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This Way To Paradise

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Travel Tips
  • Escape Guides
    • Belize
      • Ambergris Caye
      • Caye Caulker
    • Cambodia, Koh Rong Samloem
    • Costa Rica
      • Arenal and La Fortuna
      • The Osa Peninsula, Corcovado National Park
      • Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Guatemala
      • Lake Atitlan
    • Indonesia
      • Ambon, Maluku
      • Bali
      • Gili Islands
      • Kai Island, Maluku
      • Raja Ampat
      • Sumatra-Belitung Island
    • Mexico
      • Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo
      • La Paz
      • Patzcuaro
      • San Miguel De Allende
      • Todos Santos-The Antidote To Cabo!
      • Zipolite Beach: A Complete Travel Guide
    • Portugal
      • Beach Porn Alert: 7 Reasons Why You Need To Put Lagos, Portugal On Your Bucket List Now
      • The Top Portugal Beaches To Visit
    • Sri Lanka
      • Colombo, Sri Lanka
      • Ella
      • Mirissa Beach
      • Yala National Park
    • Thailand
      • Bangkok
      • Koh Lipe
      • Phi Phi
      • Phuket
      • Railay Beach-Krabi Town
      • Your Thailand Songkran Water Festival Guide
  • Places To Stay
  • Food
  • Contact Me
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Travel Tips
  • Escape Guides
    • Belize
      • Ambergris Caye
      • Caye Caulker
    • Cambodia, Koh Rong Samloem
    • Costa Rica
      • Arenal and La Fortuna
      • The Osa Peninsula, Corcovado National Park
      • Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Guatemala
      • Lake Atitlan
    • Indonesia
      • Ambon, Maluku
      • Bali
      • Gili Islands
      • Kai Island, Maluku
      • Raja Ampat
      • Sumatra-Belitung Island
    • Mexico
      • Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo
      • La Paz
      • Patzcuaro
      • San Miguel De Allende
      • Todos Santos-The Antidote To Cabo!
      • Zipolite Beach: A Complete Travel Guide
    • Portugal
      • Beach Porn Alert: 7 Reasons Why You Need To Put Lagos, Portugal On Your Bucket List Now
      • The Top Portugal Beaches To Visit
    • Sri Lanka
      • Colombo, Sri Lanka
      • Ella
      • Mirissa Beach
      • Yala National Park
    • Thailand
      • Bangkok
      • Koh Lipe
      • Phi Phi
      • Phuket
      • Railay Beach-Krabi Town
      • Your Thailand Songkran Water Festival Guide
  • Places To Stay
  • Food
  • Contact Me

Recent Posts

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  • What to pack for the Camino de Santiago (and what to send ahead)
  • Trading Palm Trees for Twinkle Lights: Finding Winter Paradise in Europe’s Festive Old Towns
  • Hidden Alpine Destinations That Deserve More Attention
Escape Guides

From Dolphins To Fish Tacos: The Best Things To Do In Loreto

I just returned from Loreto, Mexico, and while I can’t say it was my favorite place in Mexico, it still had its charms. Zipolite still gets my vote for being…

read more
August 5, 2025
Travel Tips

Unforgettable Things To Do in Portland, Oregon

I moved back to Portland, Oregon after living in Charleston, SC and St Pete, FL the past four years. Moving back has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever…

read more
April 1, 2025
Travel Tips

San Pancho & Sayulita Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know

I just got back from my travels to San Pancho and Sayulita in Mexico, and I had a wonderful time. These two beach towns are right next to each other,…

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November 28, 2025
Escape Guides

10 Hidden Beaches in Mexico You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

If you’re looking for an uncrowded escape, you need to know about these hidden beaches in Mexico. Everyone tends to gravitate towards Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and to Cabos,…

read more
May 29, 2026
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My Favorite Greek Island
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Sacred Sites of Mt Shasta
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Best Things To Do in Milos, Greece
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The Secret Beach on the Big Island
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Do You Know About the Florida Springs?
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Some of the Best Florida Beaches
  • Cajeta Churro from San Augustin Chocolates and Churros, Restaurants in San Miguel de Allende
    Food

    San Miguel de Allende Restaurants: 7 Cheap Eats

    November 6, 2013 / 19 Comments

    There are many wonderful San Miguel de Allende restaurants to choose from. Here are my recommendations for the cheap eats where the food is usually even better than what you will pay at some of the more expensive restaurants in town which cater to tourists. ¡Buen provecho! 1.  La Valentina Antojitos- This place is right off of the Jardin and is super cheap.  They have great posole, flautas and soups, usually between 35-60 pesos.  ($3-$5).  It’s one of my favorite places to eat when activities are going on in the Jardin, as you don’t have to walk very far to get something to eat.  I also love that I’m usually…

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    Was That Dog I Just Ate? Uncovering The Food Of Maluku

    March 24, 2013

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    Consumerism In America: How Your Stuff Is Killing You

    October 28, 2013 / 102 Comments

    “Armaments, universal debt, and planned obsolescence – those are the three pillars of Western prosperity. If war, waste, and moneylenders were abolished, you’d collapse. And while you people are overconsuming the rest of the world sinks more and more deeply into chronic disaster.” ― Aldous Huxley, Island A lot of people like to talk about the reasons they think America is falling apart.  I think the main reason is the amount of attention given to consumerism in America.  We have bought into the idea that the media and advertising sells that, “more is better”.  Whether it’s the latest technology gadget, skin cream, or dietary supplement, we are constantly buying more and more stuff.…

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    Love in the city: An essential guide for your first London visit

    October 27, 2025

    The Raja Ampat Islands: Conscious Diving in Raja Ampat

    December 9, 2013
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    I’m Giving Up (And Why That’s A Good Thing!)

    October 14, 2013
  • flip flops
    Uncategorized

    Buy Me A New Pair Of Flip-Flops

    October 14, 2013 / 2 Comments

    Do you enjoy reading my stories? Do you find helpful travel information on my website? Do you want to contribute so that I can bring you more stories and advice? Do you want to say thank you for a job well done? Will you buy me a new pair of flip-flops?   Even if it’s just a dollar, ten pesos, or a euro, you can now donate to help me keep this website and my travels going.  I would rather not clutter it with a lot of advertising, so I am asking for your help. Thank you for supporting my journey!  [cpDonation id=’flipflops’]

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    March 12, 2013
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    January 12, 2013
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    How I Feel After Selling It All To Travel The World

    July 9, 2013
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    Travel Blog

    I’m Giving Up (And Why That’s A Good Thing!)

    October 14, 2013 / 19 Comments

    Giving Up I’ve only been in Mexico a month, and already, it is changing me.  I am giving up.  I am giving up a sense of control, the type A personality that I had let cover up my real type B personality of calm, of creativity, of letting things fall where they may.  Back in the US, I owned a house, had a full-time job, plus did side social media work, and somewhere fit in traveling and writing this blog. How did I do this?  By squeezing in as many activities as I could do in a day.  There were no free moments of sitting in the sun to let it…

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    November 8, 2016
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    Embracing Imperfection: 3 Magical Ways Mexico Is Causing Me To Love My Flaws

    October 7, 2013 / 27 Comments

    I have a confession to make. I am used to be a perfectionist. (OK, I’m working on it). I have come to realize that I am very hard on myself, and that definitely makes me enjoy life a lot less. I guess I started realizing that I needed to give up “perfect” before I even got here. As I was selling everything I owned, I realized just how much stuff I had. And why? Well, most of it was dishes. Why did I have so many plates, shot glasses, martini glasses, brandy snifters, shrimp forks, and salt cellars? Because I used to give “perfect” dinner parties. I wanted every dish…

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About Me

I am always looking for the perfect escape, the perfect paradise, the kind of place that tosses your cares into the sea. Fortunately, I have discovered many! I created this site to show you where to go and how to get there. My goal is to show you that Paradise is only a plane ticket (or boat ride) away. I have inspired many others to travel and to create a better life. I am available for inspirational speaking, coaching, writing, travel planning, and photography.

©2026