams.



What are you waiting for?  #TravelOften

Angela Myers
Founder
2 Girls & a Bikini

When FAR AWAY Isn't Really FAR!

Hey Travel Friends!

I recently attended a baby shower that was about an hour drive from my home.  Let me tell you that as I've gotten older, driving has become my LEAST favorite activity.  I would have rather taken an UBER, but that wasn't practical, so I gassed up the convertible, picked up a friend and hit the road.

The drive took us through some ritzy neighborhoods, and while I was enjoying the conversation and looking at massive homes thinking "Who Lives There?", an amazing structure caught our attention. My friend exclaimed:  It's The Bahai Temple!  We were both in awe and immediately agreed that after the baby shower, checking out the Temple was a MUST.

Now, I wasn't very familiar with the Bahá’í Faith; so I have to admit that during the shower I did some reading.  I learned that the temple is one of eight dedicated temples of the Faith and that it is the OLDEST surviving Bahá'í House of Worship in the world (Wikipedia is your friend).  During my reading, I learned that literature of the Faith directs a House of Worship be built in each city and town, and emphasizes that "its doors must be open to all regardless of religion, or any other distinction". 

It goes on to say "that the spirit of the House of Worship must be a gathering place where people of all religions may worship God  without denominational restrictions", and that "holy scriptures of the Bahá'í Faith and other religions can be read or chanted inside in any language; while readings and prayers may be set to music by choirs, no musical instruments may be played inside.Furthermore, no sermons may be delivered, and no ritualistic ceremonies practiced.^"

WOW…I was excited.

We entered the visitors’ center for a moment and then walked out onto the grounds.  Holding a conversation got difficult as we were both in amazement.  The Temple, composed of a concrete mixture of cement and two types of quartz, is a domed structure with nine pillars.  The intricate detailing and architectural elements of other structures from around the world took me to another place.  I completely forgot that I was 45 minutes from home!  

Walking inside I immediately felt calm.  I felt peaceful.  I felt the Spirit of God.  It was all around me.  I wrapped myself in His light as I read one of the beliefs of the Bahá’í Faith:  there is one God whose existence is beyond our understanding.  He is the Creator of everything, and although we may call him by different names – God or Yahweh, Allah, Brahma, or the Great Spirit – we are speaking about the same loving Presence that has supported and guided humanity throughout history.

I sat for a moment in complete surrender to God.  Full of gratefulness.  Thankful for the silence.  Thankful for the moment to just be.

And as we walked out of the building, full of words that were unable to describe the experience; we both knew that this was not a one-time visit.  We both knew that we would be back.  Back to this place that felt far away - but isn't really far at all!

Angie
Founder, 2 Girls & a Bikini



 

DIGIT....

How I pay for my travels seem to be a common topic of discussion among my friends, so I thought I would let you guys in on one of my favorite travel tricks:  DIGIT!

This is language directly from their website:  Digit is a journey aimed at refreshing the interactions between humans and their money.  Bad financial habits create unnecessary hardship that derail us from living our life to the fullest. We believe we can help people avoid some of these hardships by combining recent discoveries in behavioral psychology with technology.

How does it work?  Basically you give Digit permission to make withdrawals from your account and put it into your savings account.  It’s not a set amount of cash, it will be random amounts of cash that they “set aside” for you.  Here are some things you should know:

·    Digit will “analyze your income and spending, and find money it can safely set aside for you”.  I gotta tell you, sometimes the amounts are small but other times the amounts can be larger.  But you will always have control.  You can text them and tell them to Pause Saving, or Speed Up/Slow Down your savings.  It’s completely up to you.  Once they took over $20 out of my account a few days in a row and I was like WHOA…a quick text and that was taken care of.  Here is what my Savings Journal looked like recently:

So some of these amounts are larger than typical, but I have mine set to “save more” because I knew I was planning for something.

·    They will never overdraft your account, they “never transfers more than you can afford”.  They actually have a no-overdraft guarantee.

·        You can access your savings anytime!  A quick text message telling them how much you would like to transfer back to savings and voila, your money is back in your checking account the next business day.

So how do I use digit?  Usually I use it when planning for my longer trips.  I will allow the savings to build up and I don’t touch it – at all – for any reason; not even for a shorter trip (I use my travel account for smaller trips).   Now I’m not talking about saving for the flight.  This is the cash I use for things like excursions, train tickets/flights to other cities/countries during the trip, food or even AirBnb/hotel costs.  For instance, below was my digit balance yesterday:

 

I will transfer $700 back into my checking account next week and start booking excursions for my upcoming trip to Barcelona and Rome.  I will also use this cash for food.  This is a MUCH BETTER option (for me) than using credit cards.

And there you have it.  One EASY way to save some cash for your travels!  Now #GetGoing!

Angie, Founder
2 Girls & A Bikini
 

 

My 2016 Travels

Someone recently asked me for my favorite travel picture of 2016.  So I started strolling through my 2016 folder and realized  I don't have a favorite!  So I mentally took a trip down memory lane:  London, Guadeloupe, Bahamas (2x), South Korea/Vietnam/Cambodia, Playa del Carmen (of course) and Cuba.  And for different reasons, I loved each one of those trips!

In London, my niece get her first passport stamp.  I went to Guadeloupe with a good friend and her family to celebrate a birthday and it was a week full of laughter.  In the Bahamas (the first time) I watched a friend marry the love of her life and (the second time) was a short cruise with a friend who really needed a break.

The trip to South Korea/Vietnam/Cambodia with my brother was a dream come true for me and I cried watching the sun rise at the temples of Angor Wat.   Cuba was a last minute decision and turned into a wonderful surprise.

The best part?  I have NO travel debt - just memories.  Sweet, Sweet MEMORIES.  And that's what it's all about.....

See all of my 2016 Travel Pics on my Facebook Page!


Keep Traveling Friends~
 
Angela
2 Girls a Bikini


 P.S. - Want to know how I manage to travel debt free?  Read the blog I wrote about it:  How I Afford to Travel.

My Thoughts On Cuba!

It’s AMAZING.  That sums up my thoughts.  It might be my new, less than a 5 hour flight, favorite destination.  I need a few more trips to decide.  But here are some things I want you to know:

·        Don’t overthink the Visa.  Select the category and make sure all of your paperwork is in order.  I selected Educational Activities/People-to-People.  I had each day on my itinerary all typed up and my activities planned. While I was there, I met a girl who is a Professor at a major University, so she selected Professional Research.  So be sure and select the category that applies to you and stick to it.  Most importantly - don't LIE.  To review the 12 categories, click here.

·        Currently, American credit and debit cards are not accepted anywhere.  So take MORE cash than you anticipate needing because the small things will add up.  I converted USD to Euro and converted to CUC as needed.  Also, some of the stores accepted Euro – but no one will accept USD.

·        Havana has 4 neighborhoods:  Old Havana, Centro Habana, Vedado and Miramar. 

o   Old Havana, which is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, is where the colonial history is located.  LOTS of walking and where I wish I had spent more time.  So much to see.  The architecture is old and beautiful. 

o   Centro Habana is Havana from the early 20^th century and where you can find the Museum of the Revolution, which is also the former Presidential Palace.  I did a tour of the Museum, it was interesting, but can be skipped if you are short on time.  The neighborhood is interesting and worth a walk around.  Especially for the photographers.

o   Vedado is where the Malecon (sea front promenade) begins and where the National Hotel is located.  This is also where Revolution Square can be found along with the large iron sculptures of Che and Camilo Cienfuegos mounted on the side of 2 buildings.  There is also the Jose Marti Memorial, where you can take an elevator to the top for a view of the city.  Also be sure and check out Columbus Cemetery where many famous individuals are buried.

o   Miramar is an exclusive residential area and where most foreign embassies are located. 

·        The art scene is bananas.  Art and Galleries everywhere. You can’t see them all.  Don’t try.  Take your time to enjoy the ones you do see and go back to see the others.  But a must is Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC) fabricadeartecubano.com.  It’s an old oil factory that has been converted to an arts space.  There are dance lessons, live music, beautiful art, and a DJ. 

·        The “classic car” game is real.  They are everywhere, and they are beautiful.  I paid 25CUC for a one hour ride around the city in a 1957 pink convertible.  But I did a 6 hour tour of the city in a hard top classic car that was air conditioned.  It was more comfortable and I didn’t have to smell diesel for 6 hours.  I booked this tour through Havana Journeys.  They were great.  Very knowledgeable and patient - because I'm sure me and my daughter were asking a LOT of questions.

·        Wifi is scarce.  I didn’t bother buying a wifi card and searching for wifi signals.  I went to a local hotel a couple of nights to check in with friends and family.  I paid 10CUC for an hour and that was enough for me.

·        People, People, People are everywhere.  And they are friendly.  And they want to talk to you.  So if you don’t speak Spanish, be sure and download the Google Translate app that doesn’t require internet.  Everyone I met was familiar with typing in what they wanted to say and waiting on you to type in your response. 

·        You will dance, because music is a big part of the culture.  Calle Obispo is a great place to find bars where you can find good food, great Mojitos – and of course MUSIC.

·        I’m not a foodie – but the lobster I ate was the best lobster I’ve ever had.  Once on the beach and once at a local restaurant that I went to with a friend and the family she was staying with.  And it was very affordable.  I ate lobster twice. 

·        My favorite spot of the trip was Fusterlandia.  I even got an opportunity to meet the artist, Jose Fuster.  This is a MUST DO.

There are lots of blogs and books available for you to read - so take your time and do so.  I took day trips to Vinales and Varadero (beautiful beach).  I booked both tours via Tour Havana With Roly.  I contacted Roly using his Facebook page and he is very responsive.
That’s all I will say about my time in Cuba.  It’s truly a place you have to see to believe.  Meanwhile, my pictures can be found on my Facebook page.  

See you in the skies!

Angela

My "Year of 50!"

Soooooo,

Yesterday was my 49th birthday (YaY Me!).  Now, I have to tell you, I have not been very excited about the idea of turning 50.  But a few months ago I came up with the idea of celebrating my birthday for the entire year leading up to this monumental birthday.  So I put together  a list of places I would love to go and things I would love to see.  I decided to top off the  celebration with an epic trip to Africa with family and friends.

 

I talked to some people about this idea, and as you can imagine, I encountered some serious #SideEye moments.  I heard things like "you're crazy" or "that won't happen".  Last week I talked to a financial advisor about some financial goals and even he told me that I should scale my "Year Of 50!" dreams down a bit. 

 

So I was bummed and they had me reworking my plans.  But Lookie - Lookie at what #PepsiCo told me in a birthday email.  Who knew such inspiration could come via junk mail from my sugary lover?

 

I now have new a sense of determination.  I will LIVE life.  I will make MY travel dreams come true.  I will EXPLORE new destinations.  I will make NEW friends.  I will LEARN new things.  I will have amazing EXPERIENCES.

 

I don't have all the pieces in place, and I don't know if I want them there.  All I know is that today is the first day of my journey. 

 

Join Me!!

 

Angela Myers

Founder

2 Girls & a Bikini

 

 

Whoot-Whoot: It's Election Day!

 

 

Happy Election Day 2016!!

Today is the day that our country will elect its 45th President.  Along with all 435 voting-member seats in the United States House of Representatives, and 34 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate, twelve state governorships, two territorial governorships, and numerous other state and local elections!  WoW.....

Now, I'm not here to tell you WHO to vote for.  I'm just here as a reminder to VOTE.  And when you are done voting, do what I did and book a flight!  You don't have to go far - or spend lots of cash.  Scanning The Flight Deal this morning, I saw:

• Philadelphia to Rome for less than $500
• New York to Chicago for less than $100
• Los Angeles to Peru for less than $400
• Seattle to New Orleans for less than $300

And there are plenty more deals out there!

I'm here to encourage you to travel to all the places your heart desires.  Go visit friends/family in other cities/countries.  Go and actually see that landmark that has been your screensaver for way too long.  Go sit on a beach, or in a museum.  Take a double decker bus tour.  Hop on a train, a boat, a scooter.  Take a solo journey.  Or grab a group of friends - and just go!

Yesterday, I lost a friend.  A friend that I met while I was traveling through Thailand.  He lived his life with no regrets and traveled the world with no fear.  Today, I want to be a little more like him.  Today I want all of us to be a little more like him.

Travel Safe My Friends.....

Angie
Founder, 2 Girls & A Bikini

I Loved "Chicken Pizza"!

Everyone knows that I love the Cancun/ Riviera Maya area of Mexico.  I mean really, I LOVE IT.  If anyone comes to me looking for a quick, inexpensive, beautiful beach vacation – they are going to get sent directly to the Cancun airport.  One of my first blogs was actually titled “I’m a Cancun Addict”. 

So it surprised even me when I couldn’t remember if I had ever been to Chichén Itzá!  I mean really, it’s the #1 tour in the area.  Which is why on my most recent trip, I booked a 5am tour via Amigo Tours.  First, let me say that I have not been compensated in any way for this write-up.  I only mentioned the tour group because our guide was absolutely AMAZING.  He knew so much about the Mayan People and the history of the area.  During our LONG bus ride, we learned about the culture, the people, the language ……his lesson even had pictures.  Which go a long way when it’s barely 8am and you are asking yourself “why am I here?”

I went to Chichén Itzá knowing a few things:

·      It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site

·       It’s one of the most popular archaeological sites in Mexico

·       It’s very old.  Like built before Christ old

·      There’s a cenote on the grounds that was once used for human sacrifice (I don’t even know why I knew that).

Now, I have seen the ruins of Tulum many times and so I was expecting a similar experience.  But there were a few things during the tour that amazed me:

·       The largest temple, The Temple of Kukulkan (aka El Castillo) is now one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.  Its 90-feet tall with stairways on each of the four sides.  Each stairway has 91 steps, which total 364.  When you add the platform step that they share at the top, it totals 365; the number of days in a year.  Who did the math?  And why?  And the stones look as if they weigh a ton – each.  How were those stones carried up 91 steps?

·       Our guide stood in the center of the staircase, at the bottom of the largest temple and clapped his hands.  An echo came from the top of the temple that sounded like the chirping of a sacred bird.  But if he moved a few steps to the right or to the left – no chirping.  Back to the center – chirping.  Crazy right?

·       There is a Ball Court where they played with a rubber ball that was very heavy.  During the game, players had to keep the heavy ball in motion, but get this:  the captain of the winning team (the team who got their ball through the stone ring on the opposing players’ part of the courtyard) was sacrificed to the gods!  HuH?  Well as it turns out, his victory made him “a fitting offering”.  #BlankStare

·       Another interesting fact about the Ball Court:  You can stand on one end and whisper softly.  Individuals at the other end WILL HEAR YOU.  I mean clearly hear what you are saying.  The Ball Court is over 500 feet long!  It is believed this was used as some sort of eavesdropping technique. Also, a clap or shout made in the center of the ball court will produce nine separate echoes.  The number nine has some significant meaning in this culture but I wasn’t paying any attention to my guide at that point.  I was still stuck on the snooping abilities.

It became very clear to me very quickly that these were some very smart, very sophisticated people.  They were skilled farmers and created a written language that is believed to be the first written language native to the Americans.  They were also mathematicians and their number system included the concept of zero, which was an idea not known to the Greeks – who were considered “expert mathematicians” at that time.  The Maya were also highly skilled potters, weavers, sculptors and jewelers.  AND they had trade networks!

The tour was a total of 3 hours, not including travel time.  I was back in Playa del Carmen by 3pm and at my Mi Casa Holiday beach party by 4pm.

One last thing:  at the bottom of the northern stairway of El Castillo, there are stone heads of a serpent.  Many people travel to the site during the vernal and autumnal equinoxes to experience how the sun’s light and the edges of the stairs create a shadow which, very briefly, creates the look of a snake moving down the Temple.  Hmmmm,  I checked and the equinoxes occur around March and September 21!  What are your plans?!  #LetsGo

See all of my pictures on my Facebook page!

Happy Traveling!

Angie
Founder, 2 Girls and A Bikini
 

Cruisin...

Some people love cruises. Take my brother. He has been on two, 7 Day cruises - THIS YEAR. But he also went with me on my Vietnam/Cambodia trip - so I'll give him a pass.

Me?  I'm not a cruiser.  It just doesn't interest me.  So how did I find myself sitting on the balcony of a cabin ON a cruise ship?  Easy.  My desire to help everyone "get out there and see the world".

Here's where it started........

People are always saying "you don't invite me when you travel", so I invite them they say "that's out of my budget".  Sigh.  So since people tell me that cruising is affordable and that payment plans are available, my desire encouraged me to say "let's take a cruise".  So I chose the dates, and the shortest cruise available.  I sent out some invitations, got some takers and we were all set.

I put down my deposit and created my flight alert.  A few other people put down their deposit and I got excited because I was thinking "YES.  WE ARE TAKING A TRIP!"  Months passed, I sent out encouraging emails (they all ended with YaY), we talked about how much fun we were going to have, I purchased a flight and waited.  And waited…..AND WAITED.  I stopped sending encouraging emails and started sending emails that ended with “are you taking this &*$&# cruise?”
So let's see. I'm now on a 3 Day cruise to the Bahamas (where I have already been this year for a wedding, but I digress) with my “I will travel anywhere” daughter and a friend who has never left the country.  I’m sitting on the balcony adding up my affordable cruise:

Cruise:  $450 (includes transportation to the Bahamas, lodging, around the clock unlimited food - including ice cream, movies, live shows, clubs, casino and other activities)

Flight:  $220
Car Rental:  $90 (this was cheaper than each of us paying for round-trip transportation)
Parking:  $40
Gas: $20
Misc (internet, drinks on cruise, food/drinks on island):  $75

So, my desire to help everyone "get out there and see the world" cost me approximately $900. That’s an average cost of $300/day……hmmmmm.  I’ve planned longer, more exciting (for me) vacations for half the cost; but what hurt me the most was the 2 vacation days I lost. 

When I returned, I spent some time with myself, and we have come to an agreement. People who want to travel, well, will TRAVEL.  I don’t have to invite them, I don’t have to encourage them (YaY), I don’t have to plan specialty trips for them.  They will get out there.  And they will see the world. 

P.S. – my friend did get her FIRST passport stamp.  This is the only picture I saved!

Happy Travels Everyone~

Angie
2 Girls & A Bikini

Do You REALLY Want To Go?

Hey There Family & Friends,

Whew - it's hot!  Yes, even too hot for me!  But please don't take that as a complaint, it's simply a statement because if you know me - you know I love the sun (and the heat).  So bring it on!

Anywho....I have been running into some really good flight deals to Asia.  Specifically Hong Kong and Beijing in November (for my birthday).  And I placed a couple of flights on hold (using American Airlines and Cathay Pacific 24 hour hold), but I didn't commit.  Why?  I don't know.

I got really excited about going to Beijing and seeing the Great Wall of China, but I didn't pull the trigger.  I thought about how exciting it would be to see Kowloon Walled City and Tian Tan Buddha in Hong Kong, and I still didn't pull the trigger. 

 

I sent a few emails and text messages to some other travelers, extending an invite; but most of my travel friends already have plans for the Thanksgiving holiday.  So I kinda gave up.  And then I thought about it and realized I have a FEAR of solo travel! 

 

I know, I know.  I have people telling me that I haven't traveled until I've traveled alone.  They tell me that I will meet great people and learn a lot about myself.  They say things like "your time will be your own" and "after traveling alone, you won't travel with a group again". 

And maybe that's what I'm afraid of.  Dumping my group.  I mean, I love my friends, friends-of-friends, family, co-workers, Facebook friends, etc.  And these are the people that make my travels fun and exciting.  Aren't they?

 

So I've had to ask myself, "Do You Really Want To Go?".  Do I really want to pass up the opportunity to see some amazing places and knock some things off the must see/do list just because I feel as if no one will be there to capture me being great?  Or do I go and simply BE GREAT anyway?  And where is this fear of traveling alone coming from?

 

Hmmmm....I've got some {deep} thinking to do. 

 

Meanwhile, it's been an exciting travel year.  Most interesting?  I went to Cambodia (talk about HOT).  Seeing the Angkor Wat temple blew me away.  The sunrise changed my life.  I also went to Vietnam.  You can see my pictures on my Facebook Page.  And if you haven't already, give it a LIKE.

I promise to write more this year and keep you guys updated on my birthday travel decision.

Keep Traveling~

Angie
Founder
2 Girls & A Bikini

What My GrandMa Said….

Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my GrandMa.  Like all Grandmothers, she had her “thing”.  For instance, my girlfriend’s GrandMa would pin her cash to the inside of her bra.  Another GrandMa I knew always had pennies in her coin purse, and she would give me a handful every time I saw her.  A lot of my friends laugh at how their Grandmother would have peppermints inside their purse – FOREVER – the wrapper would be melted onto the candy, but she would still offer you one.  LOL.  I’m sure with very little thought you can immediately tell me what your Grandmother’s “thing” was!

My GrandMa’s thing was words.  She would say things like “Close the refrigerator.  I’m not trying to cool all outside!” or “I’m gonna whoop you until the lights go off downtown’.  Yea – I never figured that one out.  But as I grew up, my favorite became “The more you give, the more you get”.  

Now trust me, I didn’t believe these words originally.  It wasn’t until a friend of mine said; “you are always giving something away” (this was after I gave her a very nice sleigh bed, which was practically brand new).  So I begin to think about it and realized – I AM ALWAYS GIVING SOMETHING AWAY – yet I always seem to have more than enough!  Now, let me say enough is relative.  What’s enough for me may not be enough for you; but I can honestly say, I am living in my overflow. 

Because of this, I always try and align myself with other individuals and/or organizations that also believe my GrandMa’s words of giving.  One of these organizations, and my absolute favorite, is The Passport Party Project.
  

The Passport Party Project is a “National Geographic award-winning initiative providing first passports, online global awareness training & first-time global travel experiences to underrepresented American girls 11-15 in an effort to help create responsive and responsible global citizens that travel with love.”  This organization is headed up by Tracey Friley, aka The Pied Piper of Passports.  I promise you I have never met anyone so passionate about giving. She genuinely loves it!  And it shows in everything that she does.  She gifts these young ladies an experience that very few will ever have, and even less will take advantage of if the opportunity came their way.

This year is Phase 3 of The Passport Party Project, and with the help of Tourism Toronto, Heys Luggage, National Geographic Maps, Niagara Parks, Hornblower Niagara Cruises, Porter Airlines, Francesco's Limousine and CityPASS, Tracey and two college students (one of which has been traveling with Tracey since she was 11 years old) will be escorting 15 Teen Travel Ambassadors to Toronto.  After 6 weeks of online global awareness training, where the lucky travelers learned what it takes to be a Global Citizen, they are ready to pack their bags and head to the top of the CN Tower.  Some of these young ladies will travel alone for a short distance by plane for the first time and perhaps even be away from home and/or travel as a group for the first time.  

My current mentee, Destiny A. is looking forward to learning more about Aboriginal Culture and History (Do you know when National Aboriginal Day is?  Destiny does because she had to learn about it during Week 5 of her training!).   Destiny also found it interesting that Toronto was founded as a trading center in the 1600s and is looking forward to eating beaver tails.  All of these things, and more,  were discussed during my time with Destiny, which I enjoyed immensely.  She asked me questions such as “what inspires me to travel” and “how did I navigate myself through the mountains of Atlanta with no GPS’.  She is ready to tackle her adventure.  I am so excited for her!  I am so excited for all of them!

Why?  Because I know that this experience will change their lives in ways they may not understand for years to come.   They will make new friends, see new things, go to new places, eat new food.  They will laugh.  Get frustrated, but then figure it out.  Some may experience fear.  Some may experience tears.  But through it all, they will learn.  They will grow. They will appreciate.  And hopefully, they will begin to understand my GrandMa’s words “the more you give, the more you get”.

Wow.  Now that’s the #PowerOfThePassport.

Travel Well Ladies…

Angela Myers

2 Girls & a Bikini