My love of travel began when I studied in Dublin, Ireland, during my junior year of college.
On weekends, my friends and I hopped trains or ferry boats to other countries, stayed in youth hostels and lived on $12 a day. After college, I bought a Eurorail pass and flew to Germany to start a two-week escapade and wound up staying almost three months, traveling down through Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal and across the Mediterranean Sea to Morocco.
I still love the adventures of travel, whether it’s a ritzy corporate trip with my husband, a getaway with my girlfriends or a family trip with our children. The most fulfilling part has been instilling the travel bug in our kids and watching them take off in their own directions. Our son, Christopher, recently spent two weeks in Peru and Machu Picchu for his economics degree from Dartmouth College. Meanwhile, our daughter Courtney went to Ireland on her own last summer to pursue Irish dance, and will perform on an Irish Dance tour for three weeks in Japan this coming summer. Our youngest, Catie, will head to Scotland with us soon, but also talks about studying medicine one day and working in Africa.
It’s a big world outside of I-270 with fascinating food, cultures, history, activities and architecture. Many fellow Dubliners are taking the time to pursue their own foreign experiences and are happy to share what they have learned. Maybe one of them will inspire you!
Penny Kyle
Penny Kyle was born and raised in New Zealand. After college she did her “overseas experience,” as the Kiwis call it, in Switzerland as an au pair and then traveled for the next three years in Europe and North America. For nine years, Penny lived in Washington, D.C. with her husband, Blake, before moving to New Zealand for the next nine years and then to Dublin after that.
Every year, when the kids go back to school, Penny and her mom, who still lives in New Zealand, meet in Switzerland at Uncle Simon’s house and spend a few weeks traveling. Flights are very cheap within Europe and Penny suggests checking with EasyJet. Recently, Penny rented a gite, which was a charming 18th-century restored farmhouse in southwestern France. She advises looking up “agritourism” for a worldwide directory of farms, ranches and wineries for overnight stays and to better experience the local foods and customs.
Another favorite spot of Penny’s is Croatia, specifically the walled 7th-century city of Dubrovnik.
“You cross over a moat and go back in time,” says Penny. “Get there early so you can walk on the wall before the cruise ships show up.”
She also advises watching videos by travel expert Rick Steves and trying not to plan too much into one trip.
“It’s good to have a plan, but also fun just to see where the day takes you,” explains Penny.
Rebecca Hinze
Rebecca Hinze’s goal was to visit 40 countries before turning 40. She and her husband, Todd, visited Peru in November and accomplished that goal.
“We knew kindergarten was approaching quickly for our son, Parker, and soon we would be involved in his school and extracurriculars,” Rebecca says. “Thankfully, my parents were able to help out by watching Parker.”
Rebecca and Todd found it difficult to pick their favorite locations, but their recent trip to Peru and Machu Picchu made the list. They hiked the Inca Trail to 8,000 feet, arriving at Sun Gate at sunset for an incredible view of the mountain village. Then they hiked the treacherous Huayna Picchu.
“The fear was worth the view,” Rebecca says.
Da Nang, Vietnam also ranks high with its beautiful, ancient Buddhist temples. Rebecca and Todd took a boat tour along the Mekong Delta and walked silently among 10-year-old boys in red and orange robes and mohawks, training to becoming Buddhist monks.
Marrakech, Morocco was fascinating to explore with its twisting medina and maze-like streets, where you can buy everything from gorgeous rugs to camel meat. Rebecca and Todd also spent five days exploring the Atlas Mountains and took a camel ride deep into the desert, where they camped overnight.
“Seeing the way other people live is inspiring and interesting but, on the long flights home, we always feel grateful to return to Dublin, where we have everything we love,” says Rebecca.
The Magans
Dublin residents Marivi and Dave Magan set a goal of seeing all seven continents before their children, Gabe and Sophie, graduated high school. They completed their quest in the fall with a trip to Antarctica, crossing the rough water of the Drake Passage twice.
“The places we have been as a family are no longer just dots on a map, and the individuals we see on the news are people we have sincere compassion for,” explains Marivi. “Whether it’s the people of Nepal during the earthquake, four weeks after we visited there, or Paris after the shooting.”
A favorite memory for the Magans was celebrating Dave’s birthday in Nepal. Chance timing allowed for a flight over Mt. Everest and the rest of the Himalayas in the morning and a ride with elephants in the Chitwan jungle that same night. As for the other continents, the Magans spent time in Quito, Ecuador and in the Amazon rainforest in South America, and cruised in and around Australia and New Zealand. In Africa, they enjoyed safaris, hiking and camping at Mt. Kilimanjaro and ended with time on Zanzibar.
Marivi suggests hiring local guides to learn more about the cultures and trying to travel with only carry-ons. Checked baggage doesn’t always arrive, so it’s best to limit your clothing to necessities and hand-wash items you need to wear again. Also, photograph and journal as much as possible, but remember to be present in the moment and participate in the experience. Soon enough, you will be on the plane home, ready to appreciate how truly blessed we are in Dublin, but maybe with an improved sensitivity to other cultures and world views.
Colleen D’Angelo is a freelance writer who lives in Dublin with her husband, three children and several small animals. She enjoys playing tennis, walking the Dublin bike paths and traveling.
