I traded my flip flops in for walking boots

I gave my hugs to the wonderful hosts in Trinidad as they dropped me to the airport. This was would be the last of my island days (for now) as it’s time to meet up with more friends for a journey north!
Imagine going from months of this…

To the sight of this!

Why on earth would I do such a thing? Today I’ll give you three reasons.

1. To visit my girl Bree! You’ve got to remember this angel from years past. We met on the unforgettable flight from Malaysia, found each other in Cambodia, ate our way through Thailand, reunited for Kadooment in Barbados and now, for the first time… we connect state side!

2. To meet up with my go-to travel buddy! Hayden is coming from California to meet me on the east coast! For those of you that have not heard of him (welcome to my blog), here’s a recap on our moments around the globe!

3. This is the main hub for most transfers heading over seas. After our brief stay in New York, Hayden and I are off to the land of Irish porridge and green pastures (or in our case, Guinness and castles).

Pretend I say the next portion of this post all in one breath because that’s what it felt like! Inhale, pause… and begin!

Since Bree is getting ready to move, our accommodations were wherever we could squeeze in thanks to her generous friends and their floor space. The first place was an adorable apartment with plenty(ish) of kitchen room for a blow up mattress. Care for a midnight snack? Sorry. Living quarters number two was a bit larger with a few creative space-making techniques. Check out there utensil rack!

Pillow number three was a treat after admiring the floors above. Since Hayden, Bree and I pitched in for an Air B&B, it was like our own little flat for the last day of the trip. (I forgot to take a photo, oops!) This is also where we celebrated Bree’s birthday with scissors to her lovely locks. Check out this transformation! Happy birthday my friend, glad I could be a part of it!

Here are all the photos I took from our 72 hours together in the Big Apple, yep… a whirlind.

Leaving friends is always a bitter-sweet feeling not really knowing the next time we’ll meet, however excited for the next chapter. Our outbound flight was a direct red-eye straight into Dublin, the capital of Ireland. Impressive that we look more vibrant after the flight? Here’s a before and after…

Next up, Dublin!

With just a day to scoot around, we wandered the popular neighborhood of Temple Bar and outer edges. These are the streets that confirm that Dublin still holds the record for youngest by population in all of Europe. Nealry 50% of those who abide here are under 25 years old!