A little more than a week into being back from a transformational experience in Europe which was the culmination of a 16-month journey, truly has changed me in many different ways. Of course, there has been my weight loss, my reunion with Rosa, getting back to a place where I longed to be, the European continent and opened up the possibilities. It also showed, as I shared my experiences over that past month, that the world was ready to get back to experiencing the world again. I have to say that I have been truly lucky to have had several avenues to keep me going during the past 16 months. I had worked for the census bureau, I have, and still do, work with kids and even had a paper route, yes a paper route to make ends meet and I have truly weathered the storm created by the pandemic, but more than that, I have found direction in my life that I never felt before. 
While I am back in Minnesota, I am not here for long and at least in the short term, I will be relocating. It is a good thing after having lived here for 30 years now, after returning from my time in New York City when I was an elementary school teacher. I have had so many experiences during this time that has lead me to where I am now and leading me into the next stage of my life. While sharing my experiences with everyone while over in Europe, my world came back to me. I mean my life blood, my spirit of who I am came back to me and sharing my experiences, clients have come out of the woodwork from this darkness of the pandemic. I knew there was a pent-up energy and it is coming back. This has re-energized my life and my profession. Not having it, except for a few bookings over the past 16 months, of which I am truly grateful, sent me on wild swings of emotion and I was very lucky to hang in there through all the trials and tribulations and here I am now, refreshed and ready to get back at it and with a freshness that everything is new, and in a way, it really is. I am now living life, not just existing. 
As I have said, I am back and excited to be so and as people have called, emailed and checked in, I know that the Wandering Puffin will and has spread his wings again. In fact, I am busy again arranging the most amazing adventures for my valued clients now and into the future and excited about what the future will bring, one of adventure over the next year that I will be excited to share, some direction, some no direction, wherever the wind blows, and yet, I will always be connected. I am getting ready now to move forward and at the end of this month, as I am getting myself ready, I am hitting the road first and then in the short term, as I have said, relocating and will share more when this happens. I do have a very exciting road trip planned first before settling in for the short term in a different part of the country. I hope you stick around to find out what will happen next. 
As always, I am interested in your thoughts, comments, questions and adding to the discourse is always appreciated be in on the site itself or on Facebook, Twitter or wherever you read this. Thank you for your support of this small business and it is truly appreciated!!!

​I just returned from an amazing adventure in Europe and two weeks ago I wrote about my time in Croatia and the wonderful immersion there. I did not write last week as I was immersed in another type of experience. A re-connection with a someone who I had met 16 months earlier. Just being with her confirmed the feelings I had when I first met her in February of 2020. It was truly a liberation for me, one I had missed as travel is such an integral part of my being which had been taken away because of Covid. I knew in my heart that I would see her again, and never wavered even in the darkest times in recent history, to return to her, fulfilling a dream, once so distant, a promise to myself and to her. My time in Rome was truly transformational and spending time with Rosa, a life changing event, exploring the city in ways I had not done before and seeing many things through her eyes. 
We also went to Tivoli Naples, Nettuno and Anzio among other places in my 10 days in Italy. The beaches at Anzio were where in 1943, the Allies landed to liberate Italy from the shackles of Mussolini and Hitler, opening up a second front as preparation for the invasion of Normandy a year later. I walked amongst the Crosses and Stars of David in the American Cemetery in Nettuno and the Commonwealth Cemetery in Anzio, reflecting on the sacrifice of these men and women who lives were given in the cause of freedom, thousands, of all ages, ranks and many places around the world. I remember doing this last year when I was in Sicily and I was once again awed by the sacrifice.

The last week in Croatia was an amazing experience. I was able to re-connect with a young man with who I had made an acquaintance and potential business partnership in London a few years ago by the name of Mario Tuksa. He was passionate and had just started his own travel company and we chatted not only in the scheduled slot for our meeting, but when I had an open slot, he returned and we chatted some more. It was more a conversation about life and passion for what you are and do and also being true to yourself. As with all potential business partnerships, I never promise business, but if the right client at the right time comes around, we will give it a shot and I have done with others. 

Dubrovnik, meetings, wine, oysters and a little Ston
This weekend has come and gone when I arrived into Dubrovnik and the meat of the business portion of this adventure to Croatia. My travels are not done here, but returning to Dubrovnik has been awe inspiring, both in the experience of walking the old town, including the walls which are about 2 ½ kilometers and taking the cable car to the top, but also meeting many locals, both in the restaurants and in the wonderful meetings I had both scheduled and impromptu with suppliers from throughout Croatia. Life as I know it seems to slowly be returning to normal. 

A conversation with a local.
I have been back on the continent now about 4 days and it has truly been amazing. I knew I had to get back and now that I am here, definitely not disappointed.  It was the right decision. The adrenaline rush is still there and the excitement. Seeing the places like Hvar today and now Korcula have made it truly real. Krka National Park was awe inspiring and tomorrow, another adventure, but what has made this return more special are the people and today is no exception. 
I have been with colleagues and enjoyed some walking tours, but once away from the walking tours, and wandering on my own with a friend here and there, found a little wine shop that opened just last year. While I have not been enjoying as much wine  lately, I thought it would be nice to stop in and talk with a local in his shop and his name is Mark, maybe even Marko as this is Korcula and the legend or history of Marko Polo being born on this island. I also know a bit of history of the Zinfandel grape as I have written in the past. It did not originate in Italy (Primitivo), but in Croatia and is known I believe as the Dingac varietal, among other names.
Mark proceeded to tell us about the varietals here in this region of south Dalmatia and specifically Korcula and the connection to America and Gringic, and the Zinfandel grape being transported to California. He shared with us his passion for the wine and I was thrilled to have found this little wine shop where not only did he tell the stories, tasted a little wine as well. We spent about an hour chatting about the wines and life in general and to me, that is the best and most amazing part of travel, meeting the locals and getting to know them which closes the gaps in the differences and extends the similarities. There were even wines that after being aged in oak were put in the water to age some more. 
Of course, we bought a couple of bottles and he even offered us a Grappa complimentary. Thank you Mark for your hospitality and that of Wine Corner Korcula, so the Wandering Puffin recommends highly that you make a stop in here to meet this wonderful small business owner and try and buy some of his local wines. It is worth the stop and a very short walk from the pier.

​A few days ago, my world opened up again and I was off to wander it as I once had, but it is different for sure. It has been 15 long months and the adrenaline was flowing and I could not hold it back. I was on my way, on a plane, going through the security and customs processes and the border checks. What used to be mundane was now new. Covid is not gone and it is still in the realm of the process as you have to have the proof of vaccine or proof of the negative Covid test. I had had both which was necessary as I had to show documents and reason for travel. I am glad I did as I had to do it in Minneapolis, Atlanta and when I arrived into Frankfurt. Of course, the mandatory entry into the country of Croatia where I am now. If I had not had the proper documentation, I could have been turned around. 
Yes, I am here now and so it has been amazing, even though I had been here before. The first time back in 2003 when I thought it was very much a hidden gem and I was not disappointed when I arrived into Split, seeing the town from a new perspective and then on the MS Rhapsody, a brand new ship/boat/yacht, whatever the designation. It has 19 cabins and the people on board are wonderful and real and that is truly something I missed. We have been to Trogir and Sibernik and the highlight was going to Krka National Park and its amazing waterfalls. Some things new and some things old, but truly everything new and a whole new perspective. I was truly a kid in a candy store. I was in my happy place. 
I still can’t believe I am here as I sit here on the “balcony” of my cabin and count my lucky stars to be able to be traveling again and yes, it may not have happened. I look forward to continuing to share my experiences via Facebook and other social media and working on GoPro videos for everyone to be shared. Travel is the true educator and when you can’t do it, a major part of life is eliminated and for me, as an educator, truly was missed like a long lost friend. It has been a welcome return to see friends and colleagues again in person, not just zoom meetings and yes, the mask is required on the flights and in certain indoor venues which is fine with me. I look forward to meeting new friends along this journey back in Europe which just started when I arrived on the continent on the 4th of June, 15 months to the day when I left Frankfurt, March 4, 2020. 
All I can say is that the Wandering Puffin has spread his wings again and excited to share the world with you. As always, I am interested in your thoughts, comments, questions and adding to the discourse is always appreciated be in on the site itself or on Facebook, Twitter or wherever you read this. Thank you for your support of this small business and it is truly appreciated!!!

Every year when a holiday like Memorial Day comes around, I post a reflection of its meaning and while I have never served, I know many who have and appreciate their service and sacrifice. 
Even though summer is still a few weeks away, Memorial Day is known as the unofficial start of summer in the United States. That is exciting given the past 15 months we have had here and around the world. Covid has taken its toll on many and while we remember the true meaning of Memorial Day and those who have fallen serving our country to keep our country free, we need to remember the sacrifices of all the frontline workers trying to save others, many who have lost their lives during this pandemic that has taken the lives of thousands of people here and around the world.
We need to remember the doctors, nurses, paramedics, police and firefighters that have died in the line of service during this crisis. We should remember other frontline workers who were there for us when we needed them and lost their lives due the effects of Covid. Many have served others to make sure we were able to survive. This is something with all the chaos in the world we should keep in mind. Memorial Day is to remember those who have served and sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, so when you are enjoying your barbeque and grilling outdoors on this Memorial Day, please remember the freedoms we have and how lucky we are given the sacrifices made by many others. Without their sacrifices, we may not have the freedoms we have. 
As always, I am interested in your thoughts, comments, questions and adding to the discourse is always appreciated be in on the site itself or on Facebook, Twitter or wherever you read this. Thank you for your support of this small business and it is truly appreciated!!!
As an aside, my next blog will be sent from Croatia next Monday!!!

Last week, I wrote about packing and unpacking and that is still an ongoing thing. Maybe 85% packed for my future move and for the trip. In both cases, it is like a new experience, both necessary and at the same time exciting. With the travel time approaching, so the anticipation builds, but perhaps a bit of anxiety as well. 
Anticipation is defined as a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action, or perhaps, more appropriately, in my case, the act of looking forward especially…. I am definitely looking forward as my departure from my current residence is in a little over a week and my departure for Europe is in less than 2 weeks. 
In normal times or BC (Before Covid), I would be on track and perhaps already fully prepared, so the anxiety, which is always present may not be as prominent. It is tempering the anticipation, which I suppose is normal. When in the past I have traveled, I felt like I was on autopilot. I knew the ropes being on the road for many months in any given year. I knew what I was doing. Now however, I feel like I have to re-learn some of the old skills and again and prepare for the new. Don’t get me wrong. I am truly excited for this new chapter of my life and sharing it with the world. I feel good that I have to go back to square one in a way. I know what my clients will feel when they first travel again, some familiarity, new unknowns. In the end there will be a balance between anticipation and anxiety, but everything will work itself out. This I know!!! What do you think? 
As always, I am interested in your thoughts, comments, questions and adding to the discourse is always appreciated be in on the site itself or on Facebook, Twitter or wherever you read this. Thank you for your support of this small business and it is truly appreciated!!!