Started Out as a Dream, Ended like a War Zone

Maybe it was all the drunken college kids. Or maybe it was being only 30 miles away from Mexico.

I’ve been to South Padre Island before, but things never got this bad in the past.

After a 14-hour road trip, we finally made it to our condo in South Padre Island, Texas.

My friends were tired from the long drive but I convinced them that we were on vacation and needed to go out and dance!

Padre has become a top destination for spring breakers, especially after they banned alcohol in other places like Panama City Beach.

It has also become a huge source of revenue for not only the city, but also businesses like Rockstar, Redbull, and many others.

The next few days were spent on the beach, listening to music, meeting new people, and getting a little sunburnt on our shoulders because we forgot to reapply.

On St. Patrick’s Day we went horseback riding on the beach. This was hands down one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.

Our last three nights in Padre were spent attending a music festival.

Ultimate Music Experience, or UME was the name of the festival. 

Music festivals are my second happiest place to be. The first is on a beach, and I was doing both.

At music festivals everyone is dancing, having a good time and being so friendly. Music festivals are a great way to escape from “real life” for a few hours, and just dance the night away.

I felt so free.

But things quickly turned sour.

We heard news of a drunk driver running over four people and killing them. Someone else was stabbed. There were shootings all throughout the city.

We were driving up and down the streets in a golf cart and it looked like a war zone. There were cops everywhere with their lights on. It was nighttime and the officers were walking around searching for something with their flashlights.

I also survived a near death experience with the biggest shark I’ve ever seen.

Who knew there were sharks in the Gulf of Mexico?

A love letter

My dearest blog,

I know it has only been a short time since we met, 

but I want you to know that I'm starting to like you.

At times it can be hard for me to find the words to say to you-

to tell you how I really feel.

I get self-conscience about whether you'll find my stories interesting.

But I enjoy telling you about the different places I've traveled to around the world.

I get to relive each experience and adventure when I write to you.

I know things between us started a little rough, 

but I feel like our relationship is growing. 

You are important to me.

You have taught me that it's not always easy.

I need you in my life.

I need you to help me get through school and to graduate.

I need us to stick together until the end.

You could even help me get a job.

I wish I could spend more time with you.

You can be so demanding sometimes.

I've learned that even though it may not always be easy between us,

we just have to keep trying.

We've had our ups and downs.

But you'll always hold a special place in my heart.

Until next time...

Sincerely,

Yours truly

Where Do You Get Your Travel Inspo?

“Approximately one-fifth of leisure travelers worldwide turn to social media platforms for inspiration within different categories of their travel planning including hotels, vacation activities, attractions, and restaurants.” (“The Impact of Social Media in the Travel Marketing Industry”, 2014)

Blogging and the media has turned places around the globe from unknown to known, as well as provided jobs and opportunities to many people. Millions of people are on social media outlets, and the Internet is a plethora of information that you can get in a matter of seconds. Blogging and the media has changed where people vacation, what hotels they stay at, and many other factors that go along with traveling.

The need for travel agents has decreased drastically since this new source for travel information has taken over. “Blogs...are becoming the places to go to research your next trip, not the high street travel agent.” (Guardian, 2006) However, social media hasn't had a complete negative affect on businesses, it is also a way for businesses in the travel and hospitality industries to advertise and attract new customers.

“Just a decade ago, before we turned to social media for travel-planning inspiration, we relied on print guidebooks to tap into new destinations around the world” (“3 Ways Social Media, 2015)

Blogging has been around for years, however, not until recently has it been turned into a source of income for several bloggers. There are upsides and downsides to being a travel blogger, as with everything. A few positives to being a travel blogger would include – getting paid to travel, of course, and/or you get to see the world by going on an expense-paid trip. Yet, there are in fact downsides, for example, you always have to be connected (to the internet), it can be lonely if you are traveling solo and you don’t actually get a vacation anymore because you are always traveling for work.



Sources:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/aug/26/travelwebsites

https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveolenski/2014/02/07/the-impact-of-social-media-in-the-travel-marketing-industry/#2f34506c2ad3

http://travel.usnews.com/features/3-ways-social-media-has-changed-the-way-we-travel/

http://www.sarepa.com/2016/06/28/how-travel-and-tourism-has-changed-in-the-past-five-years/

http://www.dangerous-business.com/2016/03/blogging-changed-way-travel/

The True Meaning of a Fiesta

Mexican weddings.

If you’ve never been to a Mexican wedding you haven’t REALLY been to a wedding.

It was the most fun I'd ever had at a wedding.

Imagine walking up onto the beach, looking out into the ocean. The sun is beginning to set, there are palm trees all around.

It was gorgeous.

And of course after the ceremony is the reception.

Three-course meal. Fresh, mouth-watering lobster.

Then everyone moved to the dance floor. They were handing me all sorts of things. Glow sticks, beads, colorful foam hats in the shape of animals, food, everything. I think this was the equivalent to balloon animals in the U.S. 

We danced all night. 

From sunset to sunrise. 

In Acapulco, Mexico. 

Life was great and I was living it.