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Panama to Colombia Sailing Trip
August 7, 2013
in Cartagena, Central America, Colombia, Latin American Adventure, Panama, Panama City, Round the World, San Blas Islands, South America, travel

The crossing. Sailing from Panama to Colombia.

My sunburnt arm pressed into the wooden deck. My head, propped up with a balled up, wet, pink elephant-print sarong I'd purchased in Thailand. My eyes were closed and I breathed in and out with the waves. It was uncomfortable to say the least, but...

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The Panama Canal
August 1, 2013
in Central America, Latin American Adventure, Panama, Panama City, Round the World, travel

The Panama Canal

You can't go to Panama without visiting the Panama Canal. I'm pretty sure they check that when you exit at immigration. Pretty sure. (Though, I wouldn't know, because I didn't really go through immigration when I left.) The Panama Canal was forged through the country in...

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Panama City, Panama
July 30, 2013
in Central America, Latin American Adventure, Panama, Panama City, Round the World, travel

Scenes from Panama City

I didn't exactly intend to spend an entire week in Panama City. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice city, probably the nicest capital in Central America. But I probably only needed 3, maybe 4 nights tops. But, alas, I was trying to book a...

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Boquete, Panama
July 28, 2013
in Boquete, Central America, Latin American Adventure, Panama, Round the World, travel

Boring in Boquete.

After a week of falling into more and more trouble in Bocas del Toro, I needed a detox. Sometimes I retreat to a new city with an intention of just relaxing. I did the first time I went to Chiang Mai after Vang Vieng. I...

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Wednesday night party at Aqua Lounge in Bocas del Toro, Panama.
July 19, 2013
in Bad Decisions, Bocas del Toro, Central America, Latin American Adventure, Panama, relationships, Round the World, sex, travel

The three lies of Bocas del Toro.

1. I am not drinking tonight. I arrived in Bocas del Toro on the Fourth of July. In the morning, in Puerto Viejo, I watched Joey Chestnut break his hot dog eating record with the help of a vpn, a borrowed cable login, and espn.com, and...

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Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
July 18, 2013
in Central America, Costa Rica, Latin American Adventure, Puerto Viejo, Round the World, travel

Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

I only stayed two nights in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, and really, don't have much to say about it. It was OK, I suppose, but for some reason I just wasn't feeling it. I had thought I'd stay longer, but most of the people I...

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Jaco, Costa Rica
July 17, 2013
in Central America, Costa Rica, Jaco, Latin American Adventure, Round the World, travel

Jaco Life

I hadn't planned on going to Jaco, Costa Rica. But in Little Corn I befriended a girl who lived there and invited me to stay with her for a few days when she got back. By day we'd hike up the hill or walk on...

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Monteverde Horseback Riding
July 15, 2013
in Central America, Costa Rica, Latin American Adventure, Life List, Monteverde, Round the World, travel

Life List: Go horseback riding. (Monteverde horseback riding)

While visiting Costa Rica, in between hiking the cloud forest, I decided to give Monteverde horseback riding a try. Most backpackers come to the town to do the zipline or the bungee jump or possibly both. But as I've tried so very hard to establish here:...

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Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica
July 14, 2013
in Central America, Costa Rica, Latin American Adventure, Monteverde, Round the World, travel

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

I've established already that "thrill seeking" isn't exactly part of my vocabulary. So, while everyone else seemed to go to Monteverde, Costa Rica, to zipline or bungee jump, I preferred to keep my feet firmly planted on the ground. So, instead of flying through the...

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Little Corn Island, Nicaragua
July 12, 2013
in Central America, Corn Islands, Latin American Adventure, Nicaragua, Round the World, travel

Don’t go to Little Corn.

Don't go to Little Corn. Because years ago the locals didn't even need money. Because years ago the men catching lobsters would hand them off for free. Don't go to Little Corn. Because it's the kind of place where you need a flashlight to see your way back...

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Hi, I’m Val. I spent most of my 20s in a standstill, unable to pick which path in life I wanted to take. I wanted the nomadic life of a traveler but also wanted the husband, the condo, and the teal couch. Unable to decide which life I wanted more, I did nothing. I lived my life in limbo. When I turned 30 I’d had enough of putting my life on hold and decided to start “choosing my figs.” So, I quit my job and bought a one-way ticket to Europe. After 3 years on the road I’m back in Chicago, exploring the city, learning guitar, decorating my apartment in too much teal, cuddling my cats, and planning my next adventures.

            

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR LIFE?


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2006 –

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WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR LIFE?


Feeling stuck? Sick of living your life in limbo? Want to finally do all those things you always say you're going to do? Sign up for the Choosing Figs newsletter now to get a FREE e-book with tips on starting your own life list, inspiration for things to do in life, and worksheets to get your life goals out of your head and into action!


Your information will be used to send you our Life List e-book and subscribe you to our bi-monthly newsletter. View our full Privacy Policy.



            


MEOW | Is Val in Chicago?

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