Happy Holidays Reader! Thankfully, we made it to New Zealand. Some Americans don't because of a simple mistake. Amelia On Our Auckland Harbor Tour – More Pics & Clips on Instagram The hotel where we stayed in Fiji had a Fiji Airways lounge so we popped in one afternoon to see what services they offered. We specifically wanted to know if we could check-in for our New Zealand flight there (we could). While chatting with the agent, she asked if we had submitted our New Zealand Electronic Travel...
19 days ago • 7 min read
Hi Reader! The Leap to Riga, Latvia is officially open for booking! 🥳 CORRECT Leap Dates: June 6-20, 2026 👉 Leap Details & Cost Riga surprised us in the best possible way. We went in curious and left completely smitten. The architecture, the café culture, the history around every corner, and the easy pace of life. It was amazing! It feels both grand and cozy at the same time, and we’re really excited to share it with our fellow Turtles. We expect this trip to sell out quickly, so visit the...
24 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader! I'm going to keep this newsletter short since we're technically on vacation in Fiji and Amelia is giving me the stink eye for working. She wants to go lay on the beach, but I told her we have to do some work so we can afford to go lay on the beach. It's a minor tradeoff! First, Click Here to join the waitlist for the Global Living Summit so you're the first to know when tickets go on sale and you can lock in your early bird discount. Second, follow us on Instagram at...
25 days ago • 7 min read
Hi Reader! Well, it's been a while since we sent a newsletter or published a YouTube video. We've been very busy with our Leaps and travel so we've had to prioritize our limited time. In November, we hosted our Leap to Panama City. We had SOOO much fun exploring the city with the Turtles! We also secured venues for our Leap to Tirana (Sold Out), Prague (Open for Booking), and Riga Latvia (Coming Soon). AND, we secured a venue and announced the dates for our inaugural Global Living Summit in...
about 1 month ago • 8 min read
Hi Reader! We've been in Cuenca for a few weeks now and a lot of people have stopped us on the street and in restaurants to ask us if we're moving back to Ecuador or living here now. The short answer to that question is: No, we're not. As many of you know, it was always our plan to slow travel once our dogs passed away. Alicia died while we were living in Olón at the ripe old age of 20 and Daisy left us on August 30, 2023 while we were living in Cumbaya. As much as we loved Ecuador (and still...
3 months ago • 7 min read
Hi Reader! This is the final day of our first Leap to Cuenca and everyone is heading back home or to another far off destination around the world. Technically, a paro (national strike) has been going on since before the Leap started, but it hasn't affected our time here in Ecuador. Unlike previous paros that shut down the entire country, there have been very few road closures and most are north of Quito in the Otavalo area. There have also been a few protests in the heart of Quito near the...
3 months ago • 7 min read
Hi Reader! About 20 years ago, I took a short 4-night trip to Mexico. I went out to dinner the first night and woke up with Montezuma's revenge the next morning. It ruined the entire trip 🤢 We arrived in Cuenca almost 2 weeks ago and I woke up the first morning with a nasty cold (or maybe the flu). But I'm finally feeling better! Unlike my quick trip to Mexico, we still have plenty of time left to enjoy this beautiful city thanks to our slow travel lifestyle. Amelia has been doing a fantastic...
3 months ago • 6 min read
Hi Reader! Our inaugural Leap to Cuenca is officially underway! 🥳 The Turtles arrived last week and activities officially began with our Welcome Gathering on Saturday morning. Unfortunately, I caught a nasty cold last week and have quarantined myself so Amelia has been showing the Turtles around our old stomping grounds. They've been having a blast! (and I'm not bitter...at all ☹️) My time hasn't been completely wasted, though. In between naps, I created a NEW Slow Travel Mini Course (it's...
3 months ago • 6 min read
Hi Reader! This week's quote: “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” ~André Gide Sometimes the hardest part of creating a new life abroad is simply letting go of the familiar. The routines and places we’ve always known can feel safe, but true growth comes when we step into the unknown. NOTE: If the LINKS don't work, you'll need to disable your VPN, try a different server, or visit AmeliaAndJP.com/NewsArchive to view this newsletter in your...
4 months ago • 8 min read