Tag Archives: friendship

My Year in Travel – 2013

This year was a great year of travel for me, hitting some brand new destinations and revisiting some of my old favorites. BUT, for me, the VERY BEST thing about this year in travel are all the wonderful people who I met or was reunited with in various locations around the world. My travels wouldn’t be anything without the people on my journey.

photo 5-2

January saw me in NYC and meeting friends old and new – who knew how important they’d all become in my life over the course of this year. I count my blessings for you.

774127_10151185397921601_994829292_o

601969_10200541928127394_194750494_n

In January I also skied in Verbier, Switzerland and absolutely loved my time with the legendary Warren Smith. I truly hope to see him again in 2014.

c4e111ea7c3e11e2a2e222000a9e48a3_7-550x550

Rounding out January, I went to Copenhagen for the very first time and got to reconnect with a travel friend, Christoffer. I loved the cool capital city of Denmark.

photo 3  photo 2

February saw me catching up with a dear travel buddy, Anita, in Montreal, Canada for the very first time. We had a ball doing all kinds of wintery fun things like staying in an Ice Hotel and going to Igloofest.

841259_10151235633846601_1738422880_o  igloofest-2013-with-lola

March was my month for Barcelona & Costa Brava, Spain. I was thrilled to meet up with a fellow traveler, Brian, in Barcelona and was lucky enough to see him again in London in November.

photo 1-1  photo 2-1

Going to Costa Brava was an incredible experience. I love that area of Spain and really cannot get enough, especially of the coast. But, the people on this trip really made it the very best. I can’t imagine a more fun press trip.

    photo 3-1  261302_10151487896017239_122331404_n

April found me in back in NYC. I always love my NYC trips because I get to catch up with very special friends like Jeff & Craig – 2 of my favorites!!

photo 4-1

526815_505830552837181_255731608_n

May saw me in my favorite, Miami. I cannot get enough of this city. While I had my usual fun of beach, pool, dinner, drinks and dancing, I particularly enjoyed working with the fantastic luxe swimwear company, Orchid Boutique, during this trip. Talk about a great collection as well as a staff of kindred spirits!

    photo 5-1  971831_468851856535051_1409297766_n

June was an incredible month chalked full of fun things. Kicking off in Toronto for a conference with so many of my favorite fellow travelers, I actually wonder if we’ll ever be able to beat our #RWTBEX time here. I love you all so much!

         photo 5 copy  1390651_839661210490_1835445924_n

I also got to spend a bit of time with one of my most lovely traveling partners, Mrs. O, Ana. I was able to show her a bit of Americana in the amazing seaside town of Newport, Rhode Island. We had a ball doing Newport the luxe way.

             954643_509536599133243_748824070_n  photo 1-12

Wrapping up my June, I had an incredible visit to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. What a great girls weekend we had there and our host, the Bahia Hotel and Carlos, made my trip 100% amazing. Cannot wait to return.

      1052757_675038515846666_38249459_o-1  photo 2-9  1016160_489353757818194_125834310_n

July found me back in Euroland – one of Lola’s favorites. Although, this was a “repeat” journey of sorts, I did manage to do a few new things. One of which was going to the Henley Royal Regatta.

994215_681313055219212_963247126_n

Post-UK was a return visit to Prague and Budapest. Two of my favorites that I’ve never visited in the summertime. Absolutely stunning! So was hanging out with friends made on a previous trip. Always nice to share a beer with good people.

     photo 3-4  Screen Shot 2013-12-28 at 8.25.58 PM  photo 4-2

August took me back to Montreal once again and NYC. This trip was extra special because of the time well spent with lifelong friends and a last visit with a friend that would soon depart. Anita, Montreal will always make me think of you fondly. I love you and that city so much.

533946_512218672198369_1949562152_n

1185809_517287201673162_1039887376_n

September took me to two cities I wanted to know better. First was Seattle with my newly found soul mate, Erin. There is nowhere I wouldn’t go with this girl. And we both wanted to celebrate happy moments, like our dear friends, Captain & Clark’s wedding!

        1385658_836915862190_1444404729_n  photo 2-3  photo 1-3

Toward the end of September, Erin and I were reunited again in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia. I like to think of it as the city of sisterly love! We had a blast discovering different neighborhoods of Philly & laughing with each other all the while.

  photo 3-3  photo 4-3

October I was lucky enough to be reunited with 2 of my favorite traveling partners again, Ana & Mary Anne along with Mary Anne’s BFF Maxine, for a GLAM LA girls weekend.

  photo 1-2  photo 5-3

November was a busy fun month with a visit back to the UK for a conference and reconnecting with so many fun friends from around the world. I’m so glad our paths cross from time to time.

     1453522_635483179852993_1281758875_n  BYWKrKEIQAEhnn7  1385407_517352441693332_897159866_n

Followed up by a quick jaunt to France and Amsterdam for more girlfriend fun. I wouldn’t choose to travel any other way. Traveling with Ashley, Ana & Mary Anne was the very best.

     photo 2-2  photo 3-2  photo 4-2

And I managed to squeeze in a last minute trip back to NYC with my girlfriends and once again be reunited with some of my favorite people.

    1473060_565693536850882_288125293_n  942731_632191416791742_129447_n  1468759_456040737840106_609742148_n

In December I finished off my year of travel back in Miami to celebrate Erin’s birthday. I cannot think of a better place to end my year. It is my happy spot and it was made so much better being there, laughing and enjoying life, with two of my travel besties, Erin & Esther.

    996101_853046566002_965791577_n  photo 2-8  photo 1-9

Maybe you see some common themes in my travels. Repeat places, repeat friends, repeated silliness and smiles. Traveling is my lifeline and a huge part of my heart as are all the people I meet along the way. My world is better for all of you. Here’s to many more reunions on the road and good times ahead in 2014! Happy travels…

XO – Lola

16 Comments

Filed under amsterdam, barcelona, budapest, cabo san lucas, copenhagen, costa brava, henley-on-thames, london, los angeles, miami, montreal, new york, newport, philadelphia, prague, seattle, toronto, travel, verbier

travel: reflections and a note of gratitude

FRIENDSHIP – one of the many reasons travel is so precious to me!

i have a lot of reasons for loving to travel but i think my #1 would be making new friends. i recognize i’m fortunate to have done my fair share travel lately – especially when i reflect on my friendships. AND this summer has been a different kind of travel experience that i feel equally thankful for – having my love of travel come to my own part of the world.

when i “helped” Alex of Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler – i knew it was the right thing to do. what i didn’t consider is how much it would mean to me. by having her visit, it was like i traveled without leaving home. she told me about her travels and home country of Slovakia and it was as if my world had widened yet again. it was bittersweet when she left to go back to Europe. i was saying goodbye to a new friend – like i would to one i met while on the road.

lola & crazy sexy fun traveler

soon after Alex departed, i had an invitation to pop down to Newport, Rhode Island, to meet up with another travel blogger, Priscilla of Weekend In Paris. i was really busy catching up that week and could have easily convinced myself not to go but BOY was it ever what the doctor ordered! i’m so glad i went. not only did i have a lovely time and was treated like royalty by Priscilla but, also once again, i made some new friends that i really respect & enjoyed their company tremendously. i know we will connect over and over again. as i left the Newport city limits i wasn’t as sad as usual because Newport isn’t too far for me to return for an afternoon and catch up more with Priscilla and Co.

Newport Tweetup – Priscilla of Weekend in Paris is the beautiful brunette next to lola

plus, i was returning home to prepare for a visit i’d been looking forward to all summer long. Leah of Leah Travels was coming to visit me! we had some fun Boston plans cooked up, of course, but we also needed to plot our BIG upcoming trip of a lifetime. our one month-long tour of Europe from November to December. Leah and i had loads of fun on Friday checking out a few of the famous Boston sites and then heading to the Red Sox game. even though the Sox lost, there’s nothing quite like a game at Fenway Park. the rest of our time together was really devoted to getting “work” done. thank goodness we enjoy what we do and making our plans – really our “work” was all FUN. any time spent with Leah is always a pleasure for me. it’s like having a taste of Texas & being with an old soul of a friend. now it’s Monday and Leah has gone back to Texas and i now find myself sad again. my summer visits are over for now.

lola & leah – travelin’ BFFs

maybe i will see Priscilla again before the summer ends and i know i will be seeing Leah & Alex at TBEX in Spain in September. BUT that seems so far away. i’m glad i have my biggest adventure yet to distract me – my late August trip where i will meet a team of Australians in Cambodia for our Habitat for Humanity build. can you imagine how sad i will be when i have to say goodbye to them?

meeting new people is a very important part of my life and i’m always grateful for the new friendships. you learn so much by making new friends and inviting them into your life. while i love to learn about new places and see new things with my own eyes, it is TRULY the people from all over that i bond with and what makes it the hardest to say goodbye.

thank you for all the visits – you are some incredible ladies & you made my summer!

happy travels to you all! XO – lola

PS – if  you are heading to or near Boston – let me know fellow travelers. i’d love to meet you too!

22 Comments

Filed under boston, travel

4 letter words that spell TROUBLE

sassy, cheeky, awesome

4 letter words

meet leah (yes i corrupted her with a boa)

LEAH & LOLA

you know me ole lola*wink wink*

partners in crime – like thelma & louise – we were destined to meet & be friends!

it’s funny how friendship strikes.  sometimes it is truly like a lightening bolt and other times it’s a slow-growing metamorphosis like a caterpillar into butterfly. either way, if it grows into something mutually fulfilling, it is a beautiful thing. i have had the good fortune of a lightening bolt friendship recently! let me break it down…

  • lola & leah start travel blogging roughly at the same time – both become active on twitter. follow us @L_e_a_h & @loladimarco (at least WE think we are clever & funny)
  • lola & leah cross paths and have a common bond besides love of travel. (TEXAS. and then football. & then Texas Tech)
  • lola & leah have a similar silly sense of humor! this makes for fun dialog at any point in time. (thank the good lord for comic relief!)
  • lola & leah instigate a tweet-up & make a plan to meet. both are equally serious & committed. (not at all full of hot air)
  • lola & leah FINALLY meet. after instantaneous hugging, both realize we have enough shimmer, sparkle & sequins in our wardrobes to be spotted from outer space! (note: wear sunglasses when with us)
  • lola & leah realize this brightly colored sparkly wardrobe we each own is ALL from Jcrew. (major addiction)

Austin loves you too, leah…so does lola

  • lola & leah, during our weekend of adventures, find out that we both drive big ass SUV’s (lola = suburban, leah = escalade)

    texas pride mounted on lola’s big ass suburban

  • lola & leah learn we both like big jangly jewels, loads of beauty products, enjoy good food and were both in a sorority. (duh..we ARE both texas girls!)

i love you too, Austin! (check out the big baubley necklace)

  • lola & leah sadly have to part ways but have been in touch daily ever since planning our world domination one small city at a time. (WhaaWhaaWhaaaaa) AND coordinating Jcrew sales (let’s be real)

mulling over our master plans

in all seriousness – i have made a new dear friend for life and i have my adventurous traveling spirit to thank…AND LEAH’S! thank you leah!! look out WORLD…we are plotting & coming after you with a vengeance.  (something akin to laverne & shirley) 🙂

PS: we have so much in common that when you google our real life names you’ll find porn stars share our name.  in my mind, they are fast friends with each other too! (haha)

2 Comments

Filed under texas, travel