Caption: The view as you arrive by boat to Casa del Mundo! The terraced oasis on the shoes of Lake Atitlán await :) Imagine sunning on the terrace, swimming in the lake, and getting a massage with the sound of the waves lapping the shore. So excited to spend the next few days here and show you around!

Caption: Every corner of Casa del Mundo captures the beauty of Guatemalan culture and the nature that surrounds you on Lake Atitlán. The perfect place for some much needed R+R, with quiet sitting areas, lounge chairs, and hammocks spread throughout the hotel grounds.

Caption: This was Deluxe Suite #20 at Casa del Mundo and I cannot recommend it enough. You really can’t go wrong with any of the rooms here because they’re all stunning, but this balcony and view sure was something special!

Caption: We took the Casa del Mundo’s kayaks for a spin on the lake this morning! The lake is much calmer for water activities in the morning as it picks up wind in the afternoon. Kayaking is just one of the many activities you can do here. You can also visit nearby villages, go on a sunrise hike, volcano hike, paddle board, swim, get a massage, and more!

Caption: Lake Atitlán wildlife! The lake formed in a volcanic crater, and lots of wildlife has learned to thrive in the water and along the shores. I caught this white crane flying in front of the Tolimán and Atitlán volcanoes- a crazy shot only possible in a place such as this!

Caption: Bedroom details. No westernized hotel rooms here! Staying true to Guatemala’s Mayan roots, you’ll find traditional woven textiles throughout the hotel, and there is no shortage of the colorful, artisan woven textiles in your room. If you want to bring some Guatemalan color back home with you, can go to Panajachel and shop, or one of the hotel excursions is to the Chichicastenango Maya Market.

Caption: Welcome to Reykjavík! I haven’t even been here 24 hours yet and I’m already in love with Iceland! The people are kind, the food is delicious, and there is so much to do in the city. This here is the Harpa Concert Hall. It’s such a unique piece of architecture and it is down by the water, you can’t miss it! If only I could catch a show here, but for now I’ll just stare in awe 😍

Caption: Seeing what hiking in Iceland is all about and tackling the Fimmvörðuháls trail from Skógar and Thórsmörk! We’ve left our car at Skógafoss and will take a bus back from Thórsmörk, staying overnight in a hut at the halfway point of this trail! So far we’ve seen tons of waterfalls along the river, and a few random sheep grazing along without a care in the world.

Caption: We’ve made it to East Iceland! In Borgarfjörður eystri, there is a prime puffin viewing spot that has a wooden staircase winding up the hill that the puffins nest on. The best time to see puffins in Iceland is May through August, so if you’re wanting to see these little guys, make sure to plan your trip in between then!

Caption: A must-do activity in Reykjavík is to take a whale watching tour out of Reykjavík Harbor. There are multiple tour companies to do this through but I did mine through Elding Whale Watching. It was a beautiful day on the water and 5 different whales made an appearance! We pretty much had the water to ourselves, minus one other boat that came towards the end.

Caption: More hiking! This time we are in Landmannalaugar, which is the start of the famous Laugavegur trail. We didn’t have time for that hike (it can take around 5 days), but we hiked Brennisteinsalda and Bláhnjúkur mountains. There is camping here as well as a geothermal pool, so bring your swimsuit!

Caption: We were planning on staying at another camp site last night but it was full so we ended up here and WOW how lucky did we get! It is our last night of camping before we head back to Reykjavík, and we could not have asked for a better night! We got to camp right beside the water (there was a ~4 foot drop to the beach), and it wasn’t a busy campground so you weren’t set up right next to another tent which was nice. Camping 66.12° North, we will be back!

Caption: A store owner showing off tapestries for sale in Pondicherry, India. There are so many beautiful tapestries for sale, with vibrant colors and intricate beadwork. Now the task is to choose which tapestry to bring home! (Can I have them all?)

Caption: Gwangjang Market in Seoul is home to delicious food stalls, and was even featured on Netflix’s “Street Food” show. Here, a vendor is serving up some delicious kimchi pancakes 😋

Caption: A winter western pastime, skijoring. Skiers are pulled by horse and rider, and have various obstacles, jumps, and rings to collect throughout the course. Participation is not for the faint of heart, but it sure is fun to watch!

Caption: A local school boy in Ghana sitting down for lunch. Everyone here has been so welcoming, and the kids are no exception. They are full of curiosity and wonder for the world and love the opportunity to be around foreigners!