Barefoot sMiles

For all the support, arguments, laughter, games, walks, good natured abuse, creativity, encouragement, positivity and love; thank you. Between you you are my heroes. I would never be doing this if you hadn't spent the last 21 years providing me with the tools necessary to stand on my own two feet in the big, big, scary, wide world. I know it's hard and for that I'm sorry but I am so grateful. I love you guys. Look after each other. A x

Facts: 1. Green is a flavour. 2. "The cat wanted affection" is an acceptable reason to be late to anything.

"I think my soul is probably a rainbow growing wildflowers..."

"Say Anna, how do you deal with fear and worry for an upcoming international trip of undefined length unlike anything you've ever done before in countries you know very little about but for some reason are irresistably drawn by?" "Why, I organise compulsively, make lists, sort obsure rubbish and pack a week early of course." No but seriously I've been absolutely dying to do this. It's amazing, this about a quarter of the size and weight my bag was for a month in France. I've watched so many videos of travel vloggers talking through their necessities and I've been developing and modifying one packing list ever since my first solo trip in 2013 so I'm kind of at the point where I might soon know what I'm doing. Kind of. (I'm going to regret saying that). My hand luggage bag is actually in my rucksack and its still so light! Amazing. I can pick it up without taking out everyone and any breakables in a 2 meter radius! Bonus! I still need to pop in a raincoat and a huge amount of food (2 solid days of travelling incl. 2 8hr layovers and an 11 hour flight!) I mean a HUGE amount of food...

Some cat appreciation from today. I got THREE WHOLE SETS OF INDIVIDUAL CUDDLES!!!! My cat is a very independant being who has affection, food and a door opening service on demand (seriously she'll sit there and scratch the door until some poor sod gets sick of it and opens it. She has a cat flap.) I'm more than happy to cater to her every whim though... as you can see, I'm putty for her soft cutenes... The third photo is one of her many bafflung sleeping spots; halfway up a bookcase in a corner of the living room. We came home from town today and i made my mum try and "spot the cat" calling 'hot' and 'cold'. Fluffy little weirdo.

I made these handy little cards. They’re credit card sized “special dietary requirement” cards. You can actually buy them for about 10dollars (average) but... why?

They say “Hello, my name is Anna :) sorry my spanish is bad. I am vegan. I don’t eat meat or eggs and I am lactose intolerant (milk, cheese, cream, butter and yogurt). Thank you”

They’re intended for use in restaurants to give directly to waiters/resses to avoid any confusion about my special requirements.

New travel thingys! L to R (in a roundabout manner) we have; • Berlitz Spanish (self explanatory and v important) Im a big fan of all thins Berlitz. • Little, though surprisingly heavy, locks to keep my things a bit safer, I hope! Watch this space for the first time I forget the codes. • Really cool travel adaptor, this has 4 USB ports (everything I have charges through USB as I’ve decided not to take my camera) and detachable heads for the UK, US, EU, AUS and Middle East, I think? It has 4 of ‘em anyway and it’s gonna be super handy. • Caxton FX prepaid currency card. This is a Mastercatd onto which I can load different currencies to avoid non sterling transaction fees etc. In foreign countries (at the moment loaded with USD). • US greencard! Yay I’m allowed in! (Wait, yay?) Unlike pretty much every country ever where you fill in a landing card on the plane or at your arrival airport, the US requires you apply amd pay in advance for the go ahead to fly there. • Super cool water filter bottle. This bottle will allow me to drink any water anywhere! People have taken this to India and other such places of dubious water supplies and lives to tell the tale. The filter lasts for 1600L and the filter can be removed for longevity. And yes Ive decorated it already.

So now I have to sort; • LA couchsurfs, • Mexico City couchsurf, • Flight from Mexico City to San Cristobal, • Flight out of Mexico (or they won’t let me into the US) • Travel Insurance • Travel cash • Learn Spanish (casual...) • Pack

I think that’s it… that’s quite enough to keep me going I think. I’m off to the Doctor’s for a health MOT and to discuss any necessary inoculations! Fun fun!

Day and night; the city gates at Le Petit France, Strasbourg

Too many feelings to even start so I'll just leave this right here...

@howtocreatehappy and I would make such a beautiful couple if we didn't like boys so much...

Post New Years night out selfies, I love these ♡♡♡ I have no New Years resolutions, I can't really. For the first time in my life an entire year is spread in front of me; completely blank. One big, exciting, thrilling, terrifying question mark. I know I will continue to grow into the person I'm meant to be, my own inner journey will continue as much as my geographical one and that's so exciting. I will continue to learn to "Let go & Trust"... As for New Years night itself, It was a mixed night, I dont like clubs very much (we went to a gay bar) and I wasn't drinking so the night had its ups and downs. There was some good dancing though and good laughs. Leo met a boi and I think I was more excited about it than him (til I got to hear about it all on the way home) ;). Plus I saw so many beautiful gay men that my ovaries were in a perpetual state of confusion. Stop reading now if you want to avoid a rant. ________________________________________________ The walk home was incredibly depressing, not least for the rain but because it was horrendous to see the people. Everyone out in the rain in tiny dresses, shoes in hand, some vomiting in the street, shoes being thrown around the place (we narrowly missed a rather stylish black slip on missile of unknown origin), crying, screaming, near fucking in the street, all kinds of drama and everyone crowded in and around fast food restaurants; the wrappers and contents of which were strewn around everywhere, mashed into the floor and blowing around. It was truly revolting, the state of the people too. I've never before witnessed such a volume of people without any apparent form of control or self respect. And goodness me do I sound like my mother.

Vegans after a night out...

“What would you do if you were not afraid?”

Well, I’d buy a ticket to Mexico.

At the moment I’m sitting in the train to Newcastle, a much less exotic destination. I’m off to visit friends for New Year, and then heading down to Surrey. So with the New Year nearly upon us, I thought now would be a good time to reveal my (loose) plans for the coming year.

This year has been a rollercoaster, I want to say it passed quickly but when I look at the amount I did in the time I’m amazed. The beginning of the year, and the end of uni, was pretty stressful, some parts worse than others of course. I’ve been to Bruges, Amsterdam and Barcelona with some wonderful people, as well as the standard hikes around Wales every time I come home. I turned 21, jumped out of an airplane, fell in and out of love, lost a friend far too young, left my job, moved to France and completed a CELTA. And that’s just the things I can remember off the top of my head!!

So what next?

On January 19th I will be flying to LA, via an 8 hour layover in Düsseldorf and the same in Stockholm (it was the cheapest option don’t question it). I arrive in the evening on the 20th (yep, accidentally managed to book a flight arriving the US the day of Trump’s inauguration). I’m staying a week before heading into Mexico. Im only staying in LA to break up the journey as the original flight I looked at had a 15 hour layover there anyway!

As for what I’m going to do when I get there; I intend to workaway and couchsurf but nothing is confirmed yet. Though Im so fickle it makes little difference if plans are confirmed or unconfirmed!

I do intend to stay as long as the VWP allows (Visa Waiver Period) which is 180 days (just shy of 6 months). After that I want to continue down through Guatemala and Nicaragua etc. and into South America.

Lots of love and well wishes to you all for the New Year!!! I hope it’s epic! Just think…

“What would you do if you were not afraid?”