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Round the World Travel Guide

Book Review: What Boundaries, Live Your Dream

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As a reader of travel books and memoirs, I think it's safe to say that I am passionate about other people's journeys. Keep in mind, however, that these journeys I speak of are hardly ever the physical ones.

Each globetrotter, nomad, and wander-luster explores the world for his or her own unique reasons, experiences it in his or her special way, and grows from it in a defining manner that can only be applied on an individual basis. Take Lisa Chavis and Cheryl MacDonald, for instance: Two forty-something, house-owning, well-established women who left everything behind to embark on a 12-European-country backpacking excursion that transformed them from naive tourists to experienced globe travelers.In January of 2010, they published the beginning of their story with What Boundaries, Live Your Dream.

It was not their Irish horror stories of food poisoning that kept me interested. Not even their recounts of heavenly gelato in Tuscany nor of the beauties of the French coastline kept me hooked. I read for their honesty. I sympathasized as they spent possibly too money purchasing the best of the best backpacker's backpack and ended up regretting the heavy invenstment. I understood the feeling as the two ladies bickered from transportation exhaustion. I laughed as they became stained in red at Spain's La Tomatina Festival or nearly got trampled by wild horses in Austria (don't worry, they were laughing too). I felt as if I were there because often I had been, and even if I hadn't there was enough dialogue to feel like I was in the middle of their international conversations.

As we rode the bus back to the boat that afternoon, she [Cheryl] explained, “This trip. This time. This place. All these are very meaningful to me. I feel like I was meant to take this journey to find them. And a part of me that was lost.”

I [Lisa] understood perfectly.

No matter what your level of travel ” expertise” (whatever that is) I doubt that you'd be able to relate either.

Since Europe, the dynamic duo have traveled to 4 continents, 30 countries and over 200 cities. You are more than welcome to be inspired by part one of their world travels in, What Boundaries, Live Your Dream, and then continue following their adventures on their blog. And after that? Well, if you want to go backpacking through Europe, or do just about anything else, just do it. Or rather, in the words of Lisa and Cheryl: Live your dream!

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About Danielle E. Alvarez

Danielle is a globetrotter with a healthy appetite. In addition to writing about her travel and foodie experiences, she enjoys reading, indulging in the arts, and channeling her inner-yogi. Read more from Danielle at her blog, Danielle Abroad.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. olgaLG says

    August 26, 2010 at 5:08 pm

    This gave me goosebumps. There is always time to live your dreams, no matter what age you are. Thanks for sharing.

    • Dave says

      September 1, 2010 at 5:51 pm

      Hi Kristin,

      Thanks for leaving a comment. I look forward to following your adventures (with a purpose) on Twitter!

  5. Helen says

    September 9, 2010 at 10:25 pm

    Wow, what an awesome view…Live your dreams! Thanks for sharing your post. I am happy to be one of your readers. Till next post!

  6. bid proposal says

    September 19, 2010 at 4:34 pm

    Traveling is my only hobby—-i want to travel all around the world throughout my life, and after seeing this website and reading the content of it i’ve got the same pleasure like travelling.

    thanks a lot..

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  8. adimmick says

    January 10, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    THANK YOU! I heard about this book yesterday though wasn’t quick enough to write down the title. I’ve been searching the internet all day based on what I remembered – 2 women, 12 countries, 3 years – to no avail. Couldn’t find a reference anywhere until I remember they backpacked. Thank you for your post; I look forward to reading the book.

  9. adimmick says

    January 10, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    THANK YOU! I heard about this book yesterday though wasn’t quick enough to write down the title. I’ve been searching the internet all day based on what I remembered – 2 women, 12 countries, 3 years – to no avail. Couldn’t find a reference anywhere until I remember they backpacked. Thank you for your post; I look forward to reading the book.

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