Full-Time Travel | Destinations | Travel Blog
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We’re Ryan and Jen. We’ve been full-time travelers, along with our Frenchie – Gus, since January 2022. We’re exploring Old Towns across Europe in search of traditional food, local wine, and historic architecture!
Before becoming location independent, we had “normal” lives in Austin, Texas. But after years of working full-time and traveling occasionally, we flipped the script. Now, we’re traveling full-time and working occasionally!
We’ve found travel to be even more enjoyable when we learn a little history about the destinations and attractions ahead of time. Additionally, we believe some reflection afterward helps improve future travel experiences.
In many ways, this website is a collection of our research notes and journal entries about the places we’ve visited. We’re sharing this information in hopes someone will benefit in some small way.
We hope you will join us on our grand adventure as we visit Old Towns around the world!
Full-Time Travel
We’re planning to travel indefinitely. So, we’re treating the journey like a marathon – not a sprint. Like marathon runners, we need to be light and set a pace we can maintain.
The Full-Time Travel section includes information about our minimalist lifestyle and slow travel philosophy, along with information about traveling with a dog that we’ve gathered along the way.
Minimalist Lifestyle
The minimalist lifestyle is easy to embrace when carrying our bags through a train station. But what if we need (or want) something we don’t have when we arrive at our destination? We’ll explain how we deal with the challenges along the way and what we would do differently if we had to start all over again.
Slow Travel
Slow travel can be a struggle – especially for those of us who suffer from FOMO (“fear of missing out”). There are always more things to do and more sights to see. However, trying to do too much is a recipe for disaster. We’ll discuss how we balance the desire to see and do everything with the need to maintain a sustainable pace.
Traveling with a Dog
Destinations
The Destinations section is a collection of our research for the countries and cities we’ve visited. Since leaving the U.S. in February 2022, we’ve traveled to the following countries:
Our interests primarily focus on the food, wine, and architecture in old towns across Europe. So, our research for each destination is naturally focused on these topics.
FOOD
Every country, region, and city has its own local food products and traditional dishes. We try to cook with these ingredients and eat these dishes in the places we visit. But that doesn’t mean we won’t occasionally eat Indian in Florence!
WINE
ARCHITECTURE
Every destination has its own set of historic architecture with its own unique style. We like to learn a few things about the sights we’ll see before exploring a new city. A little information does a lot to increase one’s appreciation!
Travel Blog
Full-Time Travel
Full-time travelers face many unique challenges that are not a concern for most travelers. From budgeting to packing lists and from visa requirements to long-term accommodations, many issues require significant research and planning. We spent a lot of time preparing, but, for the most part, we’re learning as we go! We’re sharing what we learn to (hopefully) make full-time travel planning a little easier for others.
Destinations
Some destinations are great places for a vacation but not so great for full-time travelers to spend a month or two. We’ve been to a couple of places that we loved when we visited for a few days but were ready to leave before the end of our month-long stay. The problem is the things that make a city terrible for an extended stay are not always obvious. We’re sharing our experiences so others can better decide what is best for them.
Photo Journal
As you might expect, the Photo Journal includes photos from our current and past travels. We’re firm believers that every full-time traveler needs a hobby. The obvious choice is photography. (As a former attorney and a former accountant, we’re rather predictable.)