You guyssss- I have found my forever home! Like I’m some lost puppy looking for my forever. I do feel that way a lot of the time. I don’t really know where I belong, but I think it might be Seville, Spain. Do I say this about every city?

Seville is everything. She is the moment. She is incredible and perfect in every way. There’s culture, sun, incredible food, fun things to do, amazing people… what else could you ask for? Seville is in the south of Spain. It feels very authentic and cultural here. Like I actually felt immersed with the city and country.

I took a taxi to my hostel and as soon as I entered, I could feel the energy of the place. I knew the hostel and it’s people were going to quickly feel like home, and boy was I right.
I got to my new room and it was tiny. So tiny that anywhere I put Scooty was going to be in the way, but everyone was so understanding and kind to me about it. I met my hostel mates and we talked for a long time and became friends right away. I then fell asleep for a couple hours. This seems to be the theme because these days my travel days take a lot out of me trying to get around with a broken ankle.

I woke up from my nap, went grocery shopping and then found a place to have dinner. I was so stressed from my travel day and ready to drink some sangria. I found a cute little dinner spot to sit outside and have authentic Spanish tapas. I agreed to my hostel mates that I’d meet them to go to a Flamenco show but I ended up staying at the dinner spot for a couple hours. I sat outside like always and the server approached me. As soon as he started walking my way, I had to do a double take. He was one of the best looking men I have ever seen in my life. I’ve never seen a man like that in America. I was so taken back by it. I ordered a sangria and when he came back, I ordered two more. He said, “dos…para ti…solo?” Like girl, you’re drinking both of these alone at once? Yes, my sweet, handsome man. I am a fish tonight. He brought me over an entire liter of sangria and a bread basket. That was for the best.

I ordered authentic Spanish tapas which were amazing and my waiter actually ended up sitting and talking with me for a long time. I was multiple sangrias deep and enjoying his company and getting to know him. He told me I should move to Seville from America. Don’t tempt me handsome man, because I’m already on the verge of that. He then asked me to come back and meet him the following night. I agreed but then I didn’t show up. Sometimes I think about it and wish I would’ve just to see what would’ve happened.

Before I left, he asked me if I would be able to drive my scooter back after my sangria. I laughed and told him it’s not motorized and I would be fine. I then proceeded to run into the garbage can near my table and spill all the empty glass bottles out of it. Real classy.

I was sad to miss the flamenco show with my new friends but I had a really fun experience at dinner so it was alright. When they came back, they said the show wasn’t great anyways.
I woke up in the morning and set off to explore Seville after I cooked some breakfast at the hostel. I stopped at a cute local cafe to have cafe con leche, people watch, and feel the sun hit my face. I walked over to the Seville Cathedral where there was a massive line leading out the doors and around the block. The cathedral was stunning, even from the outside. Seeing this buildings never gets old honestly. I admire each and every one of them and how long it must’ve taken to build the buildings which that much detail.

I venture down to the Jewish Quarters and it was a beautiful neighborhood but I didn’t stay long because the cobblestones were awful and exhausting for me to get around on my scooter. The quarters are very narrow alley ways lined with boutique shops and cafes. It’s adorable and I’m sad I couldn’t explore more. I then explored the gardens and they were so pretty! I spent the entire day roaming around and exploring.

I got some beer and tapas for lunch. They serve pitted green olives when you order a beer and I absolutely love this combination and want to continue it when I get back home.
Later on in the evening, I went to the supermarket to get some dinner and came back to cook. The kitchen is a busy and social place so you expect to meet people anytime you go into it. I was cooking when I met Melanie from Canada and Talisen from England. He goes by Tal, though. Melanie wanted to check out a rooftop bar for sunset drinks and asked if we wanted to join. I was hesitant but I said yes. After I broke my ankle, I became quite the hermit and refused to do anything with anyone even though they’ve asked me almost every single day in every new city I’ve been to. I’ve felt like such a burden to people since I’m slower now and can’t do as much. I told myself after leaving Valencia that I was going to stop saying no to people when they invited me to do things.

We got ready and walked to the rooftop bar. It over looked the Seville Cathedral. We were drinking tinto veranos and they’re kind of a like a sangria but lighter and my new favorite drink. They remind me of summer. I got to know Mel and Tal quickly. Mel is in her 30s and is a pharmacist back home in Canada. She loves to travel and has traveled quite a bit. Tal is also almost 30 and he’s SO funny. He’s a type 1 diabetic which we talked a lot about. He was diagnosed in his early 20s and has been dealing with a lot of high highs and low lows since. He had to give himself multiple doses of insulin while were together. Probably from the alcohol and food. We watched the sun go down and the cathedral lit up. It was so beautiful.

We then walked down to find a tapas restaurant where we enjoyed some authentic tapas, more tinto verano, and good conversation. After dinner, we were walking home when we passed a bar playing a Spanish football game. I was walking with an English boy so of course we had to stop to watch. We enjoyed some hot milk tea and it was really interesting. They steam milk and serve it to you hot with a tea bag in it and some sugar on the side. When they first brought it out, I thought it was made wrong. It was SO good and really want to try to make it when I get home.

The next morning, I met my new hostel mate named Jack. Jack’s from Australia and 30 years old. We hit it off immediately because he’s gay and I always hit it off with the gays. I knew from the second we met that we would be best friends. His personality was so fun and energy was immaculate. He invited me to go to coffee this morning and I agreed to. Jack and I went out to breakfast the next morning with two of our other hostel mates, Maria and Amed. Maria’s from Mexico and she is competing in a half Iron Man competition. It’s adorable because her and her mom actually compete in them together and her sister is flying out from Mexico to watch. Maria taught us a lot about Mexico. She lives in Mexico City and she said that the entire city and most of the country is ran by the Mexican cartel. She said it sounds scary but it’s actually not, They help the community a lot and give back to the community and if someone has a problem, the police actually send the cartel members to help them. They still smuggle drugs and can be violent and dangerous, but not to tourists or the regular person who isn’t bother them. I thought this was so interesting because of the imagine we all have of the cartel.

We ate some delicous acai bowls and fruit smoothies but then had to go wait back at the hostel because a large storm was supposed to be coming in. All of the businesses were shutting down for the storm and everyone was supposed to stay inside. The week before, Seville flooded so bad where people were floating down the streets. So I can understand why they were trying to prepare but it rained for maybe 10-15 minutes and then the sun was out again thankfully.

We had a family dinner at the hostel later that evening. There were about 30 of us and they cook a free dinner for you. They made a big pot of noodles with ground beef and cut up hot dogs. I was really tired so stayed up to hang out with my hostel mates for a bit but then went to bed.

I met a new hostel mate who was sleeping on my top bunk. His name is Haedeam (Hoo-dam) and he’s from South Korea. He’s sooo funny. We spent some time talking before I fell asleep.

The next morning I woke up and went to the gym before meeting my new friends. I was meeting Andy and Jack at the hostel so we could go to Plaza de Espana. It’s this beautiful and massive plaza that’s surrounded by a beautiful park. When we arrived, there were so many stairs to get into the building. Jack and Andy said they could carry me and I said absolutely not. Jack insisted that he could carry me himself and I said no way. They helped me hop up the stairs and then went back down to carry my scooter up for me. They spent all day carrying me up and down the stairs and helping me. Jack said to me, “we’re not going to let you miss out on things just because you can’t walk right now.” It was so kind. We met our other hostel mate and friend, Gabby at the plaza. Gabby is from Argentina but is living in Spain for now.

We all grabbed some lunch together and then walked back to the hostel to relax and chill for a bit as we’d been walking around all day. Later in the evening, Jack, Haedeam, Andy and I had tickets to go to Setas de Sevilla. We grabbed a couple drinks before hand nearby and sat outside and talked. We played a game, “tell everyone a secret you’ve never told anyone before,” and we got to know each other REAL quick after that. We were talking about threesomes and selling foot pictures and the crazy things we’ve all done in our lives. I really loved this group of guys.

We made our way to the top of Setas de Sevilla. At night, it lights up in colorful lights. You can see the entire city lit up. The view was stunning. There were quite a few stairs on the paths but my friends were great at helping me.

We then found a cute local restaurant to enjoy some dinner. Jack ordered an entire bottle of wine to himself and I ordered an entire pticher of tinto verano to myself. The other guys thought we were nuts. Maybe we were but it was so fun hanging out with Jack because he matches my vibe. Our waitress was so fun and we made sure to tip her really well.
We talked Andy into coming to a flamenco show with Jack and I after dinner. It was an authentic and highly rated flamenco show I found online. The show itself was one of the most incredible things I’ve witnessed in my life. The story that was told through dance and song and body movements. It was powerful and emotional and mezmorizing. I genuinely can’t describe the feeling through words. It might be my favorite thing I did in Seville. Their dresses were stunning as well.

We decided afterwards that going to a bar was a good idea. Haedam actually came to meet us back out and I was so excited! He’s one of my favorite people I’ve met so far on my travels. Everyone wanted to take a ride and take pictures with Scooty so that’s what they did. We made our way to the club afterwards and I almost fell off Scooty right outside the club, landing on my left leg. The bad one. AGAIN. The club still somehow let us in. We ran into a group of our other hostel mates and danced with them. Jack and I were so many drinks deep at this point but we were having a blast. We had been playing truth or dare all night and Jack dared me to tell the hot man behind me that I like his black leather jacket so I did. One thing led to another and we spent time hanging out. He was from Germany and really fun. On the way home from the club, we were still playing truth or dare. Jack dared me to ride my scooter topless down the street. So I did it. I was riding my scooter down the streets of Spain completely topless at 3 am. Two men riding mopeds passed us and starting cheering. The guys couldn’t believe I really did it. It was such a fun night.

We woke up the next morning and Jack started to call me from his side of the room. We were both still drunk and it was 10 am. We went out to get breakfast and Haedam joined us. It was our last day together and I was so sad about it. We came close quickly. I had a flight later that evening so Jack and I spent the whole day being hungover on the couch. It was real bad. All of my new friends gathered around in a circle, we shared hugs and our goodbyes and they watched me get into a taxi and drive away. I will miss them forever.
I caught a taxi to the airport and flew to Tenerife in the Canary Islands in Spain. The airport was pretty stressful with my scooter and bags and everything. A worker carried Scooty for me while I hopped up the stairs to the plane and then they took my scooter away and made me use my crutches. My cast was thick and bulky and couldn’t fit all the way under the seat next to me so I spend a few hours pretty uncomfortable.

When we landed, they had everyone deboard the plane and asked me to sit back and wait. They brought the mobile trailer all the way up to the plane doors, helped me strap into a seat, lowered the trailer, and drove it over to the airport doors. They then came to get me with a wheelchair and wheeled me to the baggage claim and helped me out to catch a taxi.
I made it to Tenerife and got a taxi to a hotel nearby since I was arriving at 1 am and the hostels don’t allow check in for that late. The hotel was really scary and the doors to my room didn’t lock but I had my own bed for the first time in almost four months and I was so excited. I had my own balcony which was fun. The only issue was there was no AC so I was SO hot. I slept good though.

I got a taxi the next morning to my new hostel after some breakfast. The ladies working at the cafe were so kind and called me the taxi and helped me outside to it. It was a surf hostel so I had to mentally prepare myself to see everyone else going out surfing, knowing I’d be unable to. I was on my way to go surfing for the week when I broke my leg after all.
My new hostel was SO cute from the outside. It was painted all surfing themed. I walked in and there were surfboards, it was all one level, and no one was anywhere to be found. I scooted to the back kitchen where I found a girl working. She let me check in early. The hostel was very small but it was perfect because there were no stairs. We had quite the time trying to find room for my scooter in the 6 bed dorm room since it was so tiny. The ladies who worked there were so kind and didn’t mind moving everything around so I could be comfortable. I got all settled in and took off on my scooter to explore a little bit and find some groceries to keep at the hostel. Tenerife was beautiful. It reminded me of Hawaii when I was there last November- beachy, beautiful weather, mountains everywhere, palm trees, and surfers.

The beach was only a 2 minute walk from my hostel which I was happy about. I walked on over to catch the sunset after exploring town. While sitting on the pier, this elderly gentleman was sitting on the bench across from me. He asked what happened to my leg and I told him the story. He came over to talk to me and we chatted for a very long time. He introduced himself as Brian and told me he’s from England. He was adorable and I absolutely loved his English country accent. He told me he’s 86 years old, turning 87. His wife passed away 5 years ago and ever since then, he’s been traveling the world himself. He told me he only goes home once in a while to check his mail.I was inspired by him. He was in great shape for his age as well. Cute as a button. I think about our interaction often.
It was a beautiful sunset. I can’t think of much I love more than watching an orange sun set over an ocean. It’s my top favorite view in this world. It’s when I feel the most myself and connected and grounded with this earth. After sitting for a long time, I walked past a pizza place and enjoyed some pizza for dinner. It was surprisingly really good and comparable to the pizza in Italy which I was shocked about because no pizza on this earth compares to the pizza in Italy.

The next morning, I came out to grab some coffee and sit at the table to chat with my hostel mates. Everyone was so much fun. It’s funny because each city and hostel brings a new vibe of travelers. Every place is so different. Tenerife is definitely laid back, surfing and ocean vibes and the people were like that, too. Two of the girls I met, Rabea and Raquel, invited me to go to breakfast with them. I was planning on spending my day at the beach, but I isolated myself for so long after breaking my ankle that I was done saying no to people when they invited me out.

The girls had a rental car which I was thankful for. We loaded up Scooty and headed to the breakfast place. We sat down and enjoyed acai bowls and coffee outside. Raquel is from the east coast in the US and Rabea is from Cologne, Germany. Rabea used to live in the US when she was an au pair on the east coast, that’s where she met Raquel. They met at a club one night and became friends and have been traveling together since. I think their story is really neat.

Us three clicked immediately. We talked about everything under the sun. They were telling me about how when they went to Puerto Rico last year, they almost lost their lives. They were walking back with a group of four from their hostel, the two girls and two guys, when they got robbed. Men in masks approached them, held them at gunpoint, and demanded they give them all their belongings. They took their phones, wallets, anything of value. One of the men thought quickly and threw his phone nearby in a bush. After the men left, he grabbed his phone and used it to call for help. When they all returned to the hostel, the guard told them they were incredibly lucky they survived because most of the time tourists get targeted like that, they kill them after robbing them. He thinks the only reason they didn’t is because they were wearing masks and would be unidentifiable. The girls talked about the way that experience made them feel, almost losing their lives in a foreign country like that. What an insane story. My mouth dropped for the entire duration of them telling it I’m pretty sure.

I shared my story about my fibula fracture. I tell the story all day every day because every person I meet asks me what happened. The girls reminded me how brave and inspiring my story is.

After breakfast, we drove up the coast to a really beautiful beach together. It was a beautiful drive. The reason I chose this beach is because it’s known for its accessibility features. The boardwalk was easy for me to get around on my scooter. They even had a disability chair you could use to be pushed over the sand so you can still go in the water and enjoy the beach. Raquel and Rabea happily pushed me in the disability cart. The waves were massive and the water was strong so the lifeguards advised us we couldn’t go near the water. We found a spot on the sand to lay out and tan.

Everything was going perfectly until the waves came crashing up the beach, completely soaking us. Raqual jumped up quickly to help me since I wouldn’t be able to swim with my cast on. Upon saving me, she left her phone behind which got completely drenched with the salt water. She wasn’t upset at all and was mainly concerned about me which was very sweet. All of our belongings got soaked and the worst part is that my cast got drenched with salt water and sand. It made it so heavy, uncomfortable, and itchy. I was also concerned that it would get infected with all of that being trapped in there.

Two elderly ladies who had rented out chairs and sun umbrellas offered to take them since they were already paid for and they were leaving. It was so generous. We took them up on their offer and offered them money which they declined. It was nice to be able to lay out on a chair and try to dry out my cast.

After some girl time on the beach, we decided to leave. The girls went to eat and I did a little exploring of the area. I then made my way back by bus which was a journey uphill with my scooter. Tenerife is incredibly hilly which I wish I would’ve known before booking my flight there. On the bus ride, I made the decision that I was going to go to the ER to have my cast removed. My friends called me when I was on the bus to see where I went and I told them my plan. They said to meet them at the hostel and they’d drive me to the ER which was incredibly kind.

I met the girls at the hostel so I could grab all my paperwork from France and the four got in the car. It was me, Raquel, Rabea, and a girl named Sophie who’s my roommate and I met on my first night at the hostel. I was happy to have all the support with me. I told them multiple times they didn’t have to take time out of their trip to come to the ER with me, but they were persistent about not letting me go through it alone.

We checked into the ER and it was 400 euros to be seen which was insane because up until this point, I hadn’t been charged anything for healthcare. We were on an incredibly touristy island though where a lot of elderly people vacation so I get it I guess. They brought me back in the triage room to speak with the doctor who didn’t speak English of course. I told them what happened earlier in the day and the doctor advised me that the trauma surgeon was busy and would be unable to access me tonight. He told me to come back tomorrow to try to be seen again. I asked if I’d have to repay the 400 euros and he said yes since it was a new visit. Absolutely not. Not happening. I already got ripped off and didn’t even get to sit in a real ER room. So it was time I took matters into my own hands.

I slept awful that night. My cast was heavy and full of sand. I was stressed. I tried calling around the area to get in to see an orthopedic surgeon and I couldn’t get in to see anyone. Most clinics refused me because I’m not from Europe and my accident didn’t happen in Spain. Raquel and I had plans to spend the day together so we took the bus to a new town to explore. We found some breakfast at the most adorable tea shop. I got to know Raquel on a deeper level since it was just us two. She met this man in Germany who she’s been romantically involved with for a few weeks now and he has a lot of trauma that she’s been trying to deal with patiently. I hope she doesn’t lose herself trying to fix him because I know what that’s like and next thing you know you’re looking back at all the years you wasted. Raquel had quit her job and bought a one way plane ticket just like me, except she was planning on traveling for an entire year. I was envious! I was so happy for her.

We stopped to grab lunch at an authentic Indian restaurant and it was the best Indian food I’ve ever had in my life. Seriously, it was incredible and the owner was so adorable and kind. She even dressed us up in an authentic Indian outfit to take pictures for us. We sat and talked to her for quite a long time. After lunch, we found an orthopedic store to try to find a boot for me. I had already made up in my head that I would be taking my cast off myself. We found a boot, got it fitted for me, and returned to the hostel.

I gathered all the supplies and all my hostel mates and I took a seat in the kitchen. Two of the workers filled up a large pail and kettle with hot water for me and kept pouring it in until it was the perfect temperature. I then soaked my cast in this pail for a long time. My other hostel mates went to find more supplies to help me cut it off. The Russian man who didn’t speak any English walks over to me with a massive kitchen knife, points, and then starts sawing away at my cast. Didn’t work. That cast was rock solid. After maybe an hour, we had the cast off. We cut and sawed and tore until there was nothing left. My leg was free again. It felt so good. I had some bruising and swelling but in my opinion it looked great. I was a little nervous since it was coming off at 5 weeks instead of 6 and a real doctor didn’t do it for me with any updated x-rays but they really gave me no choice.

I switched over to my walking boot and wore it like a cast for the first few days, not taking it off. It was the best thing ever to finally shower again without a cast. I was having a significant amount of pain since the cast removal which I knew was normal because my ankle wasn’t being immobilized from the hard plaster anymore.

I spent the next few days in pain, hanging out with my hostel mates, and mainly tanning and enjoying beach days, pool days, and going to the local gym. I didn’t explore Tenerife as much as I wanted to because it was really difficult for me to get around there with my leg and knee scooter. I’d love to come back though when I’m all healed someday. There’s so much to do there like diving, surfing, kite surfing, incredible hiking. I really want to experience it all the right way. I found an outdoor pool at a hotel nearby that I spent a couple days at too. It overlooked the ocean and it was really fun. I spent a lot of time in Tenerife tanning and reading, but it was nice to slow down for a little bit.

I was always with my new friends and never alone. I became specifically close with Raquel, Rabea, and Sophie. Sophie was also from Germany. She was traveling around the Canary Islands for three weeks. It was her first ever solo trip. She described a lot of the changes she’s seen in herself since making such a big and life changing decision to travel alone. I remember when I started solo traveling ten years ago and hearing Sophie talk about the way it changed her, reminded me so much of myself at that time. Even this big of a trip has changed me in every way possible even though I’ve solo traveled before. I was proud of Sophie. She was an incredible human and a lot of fun to be around.

Us four girls were spending the day together shopping around and getting coffee when Raquel and Rabea had to leave to catch their flight. That was a tough goodbye. All the goodbyes are tough. I truly hope to see them again someday. They are both unique and wonderful people.

One of the nights we had a family cookout on the rooftop at the hostel. There were stairs to get to the rooftop but my friends always wanted me to experience everything fully. I would crawl to the top and my friends would carry my crutches and belongings. We ate incredible home cooked food, drank sangria, had great conversations, and then decided to go to the Filipino bar down the street afterwards. I met this girl named Ashley from England and we connected right away. It was like I was staring at a reflection of myself. She had also just gotten out of a long term relationship and was trying to find herself again. She was also really fancy and girly like me so it was fun to bond over that. We had a huge group from the hostel go into the Filippino bar. It was funny because it’s just a hole in the wall place with local men sitting everywhere. We had great conversations and drinks.

It was my last day in Tenerife. Sophie, our new hostel mate Lula, and I decided to have a chill pool day. We grabbed some breakfast and coffee and walked to the pool to spend the day tanning. The girls helped me in the water and it was my first time swimming since breaking my fibula. They were so helpful. It was fun to be able to swim again and I swam for a long time. We tanned for hours until Lula had to leave to catch her flight home. It was sad. When we made it back to the hostel, Sophie, Marcel (from Germany) and I had a beachside dinner. Marcel is one of my favorite people I’ve ever met traveling. He was such a good time. Fireworks started going off in the background and I panicked and was ready to take my scooter and run, but Sophie grabbed my arm gently and reminded me we are in Europe- I didn’t have to be scared of public shootings here. We had tapas for dinner that we shared and great conversation. Sophie and I are the kind of friends who are insanely and wildly supportive of each other and everything we say and do so Marcel started to mock us and it was really fun. It became our new triad joke to just keep supporting each other for insane things.

We made our way back to the hostel since there was a gathering for BBQ night. My friends helped me to the rooftop again and all 15-20 of us sat in a circle talking. I was memorizing faces and the moment because I knew it was my last night with everyone. I hate when I’m sitting in a moment and already feel sad that it will no longer be here. But these moments and people mean so much to me. It was fun hanging out with everyone but around midnight I went to bed because I had to be up at 3 am as the taxi was picking me up at 3:30 to take me to the airport. I was heading to Morocco to meet my little brother!

3 am came quickly as it does. The taxi driver picked me up right on time and dropped me off at the airport. Someone came to get me in a wheelchair and I got fast tracked through everything- it was awesome. They once again put me in the mobile trailer to get me in and out of the flight once I got to Morocco. I was SO excited to see my little brother. I hadn’t seen my family in four months which is a lot for us since we are so close.

I flew into Marrakech, Morocco and then had to take a 4 hour train to Rabat where my brother would be meeting me. I was exhausted from the travel and being up so early. I get tired so much easier now trying to get around with my knee scooter and crutches. I took a taxi from the airport to the train station and ordered some iced coffee while I waited for my train. I went to the disability center to sign up for help and they wheeled me with a wheelchair out to the train so I could get on. The train was different from the European trains. I guess I am in Africa now. Large groups of us were sat in different cubbies and it was hot and crowded. I had a jean jacket on but the shirt underneath was sleeveless. I was too nervous to remove my jacket because it can be considered disrespectful in Morocco to show shoulders. The train ride was crazy and long and I was thankful when it was over.
I made it to Rabat, Morocco and refused to pay for another taxi. Ever since I fractured my ankle, I’ve been spending so much more money than I planned because of taxis and having to book specific hostels with elevators. I took the 15 minute walk with my scooter to the riad. I was very excited to see my brother again. He had gotten there a few minutes only before me so the timing worked out perfectly. Our riad was right in the heart of the Marina in Rabat. The cobblestones were difficult for me to ride my scooter on and you have to be a little more aware in Morocco compared to Europe. My brother opened the door and we were so happy to see each other again. I couldn’t believe he was in Morocco with me! He helped me carry all my belongings and scooter up the stairs of the riad. A riad is traditional Moroccan housing and they’re gorgeous. I was happy to be away from the hostels for a couple nights and have AC in our room.

We met this little boy who welcomed us to the riad. He lives there and his name is Annis. I would say he’s about 6 years old. He was the cutest little guy and hilarious. He was immediately intrigued by my knee scooter so I let him sit on it. He was incredibly smart and inquisitive. You know how kids are and how they tell all of their parent’s business when you know they aren’t supposed to? He was telling us how there are cockroaches there sometimes and brought over the bug spray they use to kill them. He also told us that there used to be “criminals” who stayed at the riad. I went to go take a shower and he said to me, “I hope the water heals your broken leg.” It was so sweet I could’ve cried.

We got all settled in, showered, and set off to explore. It was so fun to be able to catch up again. We walked all around the marina. Morocco was a completely different world. It was a culture shock. They consistently harass you to come by things in their shops as you’re walking down the streets. We found some espresso shots in the marina and continued on our journey. I wish I could explain what the streets of a Moroccan marina are like to you guys but I’m not really sure how. They’re tiny streets that go on forever and are lined with the locals selling all kinds of products and goods but everything is colorful and nothing you’d see in America. The business owners consistently harass you to come look in their shops and buy things. They start at a price WAY more than what the item is worth and you can haggle with them. My favorite thing is pretending to walk away because the further you keep walking, the more the price keeps dropping when they’re yelling after you. There’s street food every couple feet. Definitely not the American hygiene standards but that’s what you should expect in a third world country. We had to find a bathroom to use and it’s just a hole in the ground or bucket that you use in a dark room. This is how we found all the public bathrooms to be. Being a female is much more difficult in those times.

We explored the marina forever and then ventured off to find some dinner. We went out of the marina for it because the marina is very chaotic and loud and we wanted to be able to talk and catch up. My brother is like me in the way we travel so it’s nice having someone who’s compatible with your travel preferences with you. I don’t like when I’m traveling with someone who won’t try new foods or explore new places or won’t be active and walk around everywhere with me. My brother loves culture and trying authentic foods and he’s down for anything so we always have a lot of fun.

We found an authentic Moroccan restaurant. It wasn’t too difficult to find because most of the restaurants were authentic. The thing I like the least about Morocco is that it’s basically a dry country. It’s difficult to find places that serve alcohol. And I like to drink. So does my brother. They serve the most amazing tea with pretty much every meal, though, so I guess it’s okay. Oh yeah, and at a lot of the authentic restaurants, you do not choose from a menu. It’s just a fixed price and they keep bringing you food and tea without you requesting. So my brother and I sit down outside at the spot we found and they immediately brought us a fresh squeezed juice smoothie and didn’t let us run out of it for the whole time we were there. They brought over so much food, it was all incredible. I’ve never tried any of it before and it was definitely different but delicious. Tipping is very important in Morocco. The standard is about 10% for good service. The food is very affordable here so there’s no reason someone shouldn’t be tipping. They will get pretty upset with you if you don’t tip and ask you why you’re not tipping, so just keep that in mind.

After dinner, we wanted to check out one of the local bars. It’s really the only place you’re guaranteed to find alcohol around this country. It was so fun. Rabat isn’t a very touristy area so that was really nice. We love a local feel. We found a bar we walked to after dinner that was in between the dinner spot and our riad. It was full of locals and we had a blast. We sat down and they immediately brought us over popcorn and olives for snacks. We sat and caught up and drank a bunch of beer. We got to talk to the locals and I got to practice my French which is always fun. The only issue is the bathroom was up a spiral staircase and I was on a knee scooter. The bouncer at the bar physically carried me up and down the stairs every time I had to use the bathroom. The waitress helped the first time as well. I was being carried down a staircase by a strong, hot Moroccan man and felt like a princess. We made sure to tip them extra. The entire trip in Morocco, people assumed my brother was my boyfriend so I had to make sure to tell people he was my brother. It worked in our favor though because Morocco is very anti-LGBQT and women get prayed upon very easily. I love Morocco but I’d never travel there as a solo female. It’s actually illegal there to show PDA between two men or two women. So all I’m saying is we stayed safe with everyone assuming we’re a couple even though it’s crazy.

We made our way back to our riad and stopped at a little liquor store we found to buy a bottle of wine. When we made it back we enjoyed some wine on the rooftop and then went to sleep. We were both running off of no sleep and my brother was now in a completely different time zone. It was the best sleep I had in months. I turned the AC on blast and snuggled up in my own bed with blankets and it was the best. It’s the little things you take for granted in life.

The next morning, we got up and ate a fresh mango at the riad that we found at a local fruit stand the evening before. It was the best mango I’ve had since I was in the Philippines in March. We then walked to a local breakfast spot and ate an authentic Moroccan breakfast. All of the food in Morocco is so different from anything I’ve ever experienced before. It was a whole new world of culture, food, and taboos in Morocco. There are also stray cats running around outside. Everywhere. You don’t really see any dogs at all though, not even as pets. They also love their stray cats and take very good care of them. I watched a man clean a stray cat’s dirty ears out with his bare fingers. And then watched him go back to making baklava at his food stand.

After breakfast, we walked over to the Haasan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammad V. They were right next to each other so it was perfect. There were guards on horses riding through the city and two guards on horses stood at the entrance. Their uniforms were exquisite. The horses were stunning. Inside, there was a guard at each door to the Mausoleum and it was one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever stepped inside in my life. The detail of that place is something I can’t even explain. It was built in 1962 and finished in 1971 which actually amazes me because of the detail. I assumed it would’ve taken them longer, honestly. There’s a beautiful casket on the bottom level. Moroccan King Mohammad V and his two sons are kept here.

After admiring the Mausoleum for a while, we went over to the tower. There are pillars everywhere and it was a stunning area. We then took a long walk to a coffee shop. On the walk there, we passed a shop where we found homemade Moroccan goods. From lamps to chests to massive rugs to jewelry to statues. The owner of the building was an elderly Moroccan man and we loved him. He was so sweet and kind. This was when we walked into a shop, not knowing you could barter in a real shop. We bought souvenirs for our family members at full asking price. Later on in the week, we found the same products for 1/10 the price and were pissed. But we were supporting a local business so whatever. I got a beautiful jewelry chest and we got some sun lamps and other knick knacks for our mom and sister.

We continued on our journey of finding this coffee shop, grabbed some coffee which was fantastic and then found a place to drink our coffee and order some tea. Tea with every meal is very common in Morocco. They drink it all day long and the coffee shops here are open very late. We sat and had our coffee and tea, chatted with some of the locals, and then walked back to our riad. We wanted to try some of the authentic street food in the marina so we grabbed some street food to go and took it down to the beach in Rabat to watch the sunset. We took a couple of glasses from our riad, our street food, and the rest of our bottle of wine down to the ocean for a sunset picnic. The sunset over the ocean was beautiful. Unreal. I will never get sick of them. The waves were massive as they crashed against the large rocks. It was one of my most favorite sunsets ever. There was a man on the beach selling hot tea and coffee out of the back of his truck which there was a line for. We sat, watched the sunset, drank our wine and enjoyed our picnic. We Facetimed our mom to show her the view and it was wholesome.

We passed a massive cemetery on the walk back. All the graves are above ground. We decided to walk in and check out the cemetery. It was eerie but astonishing and I have so many questions now. The gravesites were beautiful. We walked back towards the riad and went through the medina again. We found a little shop of homemade Moroccan treats so we stopped to share them and people watch. We had some baklava and other desserts that I don’t know the name of but it was all incredible. We made it back and started packing since we had a train to catch to Marrakech in the morning. We were both exhausted so called it a night pretty early.

We woke up the next morning, finished the last of our packing, and set out to find some coffee and breakfast. We found another cute little authentic Moroccan spot a little outside the medina. We then went for some tea after breakfast and walked back to the riad to grab our belongings. We made it to the train station just barely in time and got on the train to Marrakech. I was so thankful to have my brother with me because Africa was so much more difficult to get around than Europe. The train ride was four hours and it was more comfortable than my train ride to Rabat so I was thankful for that.

We got a taxi from the train station to our new hostel. The only issue is we were staying in the medina in Marrakech again so the taxis couldn’t drive down those streets. It was worse terrain wise than in Rabat. I could barely ride my scooter over those uneven bricks. It was pretty stressful for me trying to get around there on my scooter, but we made it to our new hostel. It was gorgeous. It was a hostel that was in an old riad which was multiple floors high. Genuinely it was stunning. It’s funny because everything online says it’s wheelchair friendly when indeed it is not. We were placed on the third floor of the riad. My poor brother carried my scooter and bags up and down those stairs so I could figure out how to get up and down them for the next 5 days. Our new hostel dorm was a 6 bed dorm. We met another girl there named Kayleigh right away. She was from the US and traveling for a year or longer. I haven’t met anyone else with the same name as me on my travels up until this point.

We set out to find some dinner. We found this beautiful restaurant with the real Moroccan experience. It’s one of those again where it’s a set menu and a five course meal. Thank goodness this place served wine as well. The restaurant was inside an old riad. You had to knock on the door and they came to let us in and led us down a beautiful, carpeted hallway and stairs. It was like walking into a mansion. I am so impressed with all the riads in Morocco. We sat and enjoyed dinner. Our waiter was incredible and really made the experience so much better. It’s a thing in Morocco for the male servers to be able to serve tea from a high angle while pouring and he was very good at it. We met an elderly couple next to us who were from California so we talked to them for a long time. After dinner, the waiter let us go up the other floors of the riad so we explored the entire place. We were amazed.

The next morning, we went downstairs for breakfast. Every morning our hostel offered a homemade moroccan breakfast. I don’t even know what it was but it was so good and fun to try. They also offered to make us coffee or tea at any time we wished. The man who was almost always working at the hostel is named Hamza. He’s very handsome and from the Sahara in Morocco. He was very sweet and we hit it off well. He asked for my instagram and we spent time getting to know each other. My favorite is when he came to the rooftop to have tea with my brother and I or come to our room just to chat. I liked Hamza and I miss him. There was another lady there and her name was Lobna. She was older and did a lot of cooking and cleaning. She was so incredibly sweet and only spoke French. She was always checking in and making sure we were okay.

After breakfast, we set off to explore the city. We stayed in the medina. It was genuinely a maze. It was full of energy and chaotic.. It was lined with shops and shops and shops. The workers hassled you constantly and tried to get you to come buy their products. We stopped to bargain with some. We found a spot that sold the outfits we were looking for to wear to the desert. He started out by saying it was going to be like $200 for both outfits and I think we took two outfits and two pashminas for $80. You always cut the initial asking price in half and minus some so you can bargain back and forth. We were excited about our pashminas too.

We walked down to the center of the medina. There were street performers and food stands everywhere. It was packed and busy. You have to be really careful pulling your phone out and taking pictures/videos of the entertainers because they’ll harass you saying you owe them money for it. I took a little picture of a band that was playing and as soon as I lifted my phone up, one of the members ran over to me saying to give him money since I took a photo. It’s really annoying but it’s their country and way of life so I try to remain respectful. If you watch them for more than a couple seconds, they’ll request money as well. We got some freshly made whole fruit smoothies. When walking down by the food market, you have the owners walking up to you and in front of you, not letting you leave as they’re trying to force you to come eat their food they cook. It very much tests your patience. Another thing they like to do is pretend they don’t have change for cash when paying for things and then leaving and not coming back for a long time. They try to wait it out for you to just say, “nevermind, keep the change” as a way of making more money. We waited every single time.

We stopped at one of the shops in the medina to get fitted for authentic pashminas. We also knew we were doing a desert excursion so we wanted outfits for that as well. We found ones that we really loved. I got an authentic light blue pashmina and it’s gorgeous. The man showed us exactly how to wear them and it was fun to learn. We got our outfits and kept strolling.There were men with donkeys pulling wagons, locals on scooters, street food vendors, ect everywhere. It was something like out of a movie.

We had appointments to get a full authentic and traditional Moroccan Hammam and massage at the spa. A Moroccan Hammam is a ‘traditional public steam bath and communal ritual for deep cleansing, exfoliation, and relaxation, using natural products like black soap, ghassoul clay, and argan oil to purify the skin, improve circulation, and detoxify the body’.

So what happens is you get changed into a robe with nothing underneath except a disposable thong. The woman then takes you into a private steam room where you remove your robe and feel very exposed. You lay on the wooden surface and they literally bathe you like a baby with water and black African soap. They scrub you from head to toe. Washing your hair and every crevice of your body. She even lifts your disposable underwear and cleanses you there. I have never experienced anything like that before. They layer you in soap, leave it on, then multiple oils and let those soak for a while. Your whole body exfoliates and dead skin is left everywhere. After she was finished, my skin felt like baby’s skin. I’m so happy we did it. After, my brother and I both got massages at the same place. It was amazing and relaxing. My mom actually treated us to this spa day so thank you mom! It was so nice and refreshing.

We made our way back down to the medina in the afternoon to find some street food for dinner and watch the nightlife. It’s like a whole different place after dark. Everything is lit up and lively. We stopped at a food stand where the man was on a pedestal and he was surviving fresh cooked snails. He was stirring them in the biggest pot I’ve ever seen in my life. You just sit down and he automatically hands you a bowl of snail soup. AKA whole snails and broth. It was like $1.00 per person to eat. They give you toothpicks so you can pluck the snails out. It was an experience for sure and an acquired taste- so fun to try! It’s a very popular dish in Morocco. We then stopped at another stand for some freshly cooked whole fish and seafood which was also incredible.

I tried to walk for a little bit with my crutches but I was in a lot of pain, and it didn’t go very well. I felt so bad for my brother carrying my scooter up and down those stairs every day.

When we returned, we met our new hostel mates and I really enjoyed them. One of them was from ireland and I was so excited because the Irish people are my all time favorite people in the world. The other was from Scotland. So talking to them both was like music in my ears because they’re my favorite accents. I asked them if they could actually just keep talking until I fell asleep so I could listen to their voices forever. Creepy? Yes.

We ventured out the next morning to grab some matchas and breakfast before going on our desert excursion. We ended up sharing an entire pitcher of sangria for some reason but you only live once, right? This is going to sound insane but we really wanted to do the desert excursion but we couldn’t find one online that was wheelchair friendly. The one we found online literally stated on the bottom, “not for people with mobility issues”. Screw it. I made it this far. I can do anything. We booked it anyway. We walked to the hotel which was our meeting point. I was sitting there with my scooter, crutches, and packed bag when they showed up to get us. He took one look at me and must’ve said, “fuck it” also because he helped me load my scooter in the back of the van. We took a seat and prepared for the couple hour drive to the desert.

We were camping in a little hut in the middle of the Agafay desert. It was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. There were camels everywhere. There was a large pool outside that overlooked the desert landscape. We were greeted with tea, a schedule, and how things would work. The man who helped us was named Safouane. It was weird because we immediately connected the moment we met. I could see it in his eyes. Tyler told me how flirtatious we were being, but I guess I didn’t know for sure. We were shown to our little camping hut and got settled in. My brother and I stopped at a liquor shop prior to coming and found an authentic Moroccan liquor called Mahia made there. We decided to take a shot of it and immediately regretted it. We asked for a shot of it at the bar in Rabat but they said it would make us crazy. We were ready to be crazy I guess because we bought our own. Don’t judge us but we signed up for a camel ride. It was a bucket list item. We definitely went back and forth about morals and ethics and deciding if it was the right thing to do. We spent a lot of time researching ethical places. The camels here were in great shape and seemed happy. We went for a short ride around the desert during the sunset. I kept petting my camel. He was so cute and perfect. Watching the sunset over the desert on a camel with my brother who’s my best friend is something I will never forget, ever.

After we returned to camp, we got ready for our dinner show. Sofouane came to help me get there with my crutches. He was very sweet and attentive. We took a seat and grabbed a couple beers to enjoy the show with. They served us a multi course authentic and traditional Moroccan meal. The food was amazing. The show was amazing. The entertainers were a female belly dancer, a group of male singers, and a man who played with fire and kept swallowing it down his throat. I was impressed by them all. I feel like my jaw dropped the entire fire show. How does he even do that? They made breaks between the courses where they had everyone stand up and do dances together in a huge circle the Moroccan way. There were 150+ of us dancing together in a circle. It’s a moment I’ll never forget. Sofouane was so sweet and kept coming over to help me walk so I could join the dancing too. He was holding my hand and walking with me and it was very cute. The dinner and show was 10/10. I wasn’t able to partake in the last dance because of the stairs and my leg but I got to watch my brother do it and it was fun watching him have a blast. I love that kid. After the dinner and show, we all met around the fire to listen to the men play guitar. The women waited in line to get henna from one of the elderly ladies. My brother and I both got some. My brother asked if it was okay because it’s nontraditional for men to get henna and the lady agreed. We loved it! We sat around the fire with our beers and enjoyed the music. We were in the middle of the desert in Africa listening to music. What was life? My heart was so happy and full. We called it a night after and went to sleep. It gets cold in the desert at night so we were pretty cold all night.

They were serving breakfast the next morning. We got up early to watch the sunrise before breakfast.Sofouane sought us out and helped me to breakfast. He asked to take my picture in front of the desert sunrise. My brother went to take a little walk and grab some photos so it was just Sofouane and I hanging out. He told me he really wanted me to come back. He’d take me to Chafchaoun (a blue city in Morocco I really wanted to visit) and we could spend time together. It was a fun and flirty conversation. How was I still pulling men even with a broken leg?

Breakfast was an authentic Moroccan dish and I’m not sure what it’s called but it was amazing. They eat a lot of bread products there and serve it in multiple different ways with multiple different dipping substances. Of course we had tea with our breakfast. Why was the tea so good in Africa? You can’t drink enough of it. Sofouane came to chat and join us. He was charming. We walked back to our hut to pack our bags and get ready for pickup. I didn’t get to say goodbye to Sofouane, but later on in the day he messaged me. I’m not sure how he got my phone number. He must’ve looked it up from our booking. We still chat and keep in touch to this day.

We made it back to our hostel and wanted to chill for a little bit. It was time for a nap. Hanza greeted us back home. I was trying to juggle all my Moroccan habibis. After our nap, we got ready to head back down to the marina and find some more street food for dinner. On our way down, I started having all the locals yell at me calling me “Hakimi!”. Hakimi is a famous soccer player and he was on TV yesterday in a boot like me using an identical knee scooter. I’m not kidding you, I think I was called Hakimi over 100 times. I had men asking me for photos, asking me to borrow my scooter to take photos, ect. I was now Hakimi and everyone was obsessed with me for it. I found out what it’s like being famous and I don’t think I like it. We didn’t go more than a few minutes without someone yelling “Hakimi” at me. We were sitting and enjoying dinner when I had another man come up to me and ask me to borrow my scooter for awhile so him and his friends could take some pictures and videos with it. Fine, take Scooty. It was funny watching them.

We stopped for some coffee and dessert at a different place after dinner. It had the best tiramisu I’ve ever had in my life. After we made it back to our hostel, I caved. I had really been struggling to get around while in Africa. I knew I was heading to Asia next once we left Morocco in less than two days, but being in a third world country made me realize I couldn’t keep going the way I was. I was tired. My body was tired. I wouldn’t have been able to get around Morocco without my brother. My body had been telling me to stop and rest for a long time. I needed to listen to it. I had also been struggling with my SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) since I went into in Italy and almost lost my life there. The episodes were getting longer and happening more frequently. I was nervous to go to Asia next and go into a cardiac emergency in a third world country. I needed to go home to recover from my fractured fibula and fix my heart before I could keep moving forward. I booked the flight to leave to go home with my brother. It was bittersweet. I was excited to see my family, but felt like I was giving up on my dream. I had carried myself this far, was I accepting defeat?

We woke up the next morning, which was our last day. We enjoyed breakfast and then took an Uber to the aesthetics clinic to get some treatments done in Africa. I just have the best ideas all the time. We then walked around town exploring and found a place to get lunch. We really just had a chill day since it was our last day. We packed our bags home and I was experiencing so many emotions about it. We found a fancy restaurant to have dinner on our last night in Morocco, reflecting on the trip. Everyone was still calling me Hakimi. We called it an early night since we had to be up to catch our flight. I spent some time with Hamza. I was sad to leave.

Bags packed and ready to go the next morning, we set out for the airport after sharing our goodbyes with Hamza and Lobra. They’re the sweetest people. My heart was breaking second by second for so many reasons, but I knew in my heart I was making the right decision and doing what I needed to do to prioritize my health. We made it to the airport and even the security guards and attendants were calling me Hakimi. We got fast tracked through everything due to my disability. We cut in every line and they even upgraded us to business class for our flight home. We were flying to Chicago. The flight home wasn’t bad. I was going through emotional turmoil and spiraling pretty bad about returning home to the US. It made it so much easier for me knowing I was going home with my brother who was my comfort zone. At least I’d be staying at his house in Chicago for a few days which would allow me to slowly ease back into the US lifestyle without having to go back to my life in Eau Claire immediately. I was thankful for a safe flight home. It was a very long day.

I spent the next 5 days in Chicago at my brother’s house. We went to the gym every day and jet lag was kicking my ass. So was sadness and anxiety. I had a lot of anxiety being back in America. It’s not new news that I despise Donald Trump. I was scared of being back in my own country. I walked a couple blocks down the street of Chicago to get some coffee and almost had to turn around due to my anxiety being so bad. I was hyper-analyzing every person on the street, was nervous to be in crowds, and felt like my brain and body were on high alert in fear of getting shot. I was a mess. It wasn’t good. It’s gotten better but it’s still not great. My brother and I took the train home to my mom’s from Chicago the day before Thanksgiving. I was so happy to see my mom again after so long. She opened us with big open arms at the train station. I can’t explain how good it was to see her again. It was exactly what I felt returning home would be like after being on the other side of the world for four months.

I’ll fast track the rest now. We celebrated Thanksgiving. I went back to Eau Claire where I was living. I’m staying with my best friend Olivia in her spare room for right now until I can leave again. I’m thankful to have somewhere to live. I had coffee and breakfast with my ex two days after returning home to Eau Claire. It was nice to catch up and receive a real apology from him. He told me he still has my engagement ring and at that moment I realized I’m not me anymore. I’m not in the right place. This isn’t who I am now. That version of me is just a distant memory. I realized this wasn’t my life anymore. Everything about me feels different.

I was able to get some healthcare finally and the day I did, I went to urgent care to get my leg and heart figured out. They referred me to an orthopedic surgeon and cardiologist. I saw the surgeon and he will not let me return to work until January 15th. I had to beg and plead with him to even let me go that early, saying I really needed to work. I can’t file for unemployment because I’m out for a disability so it sucks financially. My ankle isn’t healing properly but what did I expect? I finally saw a cardiologist also and they referred me to get an echo, wear a heart monitor, and see the electrophysiologist to schedule my ablation. He won’t allow me to return to work until after all of this is taken care of due to it being dangerous. It really sucks not being able to work. The weather is too cold. I keep thinking about how I’m supposed to be on a beach in Asia right now. I’ve been spending a lot of time with family, though so that helps. We celebrated Christmas and it was nice to be here for the holidays. I know they would’ve missed me and I’d miss them too.

So that’s it for now. If you’ve been following along on my journey, thank you so much for being here. Life is different for me now. All I can think about these days is leaving again and how I want my life to look like. It’s not easy being home and not being able to work. I feel very unsettled and like I’m forcing myself to fit inside a box that I’ve outgrown and no longer fit in. I miss everything about my life around the world. From the hostel dorms to the travel days to the new cities to the culture to all the friends I made along the way. It changed me in all the best ways. I love myself in a way I never have before, fully accepting me for who I am. I struggled a lot in school my entire life from being bullied from my peers and the way I was able to connect and make friends immediately during all my travels healed something in me. You meet people where you’re at in life and you can show up as any version of yourself with no history or baggage. It’s truly the most freeing and liberating feeling.

Not only did I get around the world myself for four months, I did 6 weeks of it with a broken bone. I traveled country to country and city to city on a knee scooter using trains and planes. This showed me how brave and resilient I am. The entire journey taught me so much about myself. I can’t wait to get back on a flight across the world. I’m so grateful for the entire journey and experience and what it taught me about life, myself, and the world. I spent four months practicing speaking different languages, making lifetime friends, kissing boys from all over the world, drinking beer from different countries, learning about different taboos and cultures from my own, and trying authentic foods. I will never forget my experiences.

For now, I’m resting and healing. I’m spending time with family and helping my mom with tasks to keep me busy. I’m trying to stay positive and continue prioritizing my health. The blog will continue when I’m able to travel again. Thank you all so much for being here and for the support.

Until the next plane ride across the world,
Xo,
Kals