Thursday 14 February 2013

A fond farewell from Travellin' Mama


After a coupla months on the road — by train to the Big Apple, D.C., and Miami and then on to a wildly adventurous road trip across Panama and Costa Rica — my thoughts are a jumble: sad to have left it all behind, happy to be home, but mostly grateful to have shared some seriously kickass life experiences with two kids who are both young enough to still kind've enjoy their parents’ company and old enough to really get how fortunate they are.

Top 5? Yikes. New York City was definitely up there. So too was the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, the wildlife, the snorkeling, the houseboat on the Panama Canal, and that fiery Colombian-bred horse I was so lucky to ride in the Panamanian highlands.

Certainly there were times when it all seemed a bit much (the death-wish-having bus drivers, the steamy border crossings on foot, the 24/7 close quarters, our own dodgy hygiene) but what I know for sure is that the most precious gift of all was the time we spent together.

In fact, packing up to leave our digs in Montezuma I started boo-hoo'ing like the big fat baby I truly am, not just because I hated to leave the magnificent view and the super-comfy all-day hammock, but also because I’ll never get that kind of time back with my girls.

So while the end of something brilliant is perhaps cause to mourn, the fact that it happened at all is something to celebrate. And that’s just what I’ll do.

So until next time … buy the book! And happy travels!

Thursday 3 January 2013

The trouble with public computers

Can´t ever seem to access this blog via public computer in Panama (except for today) so to make it easy all Travellin´Mama updates will be here for the duration https://www.facebook.com/travellinmama?filter=1

HAPPY TRAVELS!

Sunday 23 December 2012

Like a faded movie star well past her prime

Panama´s Contadora Island, former home of the exiled Shah of Iran (and, so the rumour goes, Christian Dior)  is a beautiful gem off the coast of Panama that's lost a bit of its polish. This abandoned ferry (and the abandoned 300-room resort nearby that's been stripped of everything but the walls and floors) symbolizes what this island once was (a playground for the rich, famous and bejewelled) and what it might be again one day if the right folks are willing to cough up the cash. It seems the days of a drug-money-fuelled economy, on this island at least, are gone, and the flagging tourism industry needs a shot of somethin'. Regardless, we're having a ball. And the girls dig it.

Monday 17 December 2012

Countdown to Lebron live ...

A big thrill for the munchkins: Heat vs Hawks at American Airlines Arena.

Wednesday 12 December 2012

New York City tourist cliche #1


When Madonna first came to New York City and told the taxi driver to "Take me to the centre of everything", he must surely have brought her here to Times Square.

Annie and Molly take it all in, like the rockin' travel companions they are....

Saturday 1 December 2012

Travellin' Mama weighs in at Rookie Moms



Today on America's Rookie Moms:  http://www.rookiemoms.com/travel-with-little-kids-yes-says-travellin-mama/

Thursday 29 November 2012