Our Travel Journal
Travel early and travel often. Live abroad, if you can. Understand cultures other than your own. As your understanding of other cultures increases, your understanding of yourself and your own culture will increase exponentially. ~Tom Freston
As we stepped foot on the dock the energy was contagious. The port was brimming with people dining along the water, donkeys and cats scattered here and there, and lighted storefronts with colorful wares.
Kim and I have this tradition when we travel to Positano (It is not lost on us how lucky we are to have a tradition in a place where most people will only visit once in their lives!). We stay a little bit above town. This way, we get a marvelous view of the sea and we get to walk up and down about a thousand steps every time we go to the beach!
The warm night air was wafting through the open-air lobby of our hotel. We were waiting for the last member of our group to meet us to begin our New Year’s Eve celebration in Chiang Mai. We were traveling with a group of young men, and they had all fallen in love with the Thai culture very quickly.
It was a beautiful day for hiking. The Tuscan sun was shining and our group of women had just conquered a brag-worthy hill. We stopped for a bit of rest in the shade. It was the fifth day of the trip and spirits were high but our legs were tired. We had just come out of the woods. The path before us was an old Roman road, traveled by few cars and lined with ages-old stone farmhouses.
For the last decade, no matter what’s happening in the world or in our lives, Kim and I have gotten to travel for six weeks each summer. We guide trips, we scout for new trips, we take vacation, we enjoy each other’s company. Alas, because 2020, our plans were put on indefinite hiatus. (I wonder if even Superman would be able to stop 2020 at this point...)
We love to connect with people on a personal level over coffee or via a phone call. Getting them excited about travel and its intrinsic powers of transformation is something that often happens naturally when we sit down with people. We see the first spark of an adventure being born when we swap travel stories or answer questions about the process of traveling abroad. Having Jancee contact us from an international publication confirmed our belief that the universe is looking out for us.
“Wow! Traveling with Alchemy Adventures is an experience of a lifetime! It was beyond my expectations. It was larger, deeper and full of surprises! Not only did we travel through some of the most beautiful country in the world, but the workshop piece brought such depth of intimacy, love and friendship amongst us all to a level I’ve barely ever experienced. What I enjoyed the most was the love, grace, acceptance and wisdom of the leaders and the group! I learned that I am lovable just as I am. Kim, Colleen, and the Captain are absolute treasures on this earth!”
Crystal, Tuscany Dreams 2018
“During this trip I was able to open up and experience real joy. They took such good care of us. They were always available, such special people. I never felt rushed. I learned that I am a wonderful person full of creativity and love. Thank you is not enough when you have changed my life forever.”
Karen, Tuscany Dreams 2016
“Tuscany was a life transformative experience, one that I knew I was ready for, but didn’t quite know how powerful it would be. I am forever grateful for living and breathing Italy with an amazing group of women.”
“Alchemy Adventures provides transformational experiences. They intertwine activities in nature with cultural experiences and personal growth workshops. By experiencing the inner and outer realms you can’t help but grow and learn so much about yourself.”