Learning made EASY!

Ever since my friend's wedding in Italy I've been impressed with how much German I've retained over the years. Especially when you consider I never use it and only hear it when listening to the 20-some songs I have on my computer. Then my friend Holly was talking about how she's forgetting all her French and she use to be completely fluent, so she downloaded an app, a FREE app!
I was skeptical, just kinda nodding along in agreement when she would mention it. Then I see her using it in the break room at work the other day. It's soooooo perfect! She is learning all three realms: Reading, Writing, Pronunciation. Plus it works like a app game, which in this generation is the perfect solution to "homework". I downloaded it and played through 2 sets of the Basics. It was such a nice review. Each leason focuses on 5 to 8 works and proper usage.
So here it is: Duolingo
Duolingo offers extensive language learning lessons and tools with a gamified skill tree which users can progress through, and a vocabulary section where learned words can be practiced. Users gain “skill points” as they learn a language, such as when they complete a lesson. Skills are considered “learned” when users complete all the lessons associated with the skill. Up to 14 points are awarded per lesson, with one deducted for each mistake. Users start with four “lives” on early lessons, and three on later lessons, a “life” being lost with each mistake. A user must retry the lesson if they make a mistake after all lives have been lost. Duolingo also includes a timed practice feature, where users are given 30 seconds and twenty questions and awarded a skill point and seven or ten additional seconds for each correct answer.
If you've ever wanted to learn a new language, this is the ticket!

A film of inspiration!

There are books and pictures and films that simply inspire you to get up and go. More often than not, those same pieces of inspiration drive you to think more deeply than anything else that has approached you in some time. For me that film was "Before Sunrise" staring Julie Deeply and Ethan Hawke. It made me want to travel and have these amazing thoughts and discussions!

The same inspiration struck me while watching "Before Sunset", the long awaited sequel. And now the finale of this  inspirational trilogy is coming out this June, "Before Midnight"! I just can't wait.

Dear friends, please watch these movies. Experience them and take them in. And then share them, because its too good to keep to your self!

So behind!

Hey Travelers,
I am so behind and very sorry if you've been waiting on me. It seems like every day is something more challenging. Good news in my quest for travel is that I've got my tax return back so I'll be able to go to Italy after all! My friend would have killed me if I missed her wedding.
Life moves ever forward and last night I stayed in my very first Deluxe Disney Resort: Wilderness Lodge! A friend of mine owns a Disney Vacation Club membership and we had a lovely girls night in a 5th floor deluxe studio. I highly recommend it!
So here's the skinny: I'm soooooo broke! And I'm sure many of you are in the same situation. But being broke doesn't mean you can't travel. Why just this morning I found a flight from Orlando to Bogota, Columbia for $379 rt!? Sure it was for two weeks from now, but when you're poor you have to be flexible. With that in mind, here are some brilliant ideas on keeping busy while keeping your money in the bank account.

1. Design your own walking tour.
     So your planning a vacation on the cheap, you have so much you want to see but you can't afford one of the hop-on-and-off trolleys! So go to the library or use your google and design your own tour. I promise you'll see so much more of the city- maybe even stumble upon a great find!

2. Create a travel play list.
     Set the mood and jump into a culture. Design a play list that will help you relax and maybe bring some of your destinations spice to you day. It will be a nice way to jam through a long flight!

3. Pair up your outfits.
     I own more clothes then I will ever where, but unfortunately every day I travel it looks like I've gotten dressed in the dark! ...And sometimes I have, because if your in a multi-bed hostel you do NOT want to be that person diggin' around with the lights on at 7am! So plan ahead and build your wardrobe. Then once you've started packing you'll know exactly which pieces you need.
     Note: This can also help you condense your luggage. If you have 3 outfits that use the same pair of jeans, you just save yourself some major space!

4. Build a bucket list.
     Don't have your next destination picked out yet? Well that's not my style, but I did say be flexible. By having a general idea of where you'd like to go you can book as soon as you see the flight drop in price!

5. Smash something!
     Now don't go all Hulk on your house or anything! I'm talking about Smashbooks. They're like scrap booking from dummies, which is something I need! They don't take all the crazy supplies like a homemade scrapbook and it's still a great way to store all your memories of that trip: plane tickets, museum brochures, a napkin or menu...

6. Pin project.
     Make those pins a reality. Pinterest is an addiction, but all those ideas are just that if you don't follow through. Build a camping kit, or make a piece of art. Nothing is more inspiring then someone else's imagination ;)

Well I hope that's enough to get you off the couch... or on the couch if you're just making a play list. I'll write again soon. This whole once a month thing is just not going to work out for me!
Travel on, and remember:

Humbling the soul

You hear it all the time, "Travel broadens the mind". But what else does it do? Well for me, travel expanded my friend circle. I know feel an instant bond with those from other countries or people who share my love of adventure. If a discussion with me has lasted more than 20 minutes, then we must be talking about travel! However, recently I've realized a negative effect of travel on my personality.
In the last two weeks I have come in contact with two very nice women who have traveled more than me... which is not something I'm use to. We've began to swap stories and experience and I found myself filled with at evil green beast called jealousy! I couldn't believe it. Here I am, feeling story-topped and insignificant when I should be completely excited about finding people who share my passion. It has made me stop and realise that I have so much more to see and do in this world.
Travel should do more that broaden the mind, it should humble the soul. Travel should be a gateway to experiences and friendships. Travel should be only the start to an adventure. I vow to travel more, learn more, and share more. I hope you do the same.
~Greet

7 Wonders Trivia

I'm working a several posts at the same time currently, so I wanted to keep this one light and fun! Here are some fun facts about the Seven Wonders of the World. This required some research, so I hope you like it.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World that still survives. Can you name the other six wonders?
They are:
1) The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which were built on the banks of the Euphrates river by King Nebuchadnezzar II.
2) The gigantic gold statue of Zeus was built by the sculptor Pheidias at Olympia.
3) The temple of Artemis was erected in the Asia Minor city of Ephesus in honor of the Greek goddess of hunting and wild nature.
4) The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was a huge tomb constructed for King Maussollos, Persian satrap of Caria.
5) The Colossus of Rhodes was a massive statue erected by the Greeks in honor of Helios the sun-god.
6) The Lighthouse of Alexandria was built by the Ptolemies on the island of Pharos.
The Great Pyramid of Giza was built near the ancient city of Memphis for Pharaoh Khufu in the period of the Fourth Dynasty, between 2613 and 2494BC. The Greeks referred to it as the Pyramid of Cheops. A true wonder, it is immense: according to Mysteries of the Unknown, it covers a ground area of 13.1 acres composed of some 2.3 million limestone blocks average two-and-a-half tonnes each, enough stone to build a wall of foot-square cubes two-thirds around the globe at the equator, a distance of 16,600 miles.
**The oldest statue in the world is the Great Sphinx of Egypt. Carved out of limestone, it stands 65 ft high and is 240 ft long.

New Seven Wonders
At a declaration on 07/07/07 in Lisbon, Portugal, after worldwide online polling, SMS and telephone voting the New Seven Wonders were declared as being:
1) The Great Wall, China
2) Petra, Jordan
3) Christ Redeemer, Brazil
4) Machu Picchu, Peru
5) Chichén Itzá, Mexico
6) The Roman Colosseum, Italy
7) The Taj Mahal, India

Now is time for the fun facts:

• The Great Wall of China is a lot greater than anyone thought. The first formal measurement of the world's largest man-made structure revealed the wall was more than twice as long as previous estimates. In an archaeological survey that took five years to complete, China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage announced yesterday that the wall measures 13,170.69 miles.
•  
• No one has ever seen the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, it is thought to be completely based on myth- like the city of Atlantis.

Now this last one brings up an interesting discussion topic. If mythological locations could be considered wonders of the world, what would the actual 7 wonders be? Here's my listing:

1. The city of Atlantis
2. Soloman's Staircase
3. Machu Picchu (It's still amazing!)
4. The City of the Caesars- Also known as the Wandering City and the City of Patagonia, a mythical city that is believed to have been located on the southernmost tip of South America in the region known as Patagonia. 
5. Angkor (This place must have been beautiful!)
6. Shangri-La, a mystical valley in the Himalayas. It is a permanently happy land, isolated from the outside world. The people who live at Shangri-La are almost immortal, living years beyond the normal lifespan.
7. Avalon (Jesus and King Arthur went there!)

*** Fun side note to my list of mythical wonders, the nazises went hunting for at least 3 of them! Atlantis, Shangri-La, and the City of Caesars. If the Nazises wanted them then you know its good.  

Some Inspiration

Amazing photographs from places I've never been always have a way of kicking me in the ass and start planning a trip... So here are some awesome pictures!

The fairy pools on Isle of Skye, Scotland

The Great Black Hole, Belize

Cliff face in Romania

The Yannan Stone Forest, China

The River Guardian, Florence

Travel Mentors

There are loads of shows out there today where you can watch as people set out to explore the world! I'm extremely envious of these people and am still trying to figure out how they get to be so lucky. But until that realization strikes I'll just have to be content watching from my couch. Here are some of my favorites and I highly suggest them!

Samantha Brown has hosted several series including Girl Meets Hawaii, Great Vacation Homes, Great Hotels, Passport to Europe, Passport to Great Weekends, and Passport to Latin America. My personal favorite was Passport to Europe, but Great Weekends was fun if you were just going to be passing through a city. Her shows are full of local information and hidden gems, so if you're plan for a trip double check to see if she has an episode on the location.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations is a great show, I can't deny that. I, personal, think this guy is a huge asshole, but still find myself enjoying the show... especially the episode of Croatia! I have a lot of respect for people who appreciate the simple things in live: Food, Wine, and simply walking the streets. Anthony Bourdain does, but he's just a condescending douche about it. SO if you can put up with that, then no problem!

Karl Pilkington is one of the FUNNIEST people in the world. He hates change and fears the unknown... so his best friends, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant send him out into the world for kicks and giggles! It's hilarious and educational. I think I'm the most jealous of this situation, because he's doing all these amazing this and experiencing locations I might never get the chance to see... and he HATES it! It's like an elaborate prank that they've videoed for the last 3 season. Watch "An Idiot Abroad", you'll love it.

Comedian Zane Lamprey hosts a humorous trip around the world sampling the local well-known (and little-known) food and drink while also engaging in local alcohol-related customs. This is like every man's dream, right? The show's called "Three Sheets" and some times you can catch on the travel channel late at night. It's funny and educational, especially if you're interested in how alcohol is made and the history of your favorite drink.

So there you have my 4 key travel show mentors. If I missed one of your favorite, feel free to post their names! I'll look them up, since I'm always up for a good guide show. Happy Travels!
~Greet

Book Review

One of the best reads ever about travel is "Adventures of a Continental Drifter" by Elliott Hester. It's a re-account of his travels around the world and in his words "An around-the-world excursion into weirdness, danger, lust, and the perils of street food." This is one of the funniest books on travel out there.

This book is more about the crazy tales that traveling gives you. It will inspire you to explore areas of the world you never had considered before, like Addis Ababa in Africa or Mysore, India. This book was one of the reasons I was so excited when I visited Tallinn. I highly recommend this read, full of laughs and thought.

What kind of Traveler are you?

I'm thick into my plans for my Euro-trip next summer. The plan lies as Tuscany, Italy for around a week and then hop over to another destination for a week or so. At first I was thinking about Morocco, but I feel like a week is no where near enough time to begin my explorations of Africa. Then I was leaning towards Greece, but it seems a bit too romantic to rock alone. So then I was at a loss, where do I go if I go alone or with "Just Friends".
Thankfully I own just the book to help me with this! A few Christmases ago, I was gifted a fantastic book from a fellow traveler. Fly Solo by Teresa Rodriguez Williamson is an amazing book that outlines the 50 best places on earth for a girl to travel alone. The introduction provides readers with a quiz to help define the type of Traveler you are. Below I am going to post the quiz, but you'll have to buy the book to discover where your adventures should lie!
Long story not so short, I'm now considering Budapest as my 2nd destination!

1. When you think museum, you think...

• The best way to aviod those long lines is to buy your tickets ahead of time. (5)
• Great! If there's a huge storm and you can't do any of the things you wanted to do. (2)
• You should. You really should. After the latte and before hitting the shops. (3)
• Which way to the Cubists? (4)
• Blah. Melatonin is cheaper if you're having trouble sleeping. (1)

2. Your idea of a night of entertainment is...

• An opera followed by a symphony followed by a ballet. Oh, if only time would allow it! (5)
• A play, which is good foreplay to dinner and dancing. (4)
• Brad Pitt in... anything! (2)
• A pub crawl. (3)
• A curtain call. As in the ones in your hotel room. As in good night. (1)

3. In your guidebook, the history section is...

• Dog-eared and worn to the bone with highlighting. (4)
• In mint condition. (1)
• A place you've perused. (3)
• Committed to memory. (5)
• Next on your list. (2)

4. At the crack of dawn you...

• Have already been jogging. (5)
• Are asleep and will be until 10:50a.m., giving you 10minutes before the hotel kitchen stops serving breakfast. (2)
• Are groggy and puling on yoga pants. (4)
• Were told to catch the area's famous sunrises, so here you are. Just this once. (3)
• Are stumbling home. (1)

5. There's a health club in your hotel. You...

• Love the sauna. (2)
• Had no idea. (1)
• Work it into your daily schedule, so you can squeeze into that new outfit you bought. (4)
• Glare at the man on the stair climber. He's hogging it on your only gym day! (3)
• Spend more time here than in your "other" room. (5)

6. You are packing your luggage for your big trip.You make sure to include...

• A travel guide and your journal. (2)
• A few pairs of sweats, your Nikes, and your heart rate monitor. (5)
• Your camera, sunscreen, and a bathing suit. (3)
• Your running shorts and a water bottle. (4)
• Your Gucci heels, cutest cocktail dress, and a French translation book. (1)

7. London fog is legendary. You...

• Barely have time for the British Museum after all that shopping and eel pie. (1)
• Might agree to meet a friend there, but only if Barcelona were part of the bargain. (4)
• Head to St. Tropez. (5)
• Deal with it. After all, most of what's fun in London is indoors, including tweed-wearing Englishmen. (3)
• Enjoy the vividness of what feels like a Sherlock Holmes mystery around every corner. (2)

8. Pina coladas and getting caught in the rain are...

• What they are. After all, rain is great for your hair. (1)
• Romantic. The soft fingers of rain caressing your window make poetry of the night. (2)
• Irrelevant! A mere umbrella is all that stands between you and the world. (3)
• Devastating. Before you unpack, you plan to file suit again the Weather Channel. (5)
• Threatening. You brought mostly suede. (4)

9. It's high noon and it's hot! The sand sparkles, the water beckons, and...

• You wished someone had engineered a way to air-condition the tropics. (5)
• High school physics helps you angle two umbrellas against the sun over your deck chair. (4)
• You SPF is 50 so you can romp in the waves without losing ten years off your face. (3)
• So does Antoine, the lifeguard on duty with the chiseled pectorals and abs that don't quit! (1)
• Your body glistens with baby oil. Against dark paneling, you's be totally camouflaged! (2)

10. Happy hour? What would make you devilishly happy is...

• The Australian national rugby team, a magnum of champagne, and kissing and telling. (5)
• To have a glass of wine in your hotel's bar with the locals you met while shopping. (4)
• A sidewalk seat in a cafe overlooking the bustling square where you might connect with someone. (2)
• If the oversized reading chair in the lobby by the fireplace were finally vacant. (1)
• An evening epicurean tour where you'll share a meal with new friends. (3)

11. Want to share your table?

• That's the whole idea: dinner (and hopefully breakfast!) for two... (4)
• As if you have a choice with that mad bunch of Brazilians you just befriended! (5)
• Yes, if you count the room service guy and the eight o'clock movie. (2)
• No, thank you, you say confidently. I'll take the prix fixe menu and a carafe of your house red. (1)
• Perhaps. If you meet some jet-settling cuties. (3)

12. If your best friend had to describe you, she would say...

• Our friendship is one-on-one, she likes her space. (1)
• Great friend, but she can get shy around strangers. (2)
• We have so much fun going out and meeting up with our friends. (3)
• I can't keep track of her, she's always socializing with others. (5)
• If there were a contest for having the most friends, she would win. (4)

Alright now 1,2,3 are for Culture, 4,5,6 are your activity level, 7,8,9 total your reaction to weather, and the last 3 score your Socialization levels.
Now you have to buy the book!!!!

Visual Stimulation

So like most 20something females, I am addicted to Pinterest. Today I found a few images that really need to be shared here. I hope you find them inspirational!