10 things I learned on my trip to the Keys

1. Don't run on a uneven dock--you will regret this.

2. Fishing by the dock is a frustrating and fruitless effort as dock fish have a PhD in human avoidance. 

3. The reel of a fishing pole can suddenly fall off and hit you on the head while the boat is tackling rough waters...yes this happened to me.

4. Do not pack jeans...they occupy too much space and you will not use them.

5. Hawaiian Tropic sun block sucks...Copperton is totally the way to go! 

6. Pandora on your phone is a gift while traveling...especially if it means serenading My Heart Will Go On to your best friend with the ocean as scenery. 

7. Beach life makes for creative drink preparation...including the invention of new drinks like the Trouser Dropper (pineapple juice, Sprite, and coconut rum). 

8. When sea turtles are out in the wild, they apparently look like muppets...this was really weird. 

9. Fish like to wear lobster heads as masks...while they eat the lobster brains of course.

10. Sunsets on a boat in the Keys is an unforgettable sight. 

Finding Your Travel Niche

Here's a short article from the Travel Writers Exchange by Janice Waugh on finding your niche topic for travel writing. I'm pretty sure mine would be Feminist Travel Writer or something to that effect, but that may be too niche. I would love to write feminist inspired travel guides of cities. Possible future project!

http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/2013/05/travel-writing-are-you-niche-enough/

Getting Over Flight Anxiety

When I first started travelling I would get terrible anxiety before boarding a plane. I'd start sweating and just close my eyes and listen to music as I prayed for a safe arrival. Thankfully, this is no longer the case. I get on planes so regularly these days I have become almost too calm on planes (I fall asleep a lot). I don't know what changed, but I do remember how terrible it felt to have that fear. That's why I'm sharing this article on Jezebel on creative ways to conquer your flyer anxiety.

Don't let a plane stop you from seeing the world!

Jezebel Article: How to Get Over In-Flight Anxiety (Without Gobbling Pills or Drinks) by MEHER AHMAD

A Feminist in Italy: Considering Travel Tips and My Feminist Sensibilities

I was browsing the Journey Woman website last night and found a narrative titled "An American Feminist in Venice..." Carter describes how she gets into a sticky situation with a creepy Italian man on a gondola ride. Essentially, she is forced to retake control of the situation after he has exercised his power to steer their gondola into a secluded area while making lewd suggestions.

This narrative reminded me of an element of women's travel discussions that I consistently have trouble negotiating--safety tips for women who travel solo. I understand the need for safety measures for any traveler (make copies of your passport, don't keep your wallet in your back pocket or purse, etc), but every time I see women centered travel tips that include "dress conservatively" and "don't attract attention" I can't help but be annoyed or at the very least flinch. I constantly struggle with is this a gendered bias or is this an actual safety need or is it both? One such case was with Christine Sarkis article "Ten tips for women traveling alone" on the smarter travel website. While I know she is making great suggestions, I still get annoyed that the notion of researching the culture to figure out the appropriate dress is most often only targeted to women who travel (by the by- kudos to this article for discussing dress as appropriate to the culture and not just cover yourself up girls because it will be your fault if you attract that potential rapist).

How do we negotiate these moments as feminists? I know I can't go to another country and ignore the gender norms and culture of that location without potential unwanted consequences, but if I have to sit in an empty compartment of a train and someone approaches me with unwanted advances - I don't think folks should engage in the victim blaming language of "you should have used common sense."I haven't had the opportunity to travel alone yet, but it's something I've wanted to do for ages. And while I have my concerns about it, my biggest fear is not "what if something happens to me" but "will everyone blame me if something happens to me." Any insight from other feminists?