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“Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures.”
– Lovelle Drachman

Pilgrimage looks different for everybody.

“One of the ancient functions of pilgrimage is to wake us from our slumber.”
― Phil Cousineau, The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker’s Guide to Making Travel Sacred

Pilgrimages are not only for the religious.

In the past, we equated pilgrimages with religion, but today we intentionally voyage to places to walk the steps of history, visit hometowns of our idols, or be surrounded by the beauty of nature. We embark on internal journeys without leaving our homes. Or we seek to be changed by music, artwork, and literature.

What’s your next journey?

This blog will focus on three main types of pilgrimages:

1. Intentional Travel

-Religious and Spiritual
-Natural Wonders
-Bespoke Travel

2. Inner Journeys

-Yoga/Meditation
-Music & Sound Healing
-Psychological Reflections

3. Collective Creative

-Meaning and Purpose
-Gatherings and Community
-Pursuit of “there”

“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” -Bill Bryson

When we live and travel with intention,
we have a deeper and more abundant experience.
What’s your next pilgrimage?

amodernpilgrimage

Thanks so much to these two who helped me on my la

Thanks so much to these two who helped me on my last days and weeks in Malaga . Bella also made the 2 flight journey, she wore diapers and made her own pet relief area in Paris. It truly was a return pilgrimage , wrote of it on my blog itonlutakesasmile.com. Somehow it all went smoothly , synchronicities, and kind people who assisted along the way… @katrina.fashionista @izziebleu @drtricia.co #expat #expatlife #wanderlust #wanderlusts

My last several moves, have included leaving three

My last several moves, have included leaving three countries and my mother helping me. Thank you @katrina.fashionista for all your help and I hope you enjoy your birthday in 🇪🇸. Glad we were able to celebrate the past several days in Madrid, as we searched for Filipino food and the world’s largest Zara. Somehow she went to four Zara’s in 24 hours . We were able to visit the palace, Reina Sofia , and multiple Christmas 🎄 markets ! @drtricia.co #pilgrim #pilgrimage #pilgrims #expatlife #expat #madrid #spaintravel

Years ago I saw this #manray piece at a museum, an

Years ago I saw this #manray piece at a museum, and I couldn’t get it out of my head. #leviolindeingres I loved it so much I debated getting this exact tattoo. It ends as it begins , last year I visited Central Park so many times as I waited for my Spanish visa. This week I visited #retiropark , Madrid’s Central Park , to take in nature amidst the hectic city. We also returned to #reinasofia and took in more Picasso and Dali . Yes and more Filipino food. Gracias #madrid … @katrina.fashionista @drtricia.co #pilgrim #pilgrimage #pilgrims #expat #expatlife #art #artmuseum

During times of change, I am trying to harness my

During times of change, I am trying to harness my inner Bella and be chill on my last excursion in Spain. In #madrid , where we are eating solely at Filipino restaurants, and exploring the Christmas 🎄 markets. Glad I got to meet up with a friend , and it’s so crazy that several hours away it feels like I entered another land where temperatures dropped dramatically . I remember my first trip to Europe over 20 years ago was a college field trip to Madrid, which my mom @katrina.fashionista accompanied me to. 🇪🇸 May always somehow be part of my life. #expat #expatlife #pilgrimage #pilgrim #pilgrims #spain #spain🇪🇸 #spaintravel @drtricia.co

I can’t believe it’s been nearly one year In S

I can’t believe it’s been nearly one year In Spain 🇪🇸, how does one say goodbye? It’s also saying he goodbye to 10 1/2 years as an #expat . Life continues to be a pilgrimage which includes meeting people where there are synchronicities and similarities. My last weekend in Malaga was spent meeting with friends, sharing plans, dreams , and stories. We took in the Malaga Christmas 🎄 lights and still had space for gelato . @katrina.fashionista @drtricia.co #expatlife #malaga #pilgrimage #pilgrims #pilgrim #wander #wanderlust #malagaspain

Sometimes we have friends that help enlighten our

Sometimes we have friends that help enlighten our pilgrimages. Recently I was in the the #uae and we did probably one of the most adventurous excursions I ever did in my life . So much was crammed into 6-8 hours in #dubai . This included feeding 🐪 , camel rides, atv rides , sand surfing , a dinner in the desert , Sufi dancer , belly dancer , fire dancer , posing with falcons, watching the sunset 🌅 , unplanned off-roading, and my first ever henna session. Thank you @izziebleu for booking this. Would have never gone without the push and great idea! #pilgrim #pilgrimage #pilgrims #expat #expatlife #adventure #camel #henna #unitedarabemirates and yes that was me sand surfing 🏄‍♀️ @drtricia.co

As I plan out this next part of my life on #thanks

As I plan out this next part of my life on #thanksgiving , awoke in the middle of the night to see how my life is being divinely guided. Although I may not know why yet, I can see in retrospect how these next steps on the path are unfolding smoothly. As I pointed this out to my mom, she said ´see you don’t have to worry’. In these pics are our Chinese restaurant thanksgiving , and our excursion to #rincondelavictoria and my favorite ❤️ caves #cuevadeltesoro @drtricia.co @katrina.fashionista #expat #expatlife #malaga #andalucia #gratitude #wanderlust

Often I find hearts ❤️ in the most random plac

Often I find hearts ❤️ in the most random places, even in this piece of ham. I know my guides are watching over me on my pilgrimages. This was the case this weekend, where we miraculously made it to a gas station after the car was blinking on Empty! Sometimes cars lie with regards to how much fuel ⛽️ you actually have left. Ay thanks travel guides for gasolina at the perfect time, we both were quiet and prayed we wouldn’t be stranded on a Spanish small highway in the countryside. But we made it to Tarifa for lunch, the windiest city in Europe. What I couldn’t capture was the windsurfers we witnessed on the drive. #travelguides #spiritguides @drtricia.co @katrina.fashionista #pilgrimage #pilgrim #pilgrims #peregrino #tarifa #spain #andalucia #wanderlust #europeantravel #expatlife #roadtrip #roadtrippin

Three day pilgrimage to four Black Madonna’s in

Three day pilgrimage to four Black Madonna’s in Andalucia, and it felt fitting we ended the journey with #chipiona , a sign of the Camino on the front of the church surprised me, but was hidden by flowers for the day’s upcoming wedding. What a beautiful treat visiting this church next to a peaceful clean soft sand beach. In the past 1 1/2 years I’ve been able to visit 20 Black Madonna’s. The pilgrimage continues … @katrina.fashionista @drtricia.co #peregrino #pilgrimage #pilgrims #pilgrim #cadiz #andalucia #blackmadonna #spain #spain🇪🇸 #wanderlust #expat #expatlife #europe

Sometimes we pilgrimage to the ends of the earth t

Sometimes we pilgrimage to the ends of the earth to witness daily occurrences, and there is such wonder we can find in things we take for granted in our daily lives . I once heard that Cadiz had the most beautiful sunsets in Spain 🇪🇸, and I have to agree …#cadiz #sunsets @drtricia.co @katrina.fashionista #spain #pilgrimage #peregrino #pilgrims #pilgrim #wonder

Sometimes when we pilgrimage it’s what we can’

Sometimes when we pilgrimage it’s what we can’t always snap photos of that are the most memorable. Yesterday we rented a car and drove to two Black Madonna’s in the #jaen region of #andalucia , somehow we drove through a national park where signs for mountain lions were bountiful , later signs included mountain lions lying on the road to avoid. In addition my mom ordered a hamburger in the only restaurant open on the 12 hour journey , little did she know it would be a burger made of ham… @katrina.fashionista @drtricia.co #blackmadonna #pilgrimage #peregrino #pilgrim #pilgrims

When we pilgrimage, we are curious not just what i

When we pilgrimage, we are curious not just what is on the land now but what it looked like before. I love from the #dubaiframe if one went up (we didn’t get a chance), you could see both new and old Dubai. We got a peek of both and a bit of the “fake” old/replica Dubai town. #dubai #pilgrimage #peregrino #pilgrim #pilgrims @izziebleu @drtricia.co #wanderlust #expat #expatlife

“Actually paris is most beautiful in the rain.” Sometimes pilgrimages include side excursions . We had an 8 hour layover in Paris, and we needed to make the most of it. Four hours in Paris, it ends as it begins . It was enough time to go to a favourite gluten free boulangerie #chambelland , catch up with friends, monoprix, walk in the rain and over the Seine , photo stop at #notredamedeparis #notredame and visit my favourite friend #shakespearandcompany #shakespeareandco . We even had time to escape an attempted pickpocket on the metro, luckily we were keen to see this happen and had a stranger call them out. #kindnessinstrangers @izziebleu @drtricia.co #paris #parisfrance #layoverlife #pilgrimage #pilgrim #pilgrims #peregrino #wanderlust #expat #expatlife

“Travel far enough, you meet yourself” .-David

“Travel far enough, you meet yourself” .-David Mitchell . Ok this trip to the 7 emirates of the UAE 🇦🇪, we met fascinating people and I felt I had a glimpse of past , present and parallel lives . Check out my blog in bio to unravel the multiple layers of seeing such lavishness with the disparity of those who helped build it. @drtricia.co @izziebleu #strangers #travel #expat #expatlife #wanderlust #uae🇦🇪 #uaetravel

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappoi

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did.”-Mark Twain . The past week we have spent in the #uae , there’s so much to say but more to unravel bit by bit. Check link in bio for new blog post about one hour of this journey . For now images of atvs in the sand , yes we sand surfed, riding camels at sunset and feeding them . @izziebleu @drtricia.co #dubai #uaelife #uae🇦🇪 #wanderlust #expat #expatlife #pilgrimage #pilgrim #pilgrims #peregrino

“I am convinced that there is no better way to g

“I am convinced that there is no better way to gain a deeper understanding of a place or a people than by experiencing it firsthand.” - Ibn Battuta . We are on a layover to travel to new territories. It’s always interesting as one embarks on a pilgrimage and has a layover in a city you used to live in. Bittersweet emotions. And yes there are 🎄 decorations at the airport. Our plane was delayed so no time to go to Paris today, perhaps next week. C’est la vie. @drtricia.co @izziebleu #pilgrimage #pilgrim #pilgrims #peregrino #wanderlust #wanderer #tcc #expat #expatlife #laudree #macarons

We pilgrimage to find ourselves or the stories of

We pilgrimage to find ourselves or the stories of humanity, which are all in essence the same. Last weekend we took a 45 minute flight ✈️ to #melilla in #africa .we were lucky to run into two locals who worked at the museums and gave amazing tips of the city . This included what museums to see (all free), where to catch panoramic views of the city and even where to grab churros and Moroccan tea. Both happened to be Mexican who had partners from Spain. I was grateful for their kindness and stories shared. When talking to them I couldn’t help but think of the similarities we share as humans, assessing what we value in life. I also thought of the parallels of this wall in Melilla with Morocco, our American wall with Mexico , and what is going on With Palestine and Israel. What irony that those who were most helpful to us Americans most were from Mexico 🇲🇽 . We are all humans , the same, and essentially are wanting lives that are full of health, joy, and love. @drtricia.co @izziebleu #melillaturismo #spain #freepalestine #freepalestine🇵🇸 #peregrino #pilgrimage #pilgrim #pilgrim #expatlife #expat #wanderlust #wanderer #tcc

Life is a #pilgrimage and can be fully of #synchro

Life is a #pilgrimage and can be fully of #synchronicity . Sometimes the world is so much smaller than we realised . I hosted a mindful colouring event with #ggi .My friend @izziebleu was visiting and it turns out one of the attendees we all have a mutual friend in common from Los Angeles @pallu01 , and Isabella had another connection she worked with her brother ! It’s quite insane to have these connections in LA but Malaga 🇪🇸? It’s a reminder that we all are connected. #peregrino #pilgrims #pilgrim #wanderlust #wanderlusts #expat #expatlife #sixdegreesofseparation #mindfulcoloring

We made it to another territory: #melilla . It’s

We made it to another territory: #melilla . It’s a Spanish territory 12 kilometres wide that sits in Africa. I have mixed emotions visiting places where refugees line the walled borders trying to enter for an improved way of life. I couldn’t help but think of the walls with 🇺🇸 and 🇲🇽, and 🇮🇱 and 🇵🇸 . We even stumbled on a peaceful protest. It’s a city that looked more like Dubrovnik , Malaga appears to have more moorish influence than here . But definitely fascinating . @izziebleu @drtricia.co #spain #tcc #travelcenturyclub #travel #wanderlust #wanderer #camino #pilgrimage #peregrino #freepalestine #freepalestine🇵🇸 #pilgrim #spaintravel #melillaturismo

“Compassion is about giving all the love that yo

“Compassion is about giving all the love that you’ve got.”
– Cheryl Strayed Going on retreat is an inner pilgrimage, I feel so appreciative that I was able to go on silent retreat five times in the past 7 years, four times @mandali_retreats with @sarahandtypowers . Being in silence , doing yin 🧘‍♀️, listening to dharma talks it’s a reminder of the privilege and time abundance I have . It also serves as a reminder how to continue to have #compassion for those suffering in the 🌎 #freepalestine #freepalestine🇵🇸 #silentretreat #italy #italy🇮🇹 #italytravel #mandali #expat #expatlife #pilgrim #pilgrimage #peregrino @drtricia.co #wander #wanderer #yogini #yoga @globalcompassioncoalition

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