Momentos – June 2015

1 It’s been a long day. And beautiful. I awoke to a full moon and a quiet house in Ireland, and now, 24 hours later, I’m in Amsterdam, falling asleep to the flicker of candlelight and the sound of rain on the rooftop. Through every interaction today, I’ve felt this city opening its arms to …

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Momentos – May 2015

1 When people ask which is my favorite place I’ve been, I answer that my two favorite cities are Amsterdam and New Orleans. But after just two days in Barcelona, methinks I’ll be adding it as a third. I could get lost in these gothic streets for years, eating tapas, admiring stone, wiling away afternoons in hidden coffee shops, spots of sun …

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Around The World Without Flying

On September 30, 2011, I left my hometown in Ireland to embark on a 3.5-year trip around the world without flying, eventually closing the loop on May 16, 2015. Along the way I visited 37 countries, crossed the Pacific Ocean on a cargo ship, and wrote a book. The Route By The Numbers Without airplanes …

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Momentos – Apr 2015

1 I once met a guy in Budapest. He was like an Australian Brad Pitt, and super cool to boot. I remember thinking, “If I have any gay tendencies, this man should bring them out.” But there was nothing, no attraction. And so I concluded once and for all that women were the only creatures …

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Momentos – Mar 2015

1 I’ve stretched and done push-ups and situps for twenty-five consecutive days now. Takes less than ten minutes each time, but it’s keeping me in good shape. On lazy Sundays like today, when I was out late last night and almost feel hungover, it’s so much easier not to do it. But I have that penalty set. …

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Momentos – Feb 2015

1 It’s hard to believe I’ve been away for four years. There’s a concern when you return to a place you love, that it won’t live up to the memories. I guess the trick is to keep your expectations in check, knowing it won’t be the same. It can’t be. People change, places change. Perhaps …

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Momentos – Jan 2015

1 “It’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the …

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Momentos – Dec 2014

1 Giant came to Colombia to live with me. I guess he expected we’d be out having fun and picking up chicks all the time. He has been doing that, perhaps better than anyone I’ve ever seen, but he’s been doing it without me. I’ve been something of a hermit here, work all-consuming. I’m well …

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Momentos – Nov 2014

1 It’s about a year now since I decided to quit that passive income biz, to give up $4k a month easy money. Not long before that I announced my goal of banking $100k before the end of 2014. Right now, with only $2k to my name, I still feel fine about the former and a little embarrassed by …

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Momentos – Oct 2014

1 We’re fifty miles south of Manaus at a place called Lago Juma. We sit in a boat and watch river dolphins hide and peek, then swim in warm water as the sun sets. After dark we venture out and witness our guide catch a caiman with bare hands. Back at the lodge we’re encouraged …

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