Hey friends. Beth here. I have had a very full experience at the event this week/end, but I want to hear about you.
Please tell me how you are doing. What are your plans for tomorrow? How is your family. Do you need support?
Comment and let me know how you're doing. 💚
Yesterday was an amazing day for me. It was a day full of special experiences, like a private tour at Churchill Downs, where I got to see a race. (My family loves the Kentucky Derby, so this felt very much like a piece of my childhood.) And an inspiring visit to @roots101aam which I'm still thinking about and will share with you soon because you need to get to Louisville, KY and share this experience. And so many important conversations and connections.
But... I didn't prepare enough or ask enough questions about what to expect from a disability standpoint and ended up getting too much sun exposure, and I didn't have food options that work for me.
And why? I have lupus. I know I will need accommodations. I just posted about accommodations and using them because they level the playing field. That doesn't mean I'm perfect about it. Far from it. Even someone like me, 14+ years into my diagnosis, can sit back and think... "I won't really need that umbrella. It's too cumbersome to carry!" Or, "I don't want my umbrella to inconvenience someone else!" Or... "I'm sure there will be something I can eat!" Or my favorite: "I don't want to bother them with my dietary limitations because it's such a burden." Because my dietary limitations burden me! It's honestly exhausting to navigate what food will make me sick. If I dislike dealing with it, who else will want to deal with it?
Listen, you aren't a burden. Good people, good businesses, good organizations will support you and extend the accommodations you need. Now, we're still getting to a place as a society where folks will ask if accommodations are needed. Especially if you have an invisible illness. Don't be afraid to advise people of your accommodation needs. Don't be afraid your accommodations will burden someone else. You deserve to have a full life with full experiences. If reasonable accommodations are possible, grab the opportunity.
And lupies, bring the umbrella.
What an amazing first day @nomadnessfest with @nomadnesstribe here in Louisville, Kentucky.
The first day was Industry Day where NOMADNESSFest fostered potential partnership opportunities between travel professionals and destinations & brands.
There was also an evening event with the always entertaining @kevinfrazier and the amazing @chubbydiaries.
NOMADNESSFest has me really excited for more travel. Especially domestic travel.
Comment with a city that is a must-see for me. Bonus points if you direct me to the very best food to eat.
I am officially in Louisville, Kentucky for @NOMADNESSFest with @nomadnesstribe for an amazing weekend of travel and community, with a focus on cultural and conscious travel.
Tell me, what's your favorite travel memory?
I'll share mine via Stories today.
As someone who has what some call an "invisible disability," I used to feel a lot of shame about asking for help. I'd struggle through tasks that those around me didn't struggle through. My experience was often diminished because of things out of my control. And that was just how it was going to be.
One day, my husband asked... if there are small accommodations that can be made so that your experience is closer to those around you, why wouldn't you accept them?
That made me stop and think. Why? Why do I fight accommodations? Pride? Shame? Embarrassment? Judgment? All of that isn't actually about me and my disability, but instead about the very small group of people who will choose to judge instead of offer compassion.
So here I am, preboarding because that accommodation helps my experience mirror the experience of those around me. And I'm not ashamed. I'm not embarrassed. I have a disability. An invisible disability that I worked for so long to keep as invisible as possible. But not for me. For other people's comfort. Yeah, I'm not doing that anymore.
So many thanks for all of your support yesterday. I have a really busy week, so it was greatly appreciated and very much needed.
Sept 28 - 30, find me @nomadnessfest with @nomadnesstribe in Louisville, Kentucky, where I'm speaking on a panel all about domestic travel.
Oct 1 - 3, find me @toy_fair in New York City which in an industry event for toys and collectibles (my day job).
And after a number of requests, I've updated the backpack membership level on Patreon to include a private FB group, as well as photos from my travels that aren't typically posted on the grid. (Nothing scandalous, lol).
Hope to see some familiar faces soon.
This is a more serious post, so definitely skip if you're mainly here for memes and travel inspo.
Going to the doctor is really challenging for me for many reasons, including my previous long-term doctor being arrested for inappropriate behavior with patients. As a sexual assault survivor, I find dealing with gynecological exams particularly triggering.
This is my first gynecological exam in over 5 years. I made it through it, but I'm still struggling with the experience, honestly.
Your kindness and support would be greatly appreciated.
Celebrate Tolkien Week with me on a tour to different filming locations in New Zealand.
Mount Doom [Mt Ngauruhoe, Tongariro National Park] where the clouds like to roll in and cover the moutain tops but are also an exceptional hiking destination.
Hiding from the Black Rider [Mount Victoria, Wellington] where movie magic really brings the scene alive, alongside our impeccable acting.
Dimholt Road [Putangirua Pinnacles, Wellington] will require quick a hike, but it's breathtaking and lonely and very rocky, so wear sensible shoes.
Rivendell [Kaitoke Regional Park, Wellington] where you'll find a replica gate to live out your elf dreams while exploring a surprisingly quiet forest.
Hobbiton [@hobbitontours] with 12 acres of incredibly detailed hobbit homes. Every hobbit hole is thematic and a couple even open.
And a bonus, Wētā Workshop [@wetaworkshop] where you can experience pieces that were used on the set of The Lord of the Rings Trilogies.
Which location do you want to visit?
This is my neighborhood boba shop, milk + tea Pflugerville. I love boba and I prefer to support local.
My standard order is a classic milk tea, less ice, 30% sugar (or less if possible.
Comment if you love boba. Also if you're local, help me hunt for the best boba in Austin.
I'm not a huge sweet eater, but I do love cupcakes. @sprinklescupcakes won me over with this @claudetteazepeda cupcake.
In 2022, Sprinkles launched its first ever Female Chef Series, where Sprinkles' head of culinary collaborates with chefs to create a dessert that represents their culinary vision. And that's when La Gloria was born.
Chef Zepeda started as a pastry chef and was able to use that experience to create a cupcake inspired by her favorite childhood candy.
La Gloria is caramel cake with chopped pecans, a dulce de leche core, and salted caramel frosting. And it is so good.
I love cupcakes, but especially when they are salty and sweet.
Comment with your favorite dessert and your favorite flavors.
I'm often asked what kind of equipment I bring on location. So, it truly does depend. But this is what I brought to Antarctica. Now, I definitely brought a couple of things that would normally be on my maybe list, but it was Antarctica. Amazon Prime wasn't an option.
What camera stuff do you bring with you when you travel?
Come with me to get my new tattoo, the Hand of Glory. Tattoo by @a_alonzi, done at @communiontattoo. Really excited to have this perfectly spooky tattoo on me in time for spooky season. Comment with what you think on my moat recent tattoo and thanks for watching!
While Europe is a fairly small continent, it still has a wide variety of cultural heritage, scenery, and cuisines. Here are some fun facts about Europe:
Regions: Europe is generally divided into five regions: Northern, Southern, Central, Eastern, and Western. I’m basing this on geographical sub-divisions, and not geopolitical or linguistic regions. To read more about those regions, head to my All About Regions In Europe blog.
Countries: Well, that depends on who you ask. Generally accepted, Europe has 50 countries, but only 44 of those countries have their capital city on the European continent. That being said, almost 100 UN member states recognize Kosovo as a country, so some people say Europe has 51 countries. Only 27 countries belong to the European Union as of 2022.
Population: More than 748 million people (2022) live on the continent of Europe which means approximately 10% of the world’s population calls Europe home. Depending on who you ask, there are around 87 distinct “peoples of Europe”.
Language: In Europe, around 94% of their population speaks an Indo-European language, including Russian, French, Italian, German, and English. Russian is the most spoken native language in Europe.
Religion: In Europe, they primarily practice Christianity.
Geography: Russia is the largest transcontinental country in Europe, while Vatican City is the smallest. Ukraine is the largest non-transcontinental country. Sognefjord is the largest fjord and Mount Elbrus is the tallest mountain. Lake Ladoga is the biggest lake and Vinnufossen is the tallest waterfall.
Europe
Overview
Europe attracts more tourists than any of the other continents, with an estimated 600 million international visitors per year. This is no surprise when you think of how tourist ready Europe is, with the fairly efficient and well-maintained transportation infrastructure they have across the continent (like the Eurail). But also, millennia after millennia of cultural heritage.
Its wealth of attractions in a relatively small and well-connected space is likely its biggest draw. Europe is the second smallest continent but has the highest continental population density (based on the number of people per square mile or kilometer). Despite its population density, it still has such stunning and iconic natural scenery, as well. And while small, it retains a tremendous amount of visual and cultural diversity.
From the iconic Eiffel Towel and Stonehenge to Gulfoss Falls and the Cliffs of Moher, from the Leaning Tower of Pisa and over to Canals of Bruge to Saint Basil’s Cathedral and Neuschwanstein Castle – wherever you find yourself on this birthplace of Western Civilization, you will be awestruck and ready to explore.