11-17-25 Travel Adventurers Blog Post #3 (scroll down for earlier posts)
Continued….But is it safe?
One of my first experiences in Europe had a big impact on my understanding of traveling safely. I was visiting my friend in Germany and we had driven to Dresden. We checked in to the hotel, about 10 pm, and she had never been there (and of course I hadn’t). We were hungry, and without any discussion about where we were going, she walked out of the hotel lobby to find a restaurant. I didn’t follow, I was alarmed! So many thoughts going through my head - do you know where are you going? do you not realize we are two females going out at 10 pm in a city we aren’t familiar with? do we know if this neighborhood is safe? it’s 10 pm, it’s late, should we go out into an unknown city? She was totally relaxed, and basically told me to chill, it’s safe. And so I walked out after her - totally safe, found a great little restaurant, enjoyed our meal, and walked back to the hotel, even later. All safe! Wow!
A similar experience happened when I went to Spain the next year. My flight got into Barcelona after 10 pm and I was a little apprehensive about how I would get from Placa de Catalunya where the airport transfer bus dropped me off, to where I was staying since I was arriving so late in the evening. I always try to pick flights that arrive early in the day so I could get acclimated before navigating at night. To alleviate my anxiety, I was planning on taking a taxi (remember I’m a budget girl and try to find inexpensive transport whenever possible) so I didn’t really love the idea of a taxi, but…it seemed like the safest choice because of when I was arriving. The moment I stepped off the bus into Placa de Catalunya I knew I could safely do the half hour walk to where I was staying. The atmosphere of Spain at night hit me instantly - people out and about, I saw a lady probably in her 80’s sitting at a cafe having a beer with a friend (so impressed by this, it was the first picture I took in Barcelona!), the streets crowded with people walking, talking, enjoying life! Spaniards eat dinner late late late (9 or 10 pm!) and the streets were full! I knew IMMEDIATELY it was safe to walk to my hostel and so I did - enjoying the magic of Barcelona at night on the walk. Safe and happy.
On this last trip to Greece, my hostel in Heraklion on the island of Crete was in a quieter, more residential neighborhood. At about 9 pm, I started to think about the bakeries in the busier area I had been in earlier, and wanted to have a baklava (because I’m on vacation! Baklava at 9 pm in Greece is an AMAZING idea!). I asked the girl at the desk if it was safe to walk this late in this neighborhood to go back to the busier area. Without hesitation and with complete confidence, she said, “Always safe here. All the time.” And out the door I went - always safe, all the time, no hesitation.
One of the first things I get asked when a trip I’m taking comes up is, “are you going by yourself?” (sometimes with a small tilt of the head to the side, a little look of concern with the head tilt) quickly followed by “who do you know in Greece (or Italy, or Vietnam, or…insert country)?” First answer, a firm and confident YES, it’s safe, and second answer, no one, and it’s fine, I’ll be fine. Europeans aren’t surprised at all by females traveling solo, for Americans, not so much.
I do my research before going anywhere and it’s important to remember that not everything on the internet is true. Bad news gets more views and attention than good news. I read so much about how much pickpocketing is a HUGE problem in Barcelona. And it’s good to be prepared - I have a lanyard for my phone, I have a crossbody with a slash proof strap, I have a money belt under my clothing, I have small caribiners on the zippers on my backpack, I have photocopies of my passport & credit cards. There is petty theft in Europe but it usually is a crime of opportunity - I was in Spain for 3 weeks, I never felt unsafe, I never personally had an issue with pickpockets, I never saw anyone pickpocketed….it was greatly exaggerated on the internet. So, be prepared, but don’t freak out.
As a female solo traveler, my mindset quickly shifted from “the world is a dangerous place” to “the world is a wondrous and safe place.” Sure, you can do stupid things and have something bad happen to you, but…you can do stupid things anywhere in the world (including where you live) and have something bad happen to you. Be smart, be alert, pay attention to your surroundings, don’t drink and wander around at 3 in the morning (haha, not what I do in any city!), have a plan, and enjoy seeing new places!
Is worrying about safety holding you back from seeing the world? Dip your toe in first, try an easier trip first (maybe a weekend in your country, or go to a place where English is spoken first) but oh so sad to miss seeing the places you dream about because of unnecessary fear!
11-14-25 Travel Adventurers Blog Post #2 (scroll down for #1)
But is it SAFE?
This may not be one of the first questions that pops into your head when you think of overseas travel, but it was for me!
I grew up on Long Island, New York, a mere 23 miles from Manhattan (on a clear day you could see the skyline from my small town, Port Washington). My family had a summer home about 150 miles north in Massachusetts and we went there almost every weekend BUT we rarely went anyplace else. I remember one trip to Amish country in Pennyslvania, but we didn’t go to the beach, we didn’t take week long vacations or take a road trip to Florida, we didn’t go to Disney, we didn’t go on a cruise, we didn’t fly anywhere on a plane, and we certainly didn’t travel overseas. I don’t think it was ever actually said to me in words, but I understood that New York City (again, only 23 miles away!) was a dangerous place, and extrapolated, the WORLD was a dangerous place. I went to Manhattan a few times with my school on field trips, but not with my family - not to a Broadway show, not to any of the fabulous museums in Manhattan, not to the Macy’s Day Parade, we didn’t see the Rockettes or go to a ballet, we didn’t walk Fifth Avenue and marvel at the sights, we didn’t go in to Chinatown or Little Italy for a meal - those adventures would never happen, so many adventures that easily could have been experienced! and only 23 miles away.
I went to college in Boston and of course, where do you think my first job post graduation was? New York City of course! I moved into New York City because I didn’t want to be afraid, I was ready for adventure and wanted to experience new things and challenge myself (and did I mention I LOVED living in Manhattan?). I married an adventurer, David Peden, who had traveled the world with his parents, and 6 years later, we decided to move overseas. I clearly remember the horrified look on my parent’s faces when I told them we were moving to, of all places, ZIMBABWE in AFRICA! It did sound like the end of the earth, even as I said the words! They weren’t happy about it, but, they loved me and supported me, and loved David and trusted him, so off we went with a few suitcases and a lot of hopes and dreams to live in Africa for 4 years, which was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had.
Fast forward about 30 years! We have 3 kids, we take them to the beach and Disney and Gatlinburg (you have to take kids to Gatlinburg!) and Washington D.C. and Mexico and the Bahamas and many road trips, but now the kids are grown, and I have a passport in my hands and a lot more freedom!
But still, in the back of my mind, without really being aware of it, there is the thought that the world is a dangerous place. My friend Cynthia had moved from our small town to Germany and took a job there. She had always traveled extensively, but still, I saw her as VERY BRAVE! On facebook, I followed her frequent adventures in Germany but also to the surrounding countries, and I was inspired! One day, it just clicked - I didn’t want to watch someone else’s adventures and I didn’t want to live vicariously through others! Soon after, I had a plane ticket to Munich in hand and I was on her doorstep ready to have my own adventure with a proven adventurer! We traveled some together in those 2 weeks, but she had to go to work too (oh those pesky jobs!) so I was on my own too - she would drop me off in the morning on the way to work at the train station, and I’d venture out to Nuremburg, Rothenburg, Bamburg, lots of burgs (Germany has a lot of burgs), and this was my first solo travel experience (supported by Cindy but also had a little taste of being out in many cities where I knew no one, didn’t speak the language, and was on my own to figure it out!). It was AWESOME.
Stay tuned for what happens next - PART 2 coming soon!!!
Travel Adventurers! Oh! The Places We’ll Go!
Perhaps you notice all of my exclamation points! My enthusiasm overfloweth for many things - art, powerlifting and TRAVEL! I saw a picture of a little girl with a suitcase, dressed in her best, looking off to the horizon and the caption was “Life is short - go to Italy.” I was moved - life is short! and the world is a wonderful place! And somehow, in the last few years, I have found the time and the $$$ and have actually made my travel dreams happen - Greece, Morocco, Vietnam, Italy, Cambodia, Turkey, Germany, Spain, Thailand (I’m at 31 countries now), and in this blog I want to share some of the things that have made travel easier, less stressful, and overall just good things to know that I’ve learned (some the hard way).
To start with, your travel style may not be my travel style, and I think over time we all have to figure out what makes our heart full when we travel. I was talking to a friend about the trip to Morocco I went on early in 2025, and after listening to the itinerary, she said something to the effect of - but that doesn’t sound like a vacation! And in that moment, it hit me, no, it doesn’t, and that’s not what I’m looking for. I want to see the world, do all the things, try all the food, experience everything, not rest and sleep in and lay on a beach (I can do that in the USA and certainly save on the airfare!). So just read past anything that isn’t your style and keep anything that may be helpful for your bucket list adventures! I know my style may not be for everyone and that’s okay.
At first, thinking about starting a travel blog, I felt pressure to write something super profound and meaningful and deep that will make my readers gasp with enlightenment in every blog post but I realize that is not realistic (whew! that’s a relief!), I’m just going to share things that I learned or often get questions about.
So, thanks for reading, please come back and read more, and of course, happy travels! -Ann (November 9, 2025)
Never too old! Never too late!
Plot Twist….at almost 59 years old, after a lifetime of being sedentary, uncoordinated (not exaggerating, wish I was!) & also uninterested in anything athletic, I had an Ah-Ha moment & surprised myself by beginning a fitness journey that transformed my body (I’m 45 lbs lighter and STRONG) but even more significantly, it transformed my outlook on life with an attitude of “If I can do this, anything is possible!” I signed up for my first powerlifting competition at the tender age of 61 as a bucket list goal & surprised myself by earning 8 Georgia state records in the Women’s Masters 3 (60-69 years old) division, and qualifying to go to Nationals in Vegas last year. Competing at Nationals was an amazing experience of training hard & seeing what my senior citizen body can do, conquering fears & achieving a dream. Powerlifting competitions consist of 3 attempts each at 3 lifts - back squat, bench press & deadlift. I never ever would have thought I could even do these lifts, let alone compete at a National level. One other wonderful part of my fitness journey has been inspiring others, especially older women, to improve our health and fitness. Never too old, never too late! If you know me, you know that my enthusiasm for my fitness journey runneth over!
This is where you come in! Would you be interested in sponsoring me to help me get to the 2023 USA Powerlifting Nationals in Memphis, Tennessee September 13-17th? I have qualified, am registered and am training to compete and increase my totals!
Here’s how you can help me get there -
*Friend Sponsorship, $25 - I will send you the “I can do hard things” silicone bracelet I had custom made that gives me an extra burst of inspiration every time I glance down at my wrist! I appreciate your support in pursuing this dream!
*Business Sponsorship, $25, $50, $100 - I will send you the “I can do hard things” silicone bracelet plus your business will be listed as a sponsor on my website, on signage in both my store locations, & I will promote your business on my social media pages.
Any level of support is greatly appreciated to help me with expenses - my hope is my transformation & enthusiasm for fitness & strength training will be an inspiration in the community and especially for older women to see what is possible with a dream and some hard work!
Sincerely,
Ann Peden
annpeden@gmail.com
Venmo@Ann-Peden-1