Entry 1: The Journey Begins
Hello travelers, and welcome to my travel diary. My name is Margaret, and I LOVE to travel and explore different countries. However, it wasn’t always this way. Let me share a little background about myself.
I grew up in a small town in Southeast Texas, where my entire family lived close by. Our travels were limited to exploring Texas, visiting relatives in Southwest Louisiana, and one memorable ski trip to Colorado. That was the extent of my world—traveling far beyond never even crossed my mind. Perhaps, I occasionally dreamed of a trip to Mexico, but nothing more. Everything changed for me in 2004, thankfully.
A Life-Changing Opportunity
That year, my dad was working in Kuwait and surprised us with an incredible opportunity. He offered to pay for me, my sister, and our family’s airfare and hotel for a vacation in London, where he would meet us. There was only one answer—YES! We quickly applied for passports, and my sister and I began researching London in anticipation of our adventure. We started packing, and on September 27th, we departed Houston on British Airways. Little did I know, this journey would change my life forever!
First Impressions of London
When we arrived, we jumped straight into sightseeing, determined to make the most of every moment—even with a 10-year-old, two four-year-olds, and a 10-month-old in tow! I was so captivated by London’s breathtaking architecture that I thought my neck might lock from constantly looking up.
During our travels, I noticed a remarkable change in my daughter; she seemed to mature overnight. On the Tube, she took charge, asking which stop we needed and tracking our progress on the map, letting us know when it was time to get off.
An Encounter With History
One morning, as we made our way to the Tower of London, I noticed an old brick wall and walked over to read the plaque. It turned out to be a section of the Roman Wall that once encircled Londinium. When I reached out and touched the ancient stones, I was overtaken by the profound sense of history surrounding me—it felt like a ton of Roman bricks had hit me! In that moment, I knew I needed to see Rome.
Through the Chunnel We Go
While planning our trip to London, I asked my 10-year-old daughter what she was most excited to see. Without hesitation, she replied, “I have always dreamed of going to the top of the Eiffel Tower.” Her answer made me realize she might need a quick geography lesson! I told her I would look into the options.
Through some research, I found out that it was quite simple to take a day trip to Paris by train, traveling through the Chunnel. My sister volunteered to stay behind with our 4-year-old son, so on the morning of October 2nd, we set off for Paris by train.
During the journey, we met another family with two girls who were about the same age as my daughter—and to our surprise, one of them even shared her name! They had the same plan for the day, so we decided to explore Paris together. We all boarded the Big Red Bus and headed straight for the Eiffel Tower, determined to make my daughter’s dream come true.
A Dream Fulfilled at the Eiffel Tower
After arriving in Paris, we found ourselves standing in a long line at the base of the Eiffel Tower, but instead of feeling impatient, we were completely absorbed in the excitement of the moment. Every detail, the anticipation, the chatter of fellow travelers, the iconic ironwork stretching above—became part of our experience.
When it was finally our turn, we stepped into the elevator and began our ascent. As the city unfolded beneath us, the sense of wonder grew with each passing floor.
Reaching the top, we were rewarded with a breathtaking panorama of Paris. The view was truly magnificent, stretching in every direction as far as the eye could see. My daughter’s face lit up with pure joy—her dream had come true, and the happiness radiating from her was unforgettable.
In that instant, watching her take it all in, I realized something important: ”Life is about the moments and the people you spend them with.”
I was forever changed. Throughout my diary, I will share with you the many adventures that have led me to decide to become a travel consultant. Travel changed my life and I want to share my passion and lessons learned with as many people as possible. I hope that you enjoy my travel journeys and they inspire you to create your own!
Cheers!
Travel Tip #1
Pack a bag and go — seriously!!! Your first trip doesn’t have to involve a passport — a historic town or charming city nearby counts. The only rule? Start somewhere.
Hello travelers, and welcome to my travel diary. My name is Margaret, and I LOVE to travel and explore different countries. However, it wasn’t always this way. Let me share a little background about myself.
I grew up in a small town in Southeast Texas, where my entire family lived close by. Our travels were limited to exploring Texas, visiting relatives in Southwest Louisiana, and one memorable ski trip to Colorado. That was the extent of my world—traveling far beyond never even crossed my mind. Perhaps, I occasionally dreamed of a trip to Mexico, but nothing more. Everything changed for me in 2004, thankfully.
A Life-Changing Opportunity
That year, my dad was working in Kuwait and surprised us with an incredible opportunity. He offered to pay for me, my sister, and our family’s airfare and hotel for a vacation in London, where he would meet us. There was only one answer—YES! We quickly applied for passports, and my sister and I began researching London in anticipation of our adventure. We started packing, and on September 27th, we departed Houston on British Airways. Little did I know, this journey would change my life forever!
First Impressions of London
When we arrived, we jumped straight into sightseeing, determined to make the most of every moment—even with a 10-year-old, two four-year-olds, and a 10-month-old in tow! I was so captivated by London’s breathtaking architecture that I thought my neck might lock from constantly looking up.
During our travels, I noticed a remarkable change in my daughter; she seemed to mature overnight. On the Tube, she took charge, asking which stop we needed and tracking our progress on the map, letting us know when it was time to get off.
An Encounter With History
One morning, as we made our way to the Tower of London, I noticed an old brick wall and walked over to read the plaque. It turned out to be a section of the Roman Wall that once encircled Londinium. When I reached out and touched the ancient stones, I was overtaken by the profound sense of history surrounding me—it felt like a ton of Roman bricks had hit me! In that moment, I knew I needed to see Rome.
Through the Chunnel We Go
While planning our trip to London, I asked my 10-year-old daughter what she was most excited to see. Without hesitation, she replied, “I have always dreamed of going to the top of the Eiffel Tower.” Her answer made me realize she might need a quick geography lesson! I told her I would look into the options.
Through some research, I found out that it was quite simple to take a day trip to Paris by train, traveling through the Chunnel. My sister volunteered to stay behind with our 4-year-old son, so on the morning of October 2nd, we set off for Paris by train.
During the journey, we met another family with two girls who were about the same age as my daughter—and to our surprise, one of them even shared her name! They had the same plan for the day, so we decided to explore Paris together. We all boarded the Big Red Bus and headed straight for the Eiffel Tower, determined to make my daughter’s dream come true.
A Dream Fulfilled at the Eiffel Tower
After arriving in Paris, we found ourselves standing in a long line at the base of the Eiffel Tower, but instead of feeling impatient, we were completely absorbed in the excitement of the moment. Every detail, the anticipation, the chatter of fellow travelers, the iconic ironwork stretching above—became part of our experience.
When it was finally our turn, we stepped into the elevator and began our ascent. As the city unfolded beneath us, the sense of wonder grew with each passing floor.
Reaching the top, we were rewarded with a breathtaking panorama of Paris. The view was truly magnificent, stretching in every direction as far as the eye could see. My daughter’s face lit up with pure joy—her dream had come true, and the happiness radiating from her was unforgettable.
In that instant, watching her take it all in, I realized something important: ”Life is about the moments and the people you spend them with.”
I was forever changed. Throughout my diary, I will share with you the many adventures that have led me to decide to become a travel consultant. Travel changed my life and I want to share my passion and lessons learned with as many people as possible. I hope that you enjoy my travel journeys and they inspire you to create your own!
Cheers!
Travel Tip #1
Pack a bag and go — seriously!!! Your first trip doesn’t have to involve a passport — a historic town or charming city nearby counts. The only rule? Start somewhere.