Hi, I’m Penny. Thanks for stopping by!

A little about me:

I am a retired lady that wants to travel the world. My plan is to become a digital nomad and to use the skills I’ve honed over the last 30 years in administrative support roles to work remotely as a virtual assistant to help fund my travels.

My first trips abroad were through my studies at Fox Valley Technical College.  A Spanish immersion trip to Peru and a student exchange with a school in Germany. Prior to that, a trip to Mexico for a wedding and a cruise in the Caribbean.

I fell in love with it all, and felt like quite the adventurer! There’s no stopping me now.

One question I often get asked is, “What would you say is your most favorite of all the places that you’ve visited?” And to be  honest, I can’t answer that question. Every place I’ve been has its own charm, beauty, and a story waiting to be unraveled.

The unexpectedness of every country I’ve ventured into has left me in absolute awe. It’s as if the world itself is a living, breathing thing, and each corner is a breath of fresh air.

 There are so many reasons to travel and so much to see and experience.

• The unparalleded beauty of landscapes. From rugged snow-capped mountains to tranquil sandy beaches, and  lush dense forests to arid barren deserts.  From deep chiseled gorges to remote tropical islands and vast frozen tundras. From small quaint villages to fast flowing rivers and dark mysterious caves. Each has it’s own allure and characteristics that make it unique and all it’s own. 
• The vast diversity of culture. Cultural identity is defined by so many factors: language, traditions, food, religion, art, clothing, architecture, societal roles, festivals, family structure, education,  livelihoods, music, politics, sports, taboos, rituals, dance, etiquette, customs, history, social norms, folklore, time. When exploring new places, it’s incredible to witness how all these elements come together to form a unique cultural tapestry!
• The magnificient architecture. I’m absolutely fascinated by how architecture shapes the character of a place. It’s like a visual narrative of a culture’s history and values. When I’m out exploring, I love noticing these details. It’s just mind-blowing how these structures tell us so much about the people, their history, and their aspirations. Historically and culturally significant properties, the world’s iconic landmarks, engineering marvels, celestial places of worship. Urban planning and design, UNESCO sites, royal and botanical gardens and sculptures. Castles and palaces.  The amazing feats that went into building some of these unbelievable structures, I can’t even image. Each of these architectural types holds a unique story and adds its own distinctive charm to the places they’re found.
• The endless history of the world. So many eras, so many wars and changing borders. Coming from the US, the rest of the world seems so old to me and every country I’ve been to has such a story to tell; some sad, some happy. So many elements that have/had so many impacts and change the entire everything of a country. It’s like walking through the pages of a living, breathing book. It’s fascinating, and sometimes sobering, to see how the past has shaped the present in each country. 
• Adventure and excitement. Seeing things I’ve never seen, going places I’ve never been, experiencing things I’ve never experienced. I feel like when I am at home, I just exist, but when I am traveling, I am alive! There is so much to learn, so much to feel, it affects all the senses. Smells that you don’t recognize, sounds that are new, food that sometimes scares and really turns me off, sights you never envisioned. My mind races and I’m always watching and listening to all my new surroundings.  And let’s not forget the thrill of adventure and discovery. It’s like being fully alive, soaking in all those new experiences.

Stories