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One month down, and one to go in South Africa. This month has been a great opportunity to really explore and take things slowly. Maybe a little too slowly at times for the kids, but it’s all been a balancing act to ensure that we don’t burn out over the next year. Here are some of my favorite things so far: 1. Cape Town: Cape Town was a great introduction to South Africa. The city was vibrant and had a great mix of natural wonders (Table Mountain, Cape Point Reserve, African penguins) and city life. We were disappointed to miss out on Robben Island, but unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans! 2. Franschhoek/Wine Lands: The food, wine, and experience were on par with what we have previously enjoyed in Napa/Sonoma but without the hefty price tag. Experiencing this region during the low season/winter has been a treat, as we often had the tasting rooms and restaurants all to ourselves. The serene vineyards and gourmet cuisine have been highlights. 3. The ease of travel throughout this part of the country: The national highways are well maintained (at least in this section of the country) and easy to navigate. Driving through picturesque landscapes has made our road trips enjoyable and stress-free. I am hoping this continues when we drive from Durban to Johannesburg in a month. 4. The Wild Card: We purchased the International Family Wild Card with All Parks access. This card gives the buyer unlimited access to all national parks for an entire year. We made up the cost in just one month of travel, so from now on, we are just saving money. It’s great to be able to pop into a park without spending nearly $80 USD each visit. The card has opened up so many opportunities for spontaneous adventures. 5. Addo Elephant National Park: We decided to forgo the expensive guided safari tour on this first leg since we are staying at a lodge (in a week and a half) that includes 2 daily guided safari drives. We used our Wild Card so this was a great value. A safari for only the price of gas, great! We saw a huge variety of animals and it was pretty exciting to feel as if any moment you would run across something new and amazing. We were lucky enough to see herds of Elephants (including babies!), zebra, warthogs, black-backed jackals, Cape Buffalo, ostriches (one was with its clutch of eggs), kudu, mongooses, and various birds. 2 of the big 5, check! We self-drove on 2 separate days and hiked (a different part of the park so we didn’t have to worry about elephants or lions) the day in between. Definitely my favorite nature activity so far. As we enter our second month in South Africa, we’re excited to see what new experiences await us. The kids are looking forward to our upcoming safari lodge stay on a private reserve, and we hope it will be an unforgettable adventure for them. This journey has already brought us closer as a family while we navigate being together 24/7, and we can't wait to see what the next month holds. See below for some of my favorite pictures from the past month!
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 Green season at beautiful Playa Conchal, right in our backyard for the last 5 years I can hardly believe it's been five years since we left Austin for the pristine beaches of northwest Costa Rica. Time really does fly! But let me tell you, these past five years haven't exactly been one long vacation. From navigating a global pandemic only two months after moving into our nearly completed home in Central America, to building not one, but two houses in Costa Rica – the second of which my husband David took on the role of general contractor…all in Spanish – and building a life on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, it's been one wild ride! Soooooo, what’s up next? Flashback to August 2023: We were in our hotel room in Tokyo, wrapping up an amazing nine-week trip through Asia. We’d spent the last 4 weeks exploring Japan: Osaka, Kyoto, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Nara, Kanazawa, Tokyo (including days at Disney Sea/Disney Land in Tokyo Bay), and would end in Yokohama (the Cup Noodle Museum was a must see for Noah) before heading back to Costa Rica exactly 36 hours before the kids began 6th and 7th grades. Phew! On this particular cloudless summer night in Tokyo, the view was breathtaking. The view from our room at the Andaz in Toronoman Hills is like nothing we've ever seen before – 50-something floors above the Tokyo skyline - a sea of lights stretching out in every direction and the Tokyo Sky Tree as the centerpiece. We had just navigated a local fireworks festival in Tokyo where we were the only foreigners in sight. We were exhausted but in that moment, I blurt out, "What if we did this for a whole year? Travel the world?”. We were not ready to head back to our daily routine of work, school, laundry, home repair, and repeat. The past 5 years had been the perfect introduction into expat life but Dave and I were getting itchy feet and looking for something adventurous. Let’s face it, we’re not getting any younger. 9 weeks had gone by in a flash and the kids were growing up even faster. Pretty soon they would be in full ‘teenage’ mode and I’m trying to savor every family moment while we can. It was just a thought, but it sparked something. Dave thought it was crazy at first. The idea of uprooting our lives in Costa Rica for a year of nomadic instability seemed overwhelming. He'd have to figure out mobile-remote work arrangements - internet access, time zone concerns, etc. The kids (and myself) would need to navigate remote schooling (including tackling Algebra 1 for our eldest), and we'd need to sort out the logistics of our life in Costa Rica. It was a lot to take in, but after many, MANY discussions and brainstorming sessions, we realized that with a bit of creativity, flexibility (and a little finger crossing ) we could make it work. Pulling the kids out of school in Costa Rica wasn't an easy decision. The kids have been doing great at their international school and have a nice group of friends. Our eldest refused to entertain the idea at first, worrying about leaving his friends, routine, and comfortable bedroom behind. We assured him that we were NOT trying to “ruin his life” but instead, hoping to give our family an epic adventure together- before we entered the high school years and life got in the way. After hours of talks, negotiations, and planning, including reassurance that we will do more than visit art museums and historical sites, he is finally opening up to see the excitement in it. Perhaps the upcoming 7th grade final exams have something to do with his change of heart:). I’ll take what I can get! Our youngest, well, she's been all in from the beginning. With only 3 weeks until launch, I’m happy to say that everyone is finally on board! So here we are, getting ready to say goodbye to Costa Rica, for now, and hello to 14-ish months of adventure and 24 hour/365 days+ of family togetherness… may the odds be ever in our favor! It's a bit nerve-wracking, sure, but we're excited for what's ahead. Starting in Cape Town —our first international destination and first time as a family to the African continent — to wherever the road takes us. We are on a mission to make memories and see what the world has to offer. This blog will serve as travel diary, a way for the kids to hone their writing skills, and a way for family and friends to join us in spirit. I’ve promised the kids that I’ll try not to be “too cringe” when I post. Request noted:). Stay tuned for updates from our journey! —Elizabeth www.instagram.com/4wanderingpassports Costa Rica Launch Day 2019
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